Atlassing
Atlassing refers to logging observations of species along with geographical reference, so in addition to knowledge of their presence and abundance, their location is known. Bird atlassing is a popular past time amongst nature lovers because birds are a relatively easily studied group. The African Bird Atlas began in South Africa, and has spread to Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and other counties. The project uses a system of grids interposed over the continent to assign a 9 km x 9 km square called a pentad to every inch of Africa, so there is a birding site no matter where you are.
The Liberian Bird Atlas
The Liberian Bird Atlas Project is the chapter of the African Bird Map Project which focuses on Liberia. The project was launched on November 27, 2019, led by the Liberian BirdLife Partner, the Society for the Conservation of Nature in Liberia (SCNL). Other supporters included Fauna & Flora Interntional (FFI), Skandinavkonsult AB, the A. P. Leventis Ornithological Research Institute (APLORI), the Forestry Training Institute (FTI), and BirdLife Sverige. The launch was comprised of various bird watchers and conservationists from around Liberia.
A short BirdLasser tutorial
Step 1: Register at the African Bird Map website
Step 2: Install the BirdLasser app on your phone
Step 3: Sign in with your observer number and email to the app
Step 4: Open a “Trip Card”
Over the next 1 – 5 days, log any birds you see. After 5 days, it automatically starts a new section. The African Bird Club’s free Bird Guide App can help you learn more about identifying birds.
Step 5: Review your species list, to be sure it’s correct.
If you are not sure about a species, remove it.
Step 6: Submit your trip card
If it is split into more than one section, submit each separately.
Step 7: Look at the coverage map at the African Bird Map website to see the difference you have made.