Anyone interested in the distribution of Montana birds may use this database. It can 

 provide information far beyond what appears in this book: for example, which species occur in 

 the Jordan area; or what is the current range of the Say 's Phoebe in Montana; or how many times 

 have Blue Jays been reported since 1990? 



The database was established by entering information from the Third Edition of Montana 

 Bird Distribution (1985). Entries from the Third Edition do not include the source (observer), 

 location (except latilong), and date. In addition. Third Edition records represent an unknown 

 number of actual observations. In contrast, all subsequent records added to the database 

 represent an actual observation by a known individual at a specific time and place. 



The database contained approximately 48,000 records when the maps in this book were 

 generated. Of these, 12,9 10 represent latilong values from the Third Edition, 13,570 are records 

 entered for the Fourth Edition (records received in 1985 through 1991), and 21,520 are records 

 new for this edition (records received in 1992 through 1995). 



Mapping with Latilongs and Quarter Latilongs 



Maps in this book are shaped in the general outline of Montana. They show the distribution 

 of bird species by mapping bird sighting information in units called latilongs and quarter 

 latilongs. The map on the back cover depicts the 49 latilongs and 185 quarter latilongs in 

 Montana. These mapping units work well in a large, sparsely populated state like Montana. 



Latilongs (LL) are mapping units formed by successive lines of latitude and longitude, 

 each at one degree intervals. These lines form a rectangular grid pattern across the state. Each 

 latilong is assigned a number: 1 through 49. Latilongs 48 and 49 cover small portions of south- 

 western Montana. The average dimension of each latilong is 47 miles (76 km) wide and 69 miles 

 (111 km) long, representing an average area of 3,200 square miles (8,436 sq. km). Latilongs 

 along the Canadian border are 5.4 percent smaller than those along the Wyoming border. 



Quarter latilongs (QLL) are created by dividing each latilong unit into four quarters, each 

 at the 30 minute degree mark. Each quarter latilong is identified by its associated latilong 

 number, with the addition of a letter (A, B, C, or D), ordered left to right (see Figure 1). Thus, 

 latilong 25 is broken into 4 QLLs: 25A, 25B, 25C, and 25D. 



Figure 1. Quarter latilongs are 

 created by dividing each latilong unit 

 into four quarters. 



Quarter latilong information has only been recorded since 1 985. As additional information 

 is collected by quarter latilong, Montana Bird Distribution will more accurately reflect species 

 distribution. 



