Skip Navigation Links

Printable Field Forms

People collect their data in various ways so we offer here a variety of documents that can be printed and carried with you into the field.  No matter how you collect your data, the following information will be needed for complete data entry:

  • Block name
  • Date of visit
  • Party hours
  • Observer and others in party
  • Approximate percent of block covered as well as a sense of which sections were visited
  • Status and level of evidence for each species observed
  • Review of habitat map (done no more than annually)

 

We encourage frequent entry of this information so that others will know how much time has already been devoted to a particular block.


Documents for All

  •  Instructions to Volunteers  - Please read these instructions at least once
  •  Brochure on BBA Project  - Print some to handout
  •  Volunteer Notice to Landowner  - Put in your car to alert landowners why you are in the area
  •  Breeding Evidence Codes  - Keep a copy of the Evidence Codes for handy reference
  •  Breeding Dates and Habitats  - Your cheat sheet for expected breeding dates and habitats of Iowa birds
  •  Generate Block Map  - The block map will give you roads and an aerial overview of the block.  It is generated from Google maps so zoom in and out to get the varous views you need.
  •  Blocks by County  - Select your favorite county or counties and see all blocks in the area.  These low resolution maps can be used to mark blocks in your own copy of the Sportsman's Atlas .
  •  Block Habitat Maps  - The habitat maps show the land cover (as of 2002) for the block.  These will be used to verify habitat changes.
  •  Verify Habitats and Landscapes - At least once during the course of the atlas project, volunteers are asked to verify the habitats and landscapes of the block.  If there are no significant changes, this is as simple as marking "No Change" on the habitat verification page.  If there are significant changes, however, this form will help you record the predominant landscape in each square mile for later entry.

Documents for Recording Trips and Species

  •  BBA Field Card - This two-page document can be printed front-to-back to create a foldable field card. Used in conjunction with the short Block Data form (see below), this field card might be used to capture dates for multiple trips.
  • Block Data - Record up to four different trips on this one-page document
  • Species by Block - For those who prefer to capture several days worth of data before entry.  You will need one document for each block.  This is a 10-page form which includes all breeding species recorded in Iowa as well as a place to track dates for each level of evidence.  People who plan on making multiple visits to a block may find this form handy for gathering the most complete information about the breeding species there.