The breeding season is upon us and in fact already well under way for some species, and this year we would like to encourage submission of Local Patch breeding records. All breeding records are very
welcome by the Herts Bird Club: breeding is often under recorded, and often more so for common species. For example, The Hertfordshire Bird Report 2022 notes proven breeding of House Sparrows at just 17 sites; Great Spotted Woodpecker at 9; Chaffinch at 4-5 sites; and Jay at none!
So, as you are walking your Local Patches over the next few months, why not make note of and record breeding behaviour (as well as looking out for those passage rarities!). 
Breeding records should be submitted using the Breeding status field, the equivalent of which is also available when submitting records via BirdTrack and eBird. All breeding records are carefully considered by the website record moderators and will not be published if considered sensitive.
Breeding records are arranged into three categories: Possible, Probable and Confirmed. Records of Confirmed Breeding are the most valuable, but we appreciate that it can often be difficult to prove breeding as nests become hidden behind the vegetation growth of spring and summer. Obviously, nests should not be disturbed in any way to prove they are active. 
Often a good way to prove breeding in this instance is to make note of birds carrying food to the same place e.g. Blackbirds to the same spot in a bush, or tits to the same crevice in a tree, or Skylarks to the same area in crop.
Example breeding codes under each category are given below:
Possible Breeding
S: Singing Males - except for a few species such as Robin, only the male of the species sings
Probable Breeding
P: Pairs in Suitable Habitat - a male and female bird together (where it’s possible to separate them within the species)
D: Courtship and display
A: Agitated Behaviour - such as chasing off passing raptors or crows.
B: Nest Building - including birds seen carrying nest material in flight.
Confirmed Breeding
ON: Occupied nest - an adult bird sat on a nest, or where a nest is not visible but obviously present perhaps in a cavity or hole like House Sparrow, Starling, Sand Martin or Swift.
FF: Faecal sac or food - an adult bird carrying food or a faecal sac.
FL: Recently fledged - juvenile birds seen with and dependent on parents e.g. being fed.
NE: Nest with eggs
NY: Nest with young
