Atlas 2000 will provide a snapshot in time of the distribution of all of New York's breeding birds, and will allow biologists to monitor changes in the populations of breeding birds over the span of several decades. Regional coordinators assign survey blocks to volunteers and provide them with a handbook of instructions, field data cards and maps of their blocks. Once assigned to a block, volunteer birders visit each habitat in a block and document the bird species they see or hear. Rather than simply record the species' presence, however, volunteers use the bird's behavior to document its breeding activity. For example, if an adult bird is observed feeding its nestling young, then the species is confirmed as breeding in that atlas block.
Volunteers confirm the breeding status of as many species as possible in each block.
Thousands of volunteer birders will be needed across the state to complete the Atlas project. While volunteers are not expected to be expert ornithologists, some previous birding experience is required and the ability to identify bird species by sight and sound is preferred.