Welcome to the Marin County Breeding Bird Atlas 2

The Breeding Bird Atlas is a multi-year project to map the distribution of birds that nest in Marin County. This project is a repeat of a survey begun in the 1970s by Bob Stewart and Dave Shuford. Over four field seasons, Stewart and Shuford supervised scores of volunteers to gather data using a grid system overlaid onto topographic maps of Marin County. Their field work culminated in the publication of Shuford’s landmark Marin County Breeding Bird Atlas.

The main goal of this second Atlas (MCBBA2) is to determine the current distribution and composition of breeding birds, four decades later. Thanks to a corps of dedicated volunteers, we completed our fifth and final year of fieldwork, which spanned from 2021 to 2025. While we largely replicated the field methods used by our predecessors 40 years ago, certain innovations were introduced by GIS mapping technology, data storage infrastructure, and some changes to the field methods.

Our focus now pivots to the production of the second Atlas. The project will continue to be led by a Steering Committee that includes a three-member MCBBA2 project coordination team (Daphne Hatch, Liz Lewis, and Rusty Scalf) and three Marin Audubon Society members (Barbara Salzman, Doug Waterman, and Martha Jarocki). Our partners at Point Blue Conservation Science, led by Diana Humple and Hilary Allen, will lead the development of the final Atlas, and the review and compilation of the final data set. The MCBBA2 Data Explorer found HERE will continue to be curated by GIS specialist Will Wiskes.

So many of you have been instrumental in the development of the second Atlas, but we wanted to highlight the contributions of these individuals: Dave Shuford and those involved in the original Atlas effort; Juan Garcia for developing and initially leading this second Atlas effort; the late Dave DeSante, for his contributions to both Atlas efforts; and the late Joan Lamphier for her extensive contributions as MCBBA2 Steering Committee member, Point Reyes Regional Coordinator, and Block Leader.

How to donate to the Atlas

​Donations from folks like you, and the many who have contributed to date, are ensuring the success of this project! We are very grateful.

Donations to the final Atlas can be made via one of these three ways:

• Donate via PayPal:
• By check made payable to “Breeding Bird Atlas” and sent to:

Marin County Breeding Bird Atlas
c/o Daphne Hatch
67 Pinheiro Circle, Novato CA 94945

• Contact Daphne Hatch at if you are considering a donation through a DAF (donor-advised fund) or a QCD (Qualified Charitable Donation) from a retirement fund.

We are grateful to Marin Audubon, our fiscal sponsor, and all of you who have supported us thus far!

MCBBA2 Annual Report

The MCBBA2’s fifth annual report, for the 2025 season, is now available HERE. It summarizes our preliminary findings to date, and the next steps for the project. We thank our amazing volunteers and supporters, and the ongoing support from Marin Audubon for making this possible.

Project Contacts

MCBBA2 Project Coordinators

Contact us at or if you have specific questions about the project you can contact one of the Project Coordinators:
Daphne Hatch: 
Liz Lewis: 
Rusty Scalf: New 2025!

Project Managers 

The Project Managers are tasked with completing data review, and analysis including development of the final Atlas products.
Hilary Allen: 
Diana Humple: .

Webinars & Videos

We are delighted to share three webinar recordings that coincide with our Breeding Bird Atlas efforts. Please click the links below to watch each recording. Enjoy!

GIS Conservation – The Breeding Birds of Marin County – by William Wiskes
Marin’s Breeding Birds (How We Know What We Know) – by Dave DeSante
New Breeding Bird Atlas – by Juan Garcia
Bird Vocalizations & Breeding Evidence Video – Denise Wight

Adult & Juvenile Pileated Woodpecker – by Sylvia Hunt 

MCBBA2 Data Explorer

By William Wiskes – GIS Analyst 

Look here for lists of breeding species from the historic atlas compared to preliminary lists from this one. Like the name says: explore, and you’ll find all sorts of resources!

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