Birds of Hertfordshire, our beautifully illustrated account of population trends among more than 300 species recorded in the county, has been judged one of the best local bird atlases in Britain.

A panel of experts convened by British Birds magazine placed our book on a shortlist of the top six county bird atlases. It was then awarded fourth place in the final judging.

According to the magazine's March issue, the judges were impressed by the book's "succinct yet erudite accounts of each species, and the excellent design of the book, which incorporated fine artwork, mostly good-quality, locally sourced photographs, and clear charts and tables."

The report also notes how Birds of Hertfordshire, published in 2015, complements previous books from 1959 and 1986 and draws on results from no fewer than three tetrad atlas surveys. All three maps are included in the text for species that have undergone the most significant population trends over half a century.

Warm congratulations go the book's authors, Ken Smith, Chris Dee, Jack Fearnside and Mike Ilett on this further recognition of their landmark achievement. 

Further praise from the 'BB' judges goes to work to assemble an online, tetrad atlas of birds across the Thames Valley and Chiltern areas (Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Oxfordshire). This provides a wider view of trends and habitat association than the atlases for individual counties. Chris Dee, now relocated in Devon, was instrumental in this work.

Birds of Hertfordshire is on sale via this website, price ?39 including p&p.