Recording Form - On Line.

GUIDANCE NOTES: The following information is provided to assist those wishing to report details of their bird records to mba, via this web site.

General - Record any species or activity which you think might be interesting. However, please remember that counts of Blue Tit in your garden are as interesting to us as sightings of a Peregrine flying overhead. If you wish to make regular observations from one place (e.g. your garden), then it is accepteable to indicate that a particular species was present throughout a period of time; for example, up to six Blue Tits on peanuts daily during 1^st January – 31^st March.

Species Name - Please use the common name that is in everyday use.

Species Number - Where possible try and count the number of birds that you see. If this is not possible, for example where there is a flock, consider using one of the following:-

E.g. 'c 150' Oystercatcher (in other words there were about 150 Oystercatcher).

'150+' Starling (in other words you think there were more than 150 Starling).

Activity - Records of birds are always much more valuable when some indication of their activity is given with it. During the breeding season this can help to establish if the bird is likely to be breeding nearby. Please try to describe as accurately as possible, what the bird/s were doing. Using the list may help you to gauge the type of information we require.

Feeding (F)
Roosting (R)
Hunting (HT)
Flying over (indication of direction is also useful) (FO) or eg (FSE)
On sea (S) or Middle distance (SM) or Long distance out (SL)
Display or courtship (D)
Bird/s collecting nest material (M)
Birds visiting probable nest site (N)
Adult collecting or carrying food to young (FY)
Occupied nest (adult on, with eggs or young) (ON) or (NE) or (NY)
Recently fledged young (RF)

Remember that it is an offence against the Wildlife Act 1990 to disturb any wild bird, while it is building a nest or is in, on or near a nest containing eggs or young.

Location - Try and be as accurate as possible when describing where you have seen the bird. If there is a house nearby, give the postal address (including postcode, if known). If you are out in the countryside, name the nearest farm or feature marked on an OS map. If you are 'comfortable' with how to read grid references then a six-digit reference is ideal but four-digit references (1Km square) will help to locate the area you mean. This is best done by first locating the 1Km square you are in on an 1:50,000 OS map. Then read off the two numbers, known as Eastings, (at the top & bottom of the map) situated on the left-hand vertical grid line of the 1Km square. Next read off the Northings, the two numbers listed on either side of the map; situated on bottom horizontal 1Km square line. Finally, prefix the four numbers with the two-letters which identify the 100,000 metre square in which the point lies. This is either SC or NX for the Isle of Man. For example, the 1Km square containing Ramsey Harbour is SC4595.

Finally…

Thank you for reporting your records to us. All records are useful in building an accurate picture of the distribution (presence) of species throughout the year. Please try and record all of your sightings, even information about common garden birds is important.