I created a Google Earth / Google Maps file of all the Christmas Bird Count Circles in Maryland (those whose centers occur in the state). I hosted the file on my website http://www.westernmdbirding.com/

http://tinyurl.com/MD-CBCs

I downloaded all the circle centroids from The National Audubon Society and imported them into ESRI's ArcMap software to create a shapefile. Then I created a second shapefile that was a buffer of those points with a buffer distance of 7.5 miles. Then I exported the second shapefile into KML using KMLER.

This may not make as much sense to those who aren't birders but I enter all my birding data into an Access database (and later to a MySQL database - jb-bird) using the 4 letter alpha codes that bird banders use. Lately I've also been uploading all my data to eBird which is a website that makes good use of all that kind of birding data and makes everyones data available to anyone interested.

I'm getting a little frustrated. I'm trying to figure out a way to send SMS from my phone to a service that will forward my message to my gmail address. Then I would theoretically set up a filter in gmail to forward the message to a LISTSERV.

I had been trying to figure out the simplest and easiest way to start categorizing birds into taxonomic groups (families or other natural groupings) instead of the chronological photo albums that I have been creating all along.

I just checked out this short Article from Digital Photography School that talks about using hashtags for discussions on photography, links to photos, discussions about photographers etc.

I got a lovely gift card from my brother and his family for my birthday recently. I love buying from Amazon. I'm not sure yet if I'll get some books, mp3's or maybe put it towards a piece of photographic gear I've been wanting.

I just checked out Design Float which appears to be a Digg site that targets web design and web development. I found a few jquery and css tips in the articles that were linked to from this site. It looks pretty cool. It won't replace Digg for most users but, in my opinion, the narrow focus is useful. I'll be checking this site out from time to time.

I'm happy to announce a new website I created for my wife. It is a showcase and store for her crafts and those of her sister and neice. It is called Moonlight Crafters.

I'm proud to announce the newly re-designed Western Maryland Birding.