Hello All,
For those interested in tracking bird sightings, I was just exploring data in eBird (being snow-bound and all) and found a brand new feature. Now through the "View & Explore Data" tab you can view bird sightings including date, number, and observer using the Google Maps interface. Find your species of interest and simply click on the markers on the map to view the newly accessible data.

A good one to look at now is Red-breasted Sapsucker. Tweeters posts have made it abundantly clear that sapsuckers are more of a presence in the lowlands right now, but the eBird graph is a less subjective way to look at this. I searched for King and Pierce County sightings in 2008, and throughout the year the frequency (percentage of checklists with species) has been right around 10% (up to 22% in late June). Last week, however, the frequency shot up to 36.8%, and so far this week we're at 54.545%. You can compare this to 2007, when the last two weeks of the year yielded Red-breasted Sapsuckers on 2.083% and 4.839% of checklists, respectively.

If data excites you, or if you're just looking for a great way to keep your personal bird records, check it out at www.eBird.org. It would make a great 2009 New Year's Resolution!

Cheers!
Charlie Wright
Bonney Lake, Washington