This publication has been overseen by the Fife Ornithological Atlas Group (FOAG), which was established in 1990 to organise the fieldwork. The book is in A4 format, with two pages allocated to most of the breeding species described. Breeding distribution is mapped on a 2km x 2km (tetrad) grid and complementary monthly maps of non-breeding distribution on a 5km x 5km grid. For each breeding species there is a text and breeding distribution map, with other maps of non-breeding distribution chosen to depict seasonal variation. One or two pages are also allocated to non-breeding species, with seasonal distribution maps depicted. Appropriate figures showing quantitative data are included for those species for which these are available. Data are also used from the Forth islands that form part of the region, including the Isle of May, courtesy of the Isle of May Bird Observatory Trust.