Pierre, S.D. -The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) launched a new interactive online tool featuring the results of a five-year field project about breeding birds.

The online tool is an updated version of South Dakota's Breeding Bird Atlas providing information on which bird species nest in the state, where they can be found and what habitats they need during the breeding season; including 13 new species found during the field project. Highlights include a total of 252 species recorded during the project, of which 239 species were recorded breeding. The online tool allows users the option to explore the results by species or by blocks. A species page displays the nine square-mile blocks where the species was found, life history information including state-specific information, photos, habitat graphs and printable species accounts. Users can also select blocks from a state map or from a drop-down county list.

To check out the new online version of South Dakota's Breeding Bird Atlas, visit: http://gfp.sd.gov/wildlife/management/diversity/breeding-bird-atlasII.aspx.

About the project: GFP oversaw and funded this project, using state wildlife grant funds, agency dollars and a contribution from the South Dakota Izaak Walton League. The Bird Conservancy of the Rockies coordinated the effort and assisted with oversight. The project's success was due to the involvement of volunteer birders, access permission by landowners, staff participation and data contributions from a variety of sources.