Dataset Details - The First Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland: 1968-1972.
A dataset of the distribution of the breeding birds of Britain & Ireland from 1968 to 1972, generated using a list of the species observed within each 10km square over the survey period.
28/06/2011
28/07/2017
To compile as complete a breeding species list as possible for every 10-km square in Britain and Ireland, to enable distributional patterns across the region to be detected.
Specific fieldwork was conducted by mainly volunteer observers although professional help was used in some remoter areas. Observers were asked to visit each 10-km square and record the presence of as many species as they could find and to note whether they were Possibly breeding (column 1) e.g. seen in the correct habitat, Probably breeding (column 2) e.g. holding territory, visiting probable nestsite, or Confirmed breeding (column 3) e.g. seen carrying food, recent fledglings, nest with eggs or young found. The stated objective was to get as many species into column 3 as possible. The dataset records the maximum category of breeding evidence obtained for each species in each 10-km square. To make the dataset directly comparable to the second BTO/SOC/IWC Breeding Atlas 1988-91 these were converted into S -- Seen (for Possibly Breeding) or B -- Breeding (for Probably and Confirmed Breeding).
This datasets contains data only for the island of Ireland, but is part of the larger Britain and Ireland master dataset held by the British Trust for Ornithology at Thetford, U.K. All 10-km squares within the island of Ireland with more than a very small amount of land were visited.
Records for 10-km squares were collated over the breeding seasons of 1968-1972 inclusive.
All the data was checked and validated as part of the atlas project. The list and number of species recorded in each 10-km square are as complete as they can be. Clearly those squares visited for less time (especially the more remote areas) are likely to have fewer species recorded and it is the rarer and more elusive species (eg nocturnal) ones which will not be recorded in these circumstances. However the maps as published are considered a true representation of the distribution of the species at a national level, while accepting that there will be some gaps in individual squares.
The dataset available through Biodiversity Maps is for the island of Ireland but is only a subset of the larger British and Irish dataset held by the British Trust for Ornithology. It was used to produce the first British Trust for Ornithology /Irish Wildbird Conservancy (now BirdWatch Ireland) Breeding Atlas 1968-72 . This was published as Sharrock, J.T.R. (ed.) (1976) The Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland. T. & A.D. Poyser, Calton. Records of six species, Red-throated Diver, Black-necked Grebe, Goosander, Montagu's Harrier, Greenshank and Peregrine are withheld from the database as they are considered sensitive species.
Full details of the methods used in the field, how fieldwork was organised and the interpretation of the maps is provided in the published atlas Sharrock, J.T.R. (ed.) (1976) The Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland. T. & A.D. Poyser, Calton or from the British Trust for Ornithology website at www.bto.org/birdatlas/previous/old_methods.htm. Specific queries as they relate to the Republic of Ireland should be made to BirdWatch Ireland www.birdwatchireland.ie
Open (Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0)
BirdWatch Ireland, The First Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland: 1968-1972., National Biodiversity Data Centre, Ireland, accessed 16 April 2024, <https://maps.biodiversityireland.ie/Dataset/20>
Dataset species distribution
Terrestrial Map - 10km
Terrestrial Map - 10km
Distribution of the number of species recorded within each 10km grid square (ITM).Marine Map - 50Km
Marine Map - 50Km
Distribution of the number of species recorded within each 50km grid square (WGS84).Dataset record distribution
Terrestrial Map - 10km
Terrestrial Map - 10km
Distribution of the number of records within each 10km grid square (ITM).Marine Map - 50Km
Marine Map - 50Km
Distribution of the number of records within each 50km grid square (WGS84).Dataset Contacts
Olivia Crowe
Unit 20, Block D, Bullford Business Campus, Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow, Ireland
353 (0)1 2819878
Records per year
Species per year
Date Statistics
| Resolution | No. records |
|---|---|
| Month Range | 63985 |
1968
1972
Record Statistics
63985
0
143
0
| Resolution | No. records |
|---|---|
| 100m | 0 |
| 1km | 0 |
| 2km | 0 |
| 10km | 63985 |
| 50km | 0 |
Dataset Attributes
| Attribute | Description |
|---|---|
| Breeding evidence 1968-1972 | Category of breeding evidence obtained based on observed behaviour during 1968 to 1972 survey |
Recorded Species
| TaxonId | PrefnameTaxonId | Name | Authority | Group | Rank | Records |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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