Atlas Block Registration
USE THE INTERACTIVE BLOCK MAP TOOL TO VIEW ATLAS SURVEY BLOCKS!
We are pleased to announce that Atlas survey blocks are now available for registration. Ohio's 2nd Breeding Bird Atlas ultimately seeks to survey ALL blocks in the state, and we need your help! We encourage every Atlas participant to sign up and survey at least one Atlas block. Surveying Atlas blocks is an exciting way to explore Ohio's fascinating bird life and to contribute to a very valuable statewide effort that will ultimately benefit the birds of Ohio!
What is an Atlas block?
As in the 1st Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas, the survey unit of Ohio’s 2nd Atlas project will be the “Atlas block.” USGS topographic maps will be used to define block boundaries by dividing each topographic map into 6 Atlas blocks of equal area. Ohio’s land area is included in 806 USGS topographic maps or approximately 4,600 Atlas blocks. All of these blocks will be surveyed during the Atlas survey period (2006-2010).
You can view all Atlas blocks by using the online interactive block map. You can also use a DeLorme Ohio Atlas & Gazetteer to see how block boundaries are defined. The figure on the right shows how block boundaries are outlined and how blocks are labeled using page 41 of the DeLorme Ohio Atlas & Gazetteer. The boundaries of each USGS topographic map are outlined in red. Each topo map is then divided with blue lines to create each Atlas block. Please consult the section entitled "Map Grids/Coordinates" on the inside of the front cover for your DeLorme Gazetteer, which explains how to locate the crosshair symbols that mark the corners of each USGS 7.5' topographic map. NOTE: if you are having difficulty in finding crosshair symbols, look at page 29 in your DeLorme Gazetteer. You will easily see crosshair symbols over Lake Erie and how they are positioned on every page of the DeLorme Gazetteer.
We would like to extend a special thanks to Ned Keller for investing his time in creating the Atlas block finder tool.