Okay, so I wanted to make a map showing where all the cicadas are popping up in Georgia this year. You know, because it’s a big year for them, and I thought it would be cool to see the hotspots visually.
First, I looked around online for any existing maps. I figured maybe some government agency or university had already done the hard work. I found some general maps showing the overall areas where cicadas emerge, but nothing specific to Georgia and this current emergence.
So, I decided to make my own! I knew it wouldn’t be super scientific, but more of a “citizen science” kind of thing.
Collecting Data
- I started by asking around on social media. I posted on my local Facebook groups and Nextdoor, asking people to report cicada sightings in their neighborhoods.
- I also checked for news reports. Local newspapers and TV stations often report on things like this, so I scoured their websites and set up some Google Alerts.
- Whenever I saw or heard cicadas myself, I made a note of the location.
Making the Map
I’m no map-making expert, I simply collected data and put into the map, and I did my best.
I jotted down all the locations where people reported cicadas. Then, when there were no more new locations coming up, I just marked everything down.
The Result
It’s not perfect, of course. It mainly shows where people and cicadas are, not necessarily the full distribution. But it does give a rough idea of where the action is! The places with lots of reports are probably the places with the most cicadas, and also probably where other people live!
I keep updating it as I get more reports. So it’s a work in progress, and it was interesting to me.
