Hi All,

I am in the process of changing internet providers and am in transition between e-mail addresses. I have not quite gone to LSoft to change the address MDOsprey recognizes, so clicking "properties" won't give you the new address (also in my signature). At any rate I am finally free of my phone line and 56K modem (prays for those non-existent wires) and the new address is:  (Nancy's is ).

There is now a new Atlas Coverage map reflecting atlas results through the first week of October (http://www.mdbirds.org/atlas/images/2004map.jpg; thank you Fran ^_^). We have made a lot of progress since we got started in 2002, but the holes are evident. Cooler colors reflect lower species numbers and warm colors indicate high totals (50 species and more). If anybody wishes to work on their Pennsylvania list you could "kill two bushes (um...birds) with one stone" by volunteering to work along the Mason-Dixon Line. Pennsylvania has just commenced its atlas project and it would be most sporting of you to contact one of their coordinators to help on their project at the same time (PA coordinator link: http://www.lhtc.net/~pabirdatlas/PBBA_RCcontact.htm). 

I am sorry our notion of a visible print symbol for a "present in last atlas, none yet" did not work out on the Wild Turkey "change map" in the current Yellowthroat (MOS Newsletter). Suffice it to say the great majority of symbols were in western and west-central Maryland where we need external observers to help the local bird clubs with block coverage. In the meantime, if you have the first atlas book, the current holes in the prior distribution can be figured out pretty quickly. 

We had a Red-breasted Nuthatch in the yard today and a *third* White-breasted (never had more than a "pair" before) that chased the Red-breast. We had Purple Finches here through Friday but they have gone missing over the last couple of days.

Good Birding (only four weeks till horned owls are atlas safe again, plan your shopping accordingly),
 
Walter Ellison
MD-DC Atlas Coordinator - MOS
23460 Clarissa Road
Chestertown, MD 21620
phone: 410-778-9568
e-mail: 

"A person who is looking for something doesn't travel very fast" - E. B. White (in "Stuart Little")