I couldn't agree more about entering date on eBird! There are a lot of excellent birders out there who post long lists that I can tell aren't being submitted. Plus, when you do enter your list, you can have a copy emailed to you that you can just forward on to MDOsprey. It's in taxonomic order with the quantity right next to it. Snap! There are a lot of longtime birders in Maryland who are dumping their old lists into eBird and that really makes the data the goldmine that Jim is refering to.

Another benefit to entering lists on eBird is that it will make you change the way you keep lists. Instead of keeping a tally of species for the whole day with a tick mark, you'll find yourself keeping separate lists for each location that you bird during the day along with quantities seen. Refining the data geographically like this really helps when you're looking for a particular species that's leaving a gaping hole in your wish list and you may actually be able to pin a particular bird down to a given tree/bush/field/pond, etc. The mapping tool will usually allow that kind of clarity when you zoom in. 

Even if you don't plan on using eBird to submit lists, you should at least give it a whirl for mapping species ranges and dates. The folks at eBird keep modifying the software and it just keeps getting better every year.
 
Tyler Bell

California, Maryland 




________________________________
From: Jim Moore <>
To: 
Sent: Wed, January 13, 2010 12:15:23 PM
Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] E-bird lists on Osprey

I agree with Gail and try to point out highlights when I have seen
something unusual.  But I also have a related request:  that all those
who post lists to MDOsprey also enter them in eBird, so the data will
be easily accessible to scientists and other birders.  Ebird (url:
eBird.org) is easy to use and a goldmine of info for birders who take
the small amount of time to learn how to use it.  Using it you can
find recent sightings of any species in MD or any county in MD.  You
can also use it to get a map location for birding hotspots and
individual sightings, and even get a list of the top 100 eBird listers
in your state or county.

Good birding!
Jim Moore
Rockville, MD

On Wed, Jan 13, 2010 at 8:30 AM, Gail Mackiernan <> wrote:
> Hi all --
>
> I have a small request to those who post their E-bird lists on MDOsprey --
> if there are any significant highlights (either species or numbers) could
> you please put this into a brief preface to your entire list? This would
> call attention to sightings of interest.
>
> Unfortunately when a lot of these long lists of common birds are posted with
> no "shout-out", those of us pressed for time may skim or even skip them
> entirely.
>
> Gail Mackiernan
> Colesville, MD
>