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Newfoundland Breeding Bird Atlas
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Newfoundland Breeding Bird Atlas
Terms and Conditions

Atlassing Guidelines

1. Data permissions

The Atlas participant hereby grants Birds Canada (hereafter BSC) a royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, non-exclusive, transferable, worldwide license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from, distribute, perform, and display any information provided during the course of their atlas activities and/or to incorporate it in other works in any form, media, software or technology now known or later developed. The Atlas participant shall not be restricted in their ability to use the data they collect as they see fit, for any other purpose. Data submitted to the Saskatchewan Breeding Bird Atlas will be peer-reviewed by ornithological experts. The Saskatchewan Breeding Bird Atlas reserves the right to include or exclude data submitted to the project.

Birds Canada and the atlas partners strongly encourage use of data by third-parties, in particular for research, education and conservation purposes. Access to raw data from NatureCounts is subject to approval by Birds Canada on behalf of its partners. BSC will endeavor to provide access to data at no cost, but may at its discretion request a fee to cover data extraction time for more complex requests. Maps and other results published as part of the Saskatchewan Breeding Bird Atlas are the property of the Saskatchewan Breeding Bird Atlas (and Atlas partners) and may not be reproduced for publication without the consent of the Saskatchewan Breeding Bird Atlas. Participants are however authorized to reproduce them for the purpose of conducting their usual atlas activities. Topographic maps provided for the purpose of collecting Atlas data may not be used for any other purposes or for gathering information on private lands aside from Saskatchewan Breeding Bird Atlas data.

2. Privacy policy

Personal information ofparticipants (including address, email and phone number) will not be shared withthird parties, and will only be available to the atlas partner institutions andtheir staff, the Atlas Committee members, the Atlas Regional Coordinators (inregions for which you have provided data, or indicated an interest inparticipating) or other people designated by the Saskatchewan Breeding Bird Atlasfor atlas-related communications.

Unless you indicate otherwise to us in writing or through your online profile, you accept that your name may be included in datasummaries, reports or any data product derived from the atlas database whereappropriate.

3. Injury Liability

As a volunteer participantin the Saskatchewan Breeding Bird Atlas you are fully responsible for your ownsafety, and for your own personal insurance in case of injury. You are notconsidered an employee of the Saskatchewan Breeding Bird Atlas, Birds Canada,the Canadian Wildlife Service, or any of our partners or sponsors. Pleaseexercise great caution and care in the field when collecting data. We are alsonot responsible for damage incurred to vehicles while atlassing. Atlassers maybe responsible for damage to landowners' property, so please be respectful andexercise caution when treading on private land. Be friendly and polite withlandowners and remember that their permission is voluntary and that they arehelping us all as the Atlas team to achieve our goals for good coverage.

4. The American BirdingAssociation Principles of Birding Ethics

Everyone who enjoys birdsand birding must always respect wildlife, its environment, and the rights ofothers. In any conflict of interest between birds and birders, the welfare ofthe birds and their environment comes first. Please ensure that you abide by thefollowing principles at all time while atlassing. The Code of Birding Ethics wasdeveloped and made available by theAmerican Birding Association.

CODE OF BIRDING ETHICS

1. Promote thewelfare of birds and their environment.

1(a) Support theprotection of important bird habitat.

1(b) To avoidstressing birds or exposing them to danger, exercise restraint andcaution during observation, photography, sound recording, orfilming.

Limit the use ofrecordings and other methods of attracting birds, and never use suchmethods in heavily birded areas, or for attracting any species thatis Threatened, Endangered, or of Special Concern, or is rare in yourlocal area;

Keep well backfrom nests and nesting colonies, roosts, display areas, andimportant feeding sites. In such sensitive areas, if there is a needfor extended observation, photography, filming, or recording, try touse a blind or hide, and take advantage of natural cover.

Use artificiallight sparingly for filming or photography, especially forclose-ups.

1(c) Beforeadvertising the presence of a rare bird publicly, evaluate thepotential for disturbance to the bird, its surroundings, and otherpeople in the area, and proceed only if access can be controlled,disturbance minimized, and permission has been obtained from privateland-owners. The sites of rare nesting birds should be divulged onlyto your regional coordinator, the atlas staff or the properconservation authorities.

1(d) Stay onroads, trails, and paths where they exist; otherwise keep habitatdisturbance to a minimum.

2. Respect thelaw, and the rights of others.

2(a) Do notenter private property without the owner's explicit permission.

2(b) Follow alllaws, rules, and regulations governing use of roads and publicareas, both at home and abroad.

2(c) Practisecommon courtesy in contacts with other people. Your exemplarybehavior will generate goodwill with birders and non-birders alike.

3. Ensure thatfeeders, nest structures, and other artificial bird environments aresafe.

3(a) Keepdispensers, water, and food clean, and free of decay or disease. Itis important to feed birds continually during harsh weather.

3(b) Maintainand clean nest structures regularly.

3(c) If you areattracting birds to an area, ensure the birds are not exposed topredation from cats and other domestic animals, or dangers posed byartificial hazards.

4. Groupbirding, whether organized or impromptu, requires special care.

Each individualin the group, in addition to the obligations spelled out in Items #1and #2, has responsibilities as a Group Member.

4(a) Respect theinterests, rights, and skills of fellow birders, as well as peopleparticipating in other legitimate outdoor activities. Freely shareyour knowledge and experience, except where code 1(c) applies. Beespecially helpful to beginning birders.

4(b) If youwitness unethical birding behavior, assess the situation, andintervene if you think it prudent. When interceding, inform theperson(s) of the inappropriate action, and attempt, within reason,to have it stopped. If the behavior continues, document it, andnotify appropriate individuals or organizations.

Group LeaderResponsibilities [amateur and professional trips and tours].

4(c) Be anexemplary ethical role model for the group. Teach through word andexample.

4(d) Keep groupsto a size that limits impact on the environment, and does notinterfere with others using the same area.

4(e) Ensureeveryone in the group knows of and practises this code.

4(f) Learn andinform the group of any special circumstances applicable to theareas being visited (e.g. no tape recorders allowed).

4(g) Acknowledgethat professional tour companies bear a special responsibility toplace the welfare of birds and the benefits of public knowledgeahead of the company's commercial interests. Ideally, leaders shouldkeep track of tour sightings, document unusual occurrences, andsubmit records to appropriate organizations.

Please followthis code and distribute and teach it to others