A dataset of the distribution and abundance of the wintering birds in Britain & Ireland from 1981 to 1984, generated using a list of the species observed and counts of individuals seen within each 10km square over the survey period.

Geographic Coverage: This datasets contains data only for the island of Ireland, but is part of the larger Britain and Ireland master dataset held by the British Trust for Ornithology at Thetford, U.K. All 10-km squares within the island of Ireland with more than a very small amount of land were visited.

Temporal Coverage: Records for 10-km squares were collated over the three winters 1981/82, 1982/83 and 1983/84. The survey ran from the period 14, 13 and 12 November in each of the three winters respectively until the last day of February.

Species Groups recorded: bird

Dataset Status: The dataset available through Biodiversity Maps is for the island of Ireland but is only a subset of the larger British and Irish dataset held by the BTO. It was used to produce the first British Trust for Ornithology /Irish Wildbird Conservancy (now BirdWatch Ireland) winter bird atlas published as Lack, P. (1986) The Atlas of Wintering Birds in Britain and Ireland. T. & A.D. Poyser, Calton.

Additional Information: Full details of the methods used in the field, how fieldwork was organised and the interpretation of the maps is provided in the published atlas Lack, P. (1986) The Atlas of Wintering Birds in Britain and Ireland. T. & A.D. Poyser, Calton, or from the British Trust for Ornithology website at www.bto.org/birdatlas/previous/old_methods.htm. Specific queries as they relate to the Republic of Ireland should be made to BirdWatch Ireland at info@birdwatchireland.ie