Over the next 3 weeks, some 1800 observers will participate in Ohio Christmas Bird Counts. In so doing they contribute measureably to that remarkable database having pooled their various party efforts into the roughly 70 count circles spread across the state. Within that treasure trove of compilations lay further riches ... the specific party efforts which often delineate sightings by parks or other properties. A finer scale effort that is masked by the greater compilations. Ironically, during this massive undertaking, eBird sees one of its weakest periods of participation in Ohio. There is a home for those local checklists in eBird. And in the last 6 months, largely through the unheralded efforts of Ken Ostermiller, what were about 250 hotspots has almost tripled offering birders an easy means of identifying a shared birding site often with several options within a specific property (e.g. 7 within Killdeer Plains W.A. and 9 within Killbuck W.A.). If none of these fit the bill, you can still easily establish your own, and at your option, suggest it as a hotspot. Your field day may generate more than one checklist appropriate for eBird. I myself like to separate my checklists by effort (on foot vs by car). I often further separate a Stationary Count (to count a movement of birds overhead or at a feeder), from an Area Checklist (a waterfowl count on a reservoir), vs a Traveling Count (miles of back road birding). eBird is readily distinguishes between such efforts. Visiting private property and like your privacy? You can always HIDE your checklist within your eBird account, but I also recommend the use of townships or quadrangles (your call) for any efforts where you cover a lot of ground away from well known sites such as along rural back roads. Many of you will be fortunate to find an uncommon species worthy of attention to the greater birding community. Please consider pinpointing the location* (if publicly accessible). As was recently brought up, Google Maps, of which eBird makes use, allows nailing your bird down to the intersection, fence row, or marina dock if you so choose. Needless to say this can facilitate explaining directions. More than that, you tie your observation to terrain and microhabitat that ultimately explain something of why we see species where we find them. *For sensitive species (e.g. Barn Owl) or those on private property, consider pinpointing the nearest cross-roads and attach a comment to that affect. Perhaps a lot to consider, but the process can be as simple or complex as you choose, tailoring it to your level of birding. Just keep in mind that eBird is NOT a substitute for the CBC itself nor is it generally suitable for county wide birding efforts for the real value lay in matching checklists to discrete aspects of the landscape. eBird has a lot of potential. It has the potential to improve our understanding of the avian use of the land, of flyways, of stop-over sites, of microhabitats key to winter survival, etc. But key to realizing that potential is your participation. thank you for your consideration As always, any questions regarding the use of eBird, please send them to me at [log in to unmask] cheers Vic Fazio State Reviewer, Project eBird, OH & OK Regional Editor, North American Birds, OH-PA-WV Lawton, OK ______________________________________________________________________ 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]