Hello Everyone, The nesting season for many species is well underway and about to begin for others. Our frequent spring forays into the field to look for migrants is a great opportunity to pick up a few observations of local breeding species. While you're out in the field over the next couple of weeks, keep in mind that your birding could be simultaneously providing the Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas with some very valuable data. In particular, May first is either in the middle or the beginning of safe dates for 55 species on the Atlas checklist (you can download the atlas checklist @ http://www.ohiobirds.org/obba2/uploads/Appendix%20E_official%20species%20lis t.pdf). What this means is that simple visual or audible detections of these species during your birding excursions equals Atlas records. I keep seeing reports of an Eastern Screech-Owl at the Magee Marsh boardwalk. Since February 1st is the beginning of safe dates for this owl, you can turn in this record even if the owl is just sitting there, basically doing nothing to directly indicate nesting. To get more records that confirm breeding behavior for suspected breeders, take just a few minutes to observe what the birds are actually doing. You might catch a bird carrying nesting material or engaged in a courtship display. Safe dates don't define a species breeding season in Ohio, which means that many individuals of a species will begin nesting activities much earlier than the beginning of safe dates. This is especially true in the southern parts of the state. If you would like more information on how to participate in the Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas, please contact us, and we'll send out some information right away (phone: 614-247-6458; email: [log in to unmask]). Also, if you need help determining the Atlas block where you recorded observations, give us a call or send us an email, and we'll help figure it out. Also keep in mind that there is a new tool on the Atlas website (www.ohiobirds.org/obba2/) that converts latitude/longitude coordinates into the correct block IDs. So far, this tool has been indispensable! Good birding! Aaron Boone Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas II School of Environment & Natural Resources The Ohio State University 210 Kottman Hall 2021 Coffey Road Phone: 614-247-6458 Email: [log in to unmask] www.ohiobirds.org/obba2/ ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]