The Value of Atlases
Why is the MNBBA important? There are lots of reasons:
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| Common Loon | ©David Cahlander |
Birds are an important part of Minnesota's natural resources. In addition to their aesthetic value, birds are often indicators of environmental health and environmental change.
Results from other state atlases have identified new breeding species, former breeding species that have been absent from the state for many years, changes to species' breeding ranges, and new areas important to bird conservation. The MNBBA will certainly make new discoveries about Minnesota's breeding birds.
The data provide a base-line for measuring future changes to species presence and distribution. This is especially critical as scientists assess the impact of climate change.
Results of the MNBBA will provide information essential to setting conservation priorities and developing effective conservation plans. Because survey data is collected consistently at the local level the information is valuable to private landowners; city, county, state, and federal agencies; and any organization interested in Minnesota conservation.
Discoveries from the Atlas surveys will lead to new, targeted research questions.
MNBBA results will be published as a book and will be available online, making them accessible to scientists and researchers, wildlife and conservation professionals, and the general public. Anyone interested in Minnesota birds will have access to MNBBA results in both map and text formats.
The Atlas project will help raise awareness among the general public about the status and importance of Minnesota birds.
