I share Bill's concerns, and have questions based on my experience learning about birds.  I am very unfamiliar with eBird, but intend to learn about it this year.

Over the last ten years I learned a lot about life histories of birds and their temporal and spatial distributions, with most of my experience coming from Maryland.  I learned a lot from other experienced birders, but I also learned a lot on my own, and a consistent challenge for me was learning what is common versus uncommon, or what is rare or what is sensitive, etc.  There are many species with either inconsistent ranges, abundance within their range, or records for breeding.  There is much to learn, before a person has an understanding of sensitivities.

For an observant but inexperienced person, how would they know what species are sensitive when entering their data on eBird, unless someone made a list of species and types of records that they should use judgement on?  Perhaps MOS could do one for MD?

I love birding and get out as much as I can, both to see birds and to learn about them.  The more I learn, the more I realize I don't know!

Thanks for all of your great input Bill (and the many other MD birders who we have shared their knowledge).

Regards-
Jeff Shenot
Croom MD