eBird: Revolutionizing Birding Trip Planning

eBird is an online database of bird sightings managed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology that was launched in 2002 for the western hemisphere, but since 2010 has been in use worldwide. Over the last few years eBird has become by far the most popular method of recording and sharing of bird sightings in the western hemisphere, and has challenged other online sighting venues in the rest of the world.
According to the "eBird 2017:--Year in Review" over 360,000 users have submitted over 472 million sightings of 10364 species from every country in the world. In Central America alone the number of checklists from Central America increased by over 75% from the number at year end 2016. eBird use among birders has exploded, and this has revolutionized how a birder researches and executes a plan for birding both near home and when planning a trip.
When birding in familiar turf, a birder can use eBird to get notifications of rare bird sightings, or of species they have not seen in any given county or state for either their life list or their year list. When travelling eBird can help at many levels.
A novice birder can use eBird look for the birding hotspots in the area they are travelling, and can use their smart phone to get travel directions to those locations. Each hotspot has a list of species seen at the location with month-by-month bar charts of species seen with abundance information for each species. This can allow the travelling birder to decide what locations are likely to give them a good chance to see various species that they hope to find.
Many more experienced birders are enthusiastic list keepers of species seen in various major regions, countries, states, and counties. Those of us who do this call ourselves "listers." The "lister" can use eBird to find specific locations to find specific target species near where they plan to visit. Under the "Explore" function of eBird, it is easy to show locations where specific species have been seen in any county, state or territory within any seasonal parameters you want to filter the data to show.
Listers can also keep score in any given area. Using the "Top 100" filter on eBird it is easy to see who the top 100 listers for any major or minor area are for all-time and for any given year. This can lead to lot's of friendly and usually cooperative competition among birders for bragging rights in their area of interest. At this time in the American Birding Association region, which includes the U.S and Canada, this is the "Top 100" list for 2018 as of Feb 8th.
ABA Area Change Region
Top 100 eBirders in ABA Area , 2018 : 668 Species
"
" Observer Complete Checklists Species (% of total) Most Recent Addition
1 Dan Gesualdo
119 315 (47.16%) Dunlin (Feb 8, 2018)
2 Robert Thoren
85 307 (45.96%) Trumpeter Swan (Feb 5, 2018)
3 Brendan Murtha
77 284 (42.51%) Black Guillemot (Jan 28, 2018)
4 Doug Gochfeld 87 278 (41.62%) Wild Turkey (Feb 2, 2018)
4 Barbara L. Carlson 83 278 (41.62%) Wandering Tattler (Feb 7, 2018)
6 Sarah Toner
125 277 (41.47%) Evening Grosbeak (Feb 3, 2018)
7 Conor McMahon
63 272 (40.72%) Tufted Titmouse (Feb 3, 2018)
8 Bob Friedrichs
80 271 (40.57%) Wood Duck (Feb 7, 2018)
9 logan kahle
159 269 (40.27%) Long-tailed Duck (Jan 30, 2018)
9 Patricia Demko 76 269 (40.27%) Wild Turkey (Feb 4, 2018)
9 Jim Malcom 59 269 (40.27%) Iceland Gull (Feb 6, 2018)
12 Teri Wills 97 268 (40.12%) Western Bluebird (Feb 5, 2018)
12 Chris and Teri Wills 97 268 (40.12%) Western Bluebird (Feb 5, 2018)
12 Casey Weissburg 68 268 (40.12%) Harris's Hawk (Jan 28, 2018)
15 Ron Smith
141 266 (39.82%) Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Feb 7, 2018)
16 Will Brooks
143 264 (39.52%) White-throated Sparrow (Feb 6, 2018)
16 Becky Turley 103 264 (39.52%) Indian Peafowl (Feb 6, 2018)
18 Leo Miller
108 262 (39.22%) Whimbrel (Feb 7, 2018)
19 Ryan Andrews
104 261 (39.07%) Rufous Hummingbird (Feb 6, 2018)
19 Jennifer Rycenga
98 261 (39.07%) Cackling Goose (Feb 7, 2018)
21 Meghin Spencer
94 260 (38.92%) Pacific Wren (Feb 7, 2018)
21 Colin Clark 46 260 (38.92%) White-winged Scoter (Feb 4, 2018)
23 Caleb Frome - CC
61 256 (38.32%) Common Merganser (Jan 14, 2018)
24 Shelli Spencer
87 255 (38.17%) Pacific Wren (Feb 7, 2018)
24 Justin Bosler
52 255 (38.17%) Rusty Blackbird (Feb 7, 2018)
26 Noah Strycker
148 254 (38.02%) Emperor Goose (Feb 5, 2018)
26 Sarah Dzielski
98 254 (38.02%) Pileated Woodpecker (Jan 28, 2018)
26 Blair Bernson
87 254 (38.02%) Sinaloa Wren (Feb 7, 2018)
29 Josh Cantor
44 253 (37.87%) Rough-legged Hawk (Feb 5, 2018)
30 Huck Hutchens 169 250 (37.43%) Wilson's Warbler (Feb 5, 2018)
30 Brennan Mulrooney
75 250 (37.43%) Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Feb 5, 2018)
32 Chris Hayward 74 249 (37.28%) Black-throated Green Warbler (Feb 7, 2018)
32 joe demko 50 249 (37.28%) Common Goldeneye (Feb 4, 2018)
34 Shirley Reynolds
85 248 (37.13%) Pacific-slope Flycatcher (Feb 7, 2018)
34 John Sterling
49 248 (37.13%) Black-legged Kittiwake (Feb 8, 2018)
36 Doug Hitchcox
105 247 (36.98%) Tropical Parula (Feb 6, 2018)
36 Joseph Pescatore
65 247 (36.98%) Tufted Titmouse (Feb 8, 2018)
38 Nancy Christensen
142 246 (36.83%) Swainson's Hawk (Feb 7, 2018)
39 Jasen Liu
126 245 (36.68%) White-throated Sparrow (Feb 4, 2018)
39 Susan Heath
80 245 (36.68%) Magnificent Frigatebird (Feb 3, 2018)
41 Bruce Aird 90 244 (36.53%) Gambel's Quail (Feb 4, 2018)
41 Marc Chelemer
68 244 (36.53%) Purple Finch (Feb 6, 2018)
43 Thomas St Pierre
73 242 (36.23%) Field Sparrow (Feb 3, 2018)
43 Susan Strasevicz
73 242 (36.23%) Field Sparrow (Feb 3, 2018)
43 dessi sieburth
58 242 (36.23%) California Condor (Feb 4, 2018)
46 Skip Cantrell
130 241 (36.08%) Grasshopper Sparrow (Feb 7, 2018)
47 David McQuade
149 240 (35.93%) Hairy Woodpecker (Feb 4, 2018)
47 Tammy McQuade
135 240 (35.93%) Hairy Woodpecker (Feb 4, 2018)
47 Malia DeFelice
72 240 (35.93%) Black-throated Green Warbler (Feb 7, 2018)
50 Chris Dean
54 239 (35.78%) Inca Dove (Feb 6, 2018)
51 Matt Anthony
136 238 (35.63%) Pine Siskin (Feb 4, 2018)
51 Bradley Hacker
63 238 (35.63%) Whiskered Screech-Owl (Feb 5, 2018)
51 Raymond VanBuskirk
44 238 (35.63%) Scaled Quail (Feb 2, 2018)
54 Jon Curd
74 237 (35.48%) Bohemian Waxwing (Feb 2, 2018)
54 Paul Prappas
42 237 (35.48%) Horned Grebe (Feb 6, 2018)
56 Tom Benson
67 236 (35.33%) Short-eared Owl (Feb 7, 2018)
57 Max Leibowitz
72 235 (35.18%) Plumbeous Vireo (Feb 6, 2018)
58 Don Hoechlin
81 234 (35.03%) American Dipper (Feb 5, 2018)
58 Michael Schall
59 234 (35.03%) Clay-colored Sparrow (Feb 4, 2018)
58 Jared Hughey 51 234 (35.03%) Barn Owl (Jan 25, 2018)
61 Peggy Macres 66 233 (34.88%) Long-tailed Duck (Feb 4, 2018)
61 Carolee Colter
38 233 (34.88%) Steller's Jay (Feb 4, 2018)
63 Norm Lewis
122 232 (34.73%) King Rail (Feb 2, 2018)
63 Usha Tatini
53 232 (34.73%) White-winged Scoter (Feb 5, 2018)
65 Matthew Janson
94 231 (34.58%) Common Yellowthroat (Feb 4, 2018)
66 Jim Moore
77 230 (34.43%) Cackling Goose (Feb 5, 2018)
66 Marky Mutchler
72 230 (34.43%) Horned Grebe (Jan 21, 2018)
68 Alex Lamoreaux
293 229 (34.28%) LeConte's Sparrow (Feb 8, 2018)
69 Jason Riggio
89 228 (34.13%) Long-eared Owl (Feb 7, 2018)
69 Dara Vazquez
51 228 (34.13%) Brown-headed Cowbird (Feb 6, 2018)
71 Andrew Simon
88 227 (33.98%) Cedar Waxwing (Jan 25, 2018)
71 Thomas Miko
80 227 (33.98%) American Dipper (Feb 5, 2018)
71 Lee Bush
73 227 (33.98%) Ruddy Turnstone (Feb 8, 2018)
74 Aaron Boone
101 226 (33.83%) Eastern Towhee (Feb 7, 2018)
74 mario balitbit
66 226 (33.83%) Laughing Gull (Feb 4, 2018)
74 Mark Scheel 61 226 (33.83%) Common Merganser (Feb 3, 2018)
77 Don Roberson
75 225 (33.68%) White-throated Sparrow (Feb 7, 2018)
77 Frances Oliver
72 225 (33.68%) Parasitic Jaeger (Feb 8, 2018)
77 Jason Lambert
59 225 (33.68%) Black Vulture (Feb 4, 2018)
80 Colin Dillingham
202 224 (33.53%) Rock Sandpiper (Feb 6, 2018)
80 Don Glasco
128 224 (33.53%) White-throated Swift (Feb 4, 2018)
80 John Berry 57 224 (33.53%) Chihuahuan Raven (Feb 1, 2018)
83 Susan Fishburn
83 223 (33.38%) Long-billed Curlew (Feb 8, 2018)
83 Keith Bailey
82 223 (33.38%) Clark's Grebe (Feb 7, 2018)
83 Richard Norton 82 223 (33.38%) Orchard Oriole (Feb 7, 2018)
83 Derek Muschalek 73 223 (33.38%) Elegant Trogon (Feb 6, 2018)
83 Ken Janes
50 223 (33.38%) Ovenbird (Feb 7, 2018)
83 Lisa Phelps 47 223 (33.38%) Barred Owl (Feb 3, 2018)
89 Edana Salisbury
85 222 (33.23%) Lawrence's Goldfinch (Feb 5, 2018)
89 Rita Carratello
69 222 (33.23%) Glaucous Gull (Feb 6, 2018)
89 Kaia Colestock
66 222 (33.23%) Glaucous Gull (Feb 7, 2018)
89 Janet Scheel 57 222 (33.23%) Common Merganser (Feb 3, 2018)
89 Donna Kuhn 56 222 (33.23%) Long-tailed Duck (Feb 7, 2018)
89 Mike Austin
49 222 (33.23%) Greater Pewee (Feb 5, 2018)
95 Peter Koper 112 221 (33.08%) Yellow-headed Parrot (Feb 5, 2018)
95 William Kaempfer
110 221 (33.08%) Brown Thrasher (Feb 8, 2018)
95 Leslie Sours 97 221 (33.08%) Cackling Goose (Feb 7, 2018)
95 Larry Arnold
92 221 (33.08%) Downy Woodpecker (Feb 5, 2018)
95 rick shearer
81 221 (33.08%) Pine Siskin (Feb 5, 2018)
95 Judy Matsuoka 74 221 (33.08%) Pine Siskin (Feb 7, 2018)

This is just an example of how birders can harness the eBird data base to look at their gigantic bird sighting data base. Signing up for eBird is easy and free, and I encourage birders worldwide to use eBird to enhance their birding enjoyment, to help with bird finding while travelling, and to share their sightings with the rest of the eBird community.
Good birding.