eBird Integrating Birding Hotspots Data

By the time you read this message, if you use eBird, you will likely be seeing a major
leap forward in birding. For decades, birders often carried three books: a field guide, a
notebook, and a bird-finding guide. The first aided with bird identification, the second
was to record observations, and the third helped find good places to bird.
In the 21 st century, those books moved online. Field guides became apps on our phones
and eBird provided a platform for our checklists. Early in this century in Colorado, a
group of CFO birders developed the County Birding website for finding birding locations
in every Colorado county.

In 2023-24, content from the Colorado County Birding website was integrated into the
Birding Hotspots website, an emerging international bird-finding website. That site
(www.birdinghotspots.org) provided directions to each hotspot, a description of the
location, tips on how to bird the site which birds to expect, and information on fees,
accessibility, and restrooms. The intent of founders Ken Ostermiller and Adam Jackson
was that eBird would adopt the site.

Last year some content from Birding Hotspots, notably habitat photos, migrated to
eBird. In April 2026, the migration is scheduled to be completed. Hotspot descriptions,
birding tips, and information of fees, facilities, and accessibility will be found on eBird,
making it the most complete birding tool we have had in the field.

Many of you and our CFO predecessors have been major contributors to the evolution
of this birding tool. Much work is needed to build out the location data and you can help
when you see gaps by entering descriptions and tips. This information will also assist
researchers as they use eBird. Thanks to all of you who helped with this evolution.