Breeding Bird Atlas data overview.
This data was originally collected from 1986-1991. The data was subsequently proofed in 1994-1995 by Bill Pranty and Dr. Brad Stith and was delivered in December 1995. The estimated accuracy rate is 99.1% or about 1 error for every 1,100 breeding codes. The surveys occurred in all 67 counties which were divided into 1028, 7.5-minute topographic quadrangles. Each quad was further divided into 6 (2 wide X 3 tall) equal-sized blocks of about 10 miles2 of which about 75% were surveyed. For each species, a breeding code indicating the "highest" breeding evidence was recorded. The tables are stored in dBase IV format which may be opened with dBase, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, or Paradox.
The tables and fields are arranged as follows:
BIRDS. | One record for each bird reported per block. |
There may be more than one record per bird per block. Records are generally arranged by block, but this order should not be assumed. | |
REGION |
BBA region for the bird. |
COUNTY_PTR | Numeric indication of the county for the bird. |
QUAD_PTR | Numeric indication, link to the QUADS table. |
BLOCK | Number 1 to 6 indicating which block within the quad. See block layout below. |
SPEC_PTR |
Unused field used in the mapping. |
BIRD_COD |
Four letter species code, links to the BIRDLIST table |
BRED_CLASS | Numeric indication of the breeding code. |
BRED_COD | Alphabetic indication of the breeding code, links to the "CODE" table |
BRED_YR |
Unknown, but probably the year of the survey. |
STATUS |
Unknown code used in the mapping. |
BRED_GROUP |
Unknown code used in the mapping. |
BIRDLIST | One record for each species observed in the state. |
Records are arranged in taxonomic order. | |
RECORDORDE |
Order of the bird in taxonomic order. |
BIRD_ABBRE | Four letter species code |
BIRD_NAME | Common name of the bird |
QUADS_PO | Number of quads reported possible breeding for this species statewide |
QUADS_PR | Number of quads reported probable breeding for this species statewide |
QUADS_CO. | Number of quads reported confirmed breeding for this species statewide |
BLOCKS_PO | Number of blocks reported possible breeding for this species statewide. |
BLOCKS_PR | Number of blocks reported probable breeding for this species statewide. |
BLOCKS_CO | Number of blocks reported confirmed breeding for this species statewide. |
COUNTYPO | Number of counties, where the highest breeding code indicates possible breeding |
COUNTYPR | Number of counties, where the highest breeding code indicates probably breeding |
COUNTYCO | Number of counties, where the highest breeding code indicates Confirmed breeding |
QUADS | One record for each topoquad in the state. |
Records are arranged alphabetically by quad name. Note, quads may span counties. | |
QUAD_NAME | Name of the topographic quad. www.topozone.com may be used to get a look at the topoquad by searching. |
QUAD_PTR | Numeric indication of the quad, link from the BIRDS table. |
REGION |
Numeric indication of the region. Click here for regions map. |
COUNTY_NAM |
The county that the quad center resides in, |
COUNTY_PTR | Numeric indication of the county, where one is the first county alphabetically (Alachua) |
CEN_LAT | The latitude of the centroid of the topoquad |
CEN_LON |
The longitude of the centroid of the topoquad |
QUAD_STAT | Unknown status used in mapping. |
CODES | One record for each breeding code |
Codes are arranged from highest evidence of breeding to least. | |
BRED_CLAS |
Numeric indication of the "level" of the behavior. A lower number indicates a greater evidence of breeding. |
CODE | Two character indicating the breeding code. Click here for definition. |
DESCRTIV | Textual description of what the breeding codes mean |
GENERAL_CO | Two letter code indicated breeding confirmation, CO=Confirmed, PR=Probable, PO=Possible, OB=Observed |
GENERAL | Longer string indicating whether this code indicated confirmed, probable, or possible breeding. |
GEN_CLASS |
Numeric code indicating breeding confirmation. |
Table relationships
Blocks within a quad are arranged as below: