Hello All,
    Most of you have probably read Ned Keller's recent post to Ohio Birds about some new Ohio checklists that are now available via the OOS Website at ohiobirds(dot)org/publications/checklist/checklists(dot)php. If this link does not work, go to the OOS Website at ohiobirds(dot)org, click on "publications", then "checklists", then scroll down to "Ohio Field Checklists" where there are brief descriptions and links to these files. Here is a some additional background information on these four checklists. The only one of them that can be printed out on 81/2" x 11" paper is the last one, described here as the "Single-column checklist..." The other three checklists will require 81/2" x 14" paper for correct printing and folding. If you do not have a supply of this legal-sized paper, you can copy the file to a disc and take it to a copy center for printing.
    The first two checklists have been revised by Joe Hammond and are updates of earlier checklists that he created several years ago. The other two checklists are updated revisions of the Ohio Birding Checklist with difficulty codes; originally created in 2002 by Greg Miller and myself and which have been used since then by only a few of us. Paul Gardner suggested that we should re-work this checklist and make it available to Ohio birders via the OOS Website. With some helpful input from Paul and Bill Whan and some formatting assistance from Joe Hammond, these checklists have now been revised/updated and are now available in two different-sized formats.
    As an Ohio annual lister, I would encourage you to print out either copy of the Ohio Birding Checklist with difficulty codes and (using it as an annual checklist) challenge you to find all of the 205 birds (codes 1 & 2), listed in the "Easier To See" category, during 2008. While looking for these, you will very likely see some of the code 3 & 4 birds and may even see a few of the more rare Ohio Review List species. A birder with average optics, experience, skills, and knowledge should be able to tally 220 or more Ohio species by the end of the year by spending several hours birding varied habitats around Ohio, twice each month, plus spending some additional birding time during the Spring and Fall migrations. This is a good goal, especially if you have a full-time job.
    Setting new birding goals each year has been a great experience for me through the years and has helped to keep me "out in the field" on a regular basis. You might even want to consider doing an Ohio "Big Year" in 2008 as many of the Winter finches and other harder-to-find species being reported now will very likely continue to be seen into January and February.
    Good Luck and Good Birding to all of you in 2008!

More later,
Dan


Dan Sanders
42 Scioto St
Powell, OH 43065
614-596-5666
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