In working with the eBird "hot spots" in Ohio, I have noted that the new eBird Hotspot Explorer shows us that some locations are "hotter" than others. http://ebird.org/ebird/hotspots?env.minX=-83.50284009648436&env.minY=39.91385164392169&env.maxX=-81.83566480351561&env.maxY=40.512657939185&mr=on&m&yr=all The markers on the map are color coded to show the number of species reported on checklists at each locations. The hot spots that show in blue or gray have less than 50 species. My guess is that these locations have fewer species not because there are no birds there but because fewer checklists have been submitted. So here's my challenge. Pick a hot spot close to where you live that shows 50 or fewer species. Bird that hot spot once a month in 2014. I'll bet at the end of the year that there would be many more yellow, orange, or even red markers on the map in Ohio. Ken Ostermiller eBird Hot Spot reviewer for Ohio ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Please consider joining our Society, at www.ohiobirds.org/site/membership.php. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]