In his introduction to The Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland (Sharrock 1976) James Ferguson-Lees wrote ‘For over two years, the possibility of an Atlas of Breeding Birds was discussed… There was seemingly irreconcilable division of opinion between the optimists and enthusiasts on the one hand and the pessimists and diffidents on the other, the latter believing that such a project was doomed to failure through inadequate coverage.’ Over 30 years and three atlases later the British Trust for Ornithology has experience to build on and is full optimism as it plans Bird Atlas 2007-2011.
