Friday, March 28 – Sunday, May 4, 2008
Thank you for joining us to support the Houston Audubon Society!
Introduction
The Houston Audubon Birdathon is a team effort; its primary objectives are:
(1) to use the competition as a way to support Houston Audubon Society’s mission of protecting birds and wildlife habitat while increasing public awareness of that important mission;
(2) to identify as many bird species as possible during a single 24-hour period;
(3) to expand involvement of new and experienced birders in the Annual Birdathon; and
(4) to have fun!
Birdathon teams must abide by the following rules in order to be eligible for awards:
I. Counting
A. Count only full species as indicated by the current ABA Checklist or a recognized local checklist, such as the Houston Outdoor Nature Club’s OG checklist, the Texas Parks and Wildlife’s A Checklist of Texas Birds, or the Texas Bird Record Committee Checklist. The Birdathon section of the Houston Audubon Society includes a copy of an approved checklist.
B. Birds can be identified by sight or by sound.
C. Birds counted must be alive, wild, and unrestrained. Birds attracted to tape-recorders or feeders may be counted. Birds observed by artificial light may be counted. Injured birds may be counted if wild and unrestrained. Eggs do not count as birds. Birds such as ornamental waterfowl or escaped cage birds can not be counted.
D. A bird identified as one of a species group (e.g. Lesser/Greater Scaup, Empidonax Flycatcher, Western/Semipalmated Sandpiper, etc.) may be counted as a species if no other in that group is counted.
E. Bird count checklists and special notes/write-ups must be turned in by the due date. (See the web site or the team leader letter).
II. Time - All counting must be within a single 24-hour period.
III. Area - Any geographic area within the state of Texas may be covered.
IV. Travel - Travel during the 24 hour period may be by any means except air travel (but you may fly to reach your counting destination).
V. Participants - Two or more participants constitute a team. All team members must stay within direct voice contact distance during the count period.
VI. Conduct: Each participant must:
A. Make every reasonable effort to personally identify, and to help other team members identify, every species counted by the team.
B. Count only birds personally and unquestionably identified by at least two members of your team. For those teams consisting of only two members, both persons must see each bird.
C. Remain within direct voice contact distance of all other participants at all times, except during time-outs (a bathroom break would be an example of a time-out period when no birds are counted ).
D. Each team member must review these HAS 2008 Birdathon Rules before the start of the count.
VII. Outside Information:
A. To compete in the category for most species identified, teams must make every reasonable effort to avoid receiving bird-finding help from non-participants the day of the count. When other birders are encountered accidentally, participants may not solicit bird-finding information and should avoid receiving any information from them to the extent that common courtesy allows.
B. Any information received prior to the count day may be used during the count.
C. Teams may review posted information at various sign-in or registration booths at parks, sanctuaries and refuges during the course of your visit.
VIII. Ethics - Each participant should strive to maintain proper birding ethics at all times. Participants must abide by all endangered or threatened species laws and regulations and observe local rules banning the use of tape recordings. A copy of the American Birding Association’s Code of Birding Ethics is included in the Team Leader Packet.
IX. The HAS Birdathon Team Report - The HAS Team Report Form should used to submit team results. The Team Report Form includes an appropriate pledge to be signed by the team compiler affirming that all participants have reviewed and complied with all rules.
X. Two Prize Limit - A team may win no more than two prizes before the Grand Prize Drawing. The Birdathon Committee will determine which two prizes shall be awarded.
XI. Award Categories:
Grand Prize: Each team that raises $1,000 or more will be eligible for the Grand Prize Drawing to be held May 20th, 2008 at the Birdathon Celebration. They will have one chance to win, plus an additional chance for each additional $500 raised above the first $1,000.
A. Oberholser Cup: A team will be eligible for the Oberholser Cup Award for the most birds identified if the following additional requirements are met: all team members must see 95% of all birds counted. The remaining 5% of bird species must be seen in accordance with rule VI. b. above. The eligible count with the highest Grand Total will be the "Oberholser Cup Champion."
B. Whittington Award: This award recognizes the team that receives the highest total dollar amount in pledges and donations. The team total for this award will not include money raised by HAS staff members. There will also be a separate award for the most money raised by one of the HAS guided teams.
C. Most Pledges Received: This award recognizes the team that solicits the highest number of donations and pledges.
D. Best Bird Award: This award recognizes the team that records the "best" bird as determined by the Birdathon Committee. This could be a rare bird for a specific habitat or a bird that is difficult to find in its habitat.
E. Most Mockingbirds Seen Award: This award recognizes the team that sees the most Mockingbirds.
F. HAS Sanctuary Bird Sighting Award: This award recognizes the team that observes the most bird species in HAS Sanctuaries. The bird count checklist submitted must indicate on which HAS property the birds occurred.
G. Magic Moment or Funniest Story Award: Write up the exciting or interesting behavior of a bird or birds observed on Birdathon day or a funny story of the day and you may win this award.
H. Green Team Award: This award recognizes the environmentally friendly team recording the most species of birds seen while moving about under muscle power. No motorized vehicle may be used to move the team members from birding destination to birding destination after the first bird is observed until the last bird is observed. Bicycles, kayaks, and canoes are examples of modes of transportation used under muscle power.
I. Rookie Award: Each first time participant in the HAS Birdathon will be eligible for a drawing for prizes at the awards celebration.
J. Sitting Duck Award: This award is given to the team whose members identify the highest number of species while staying within an imaginary circle 20 feet in diameter over part or all of a 24 hour period.
K. Fledgling Award: This award recognizes the youngest Birdathon participant.
L. Pterodactyl Award: This award recognizes the most senior of all Birdathon participants.
M. Most Entertaining Team Picture submitted with the team registration.
NEW THIS YEAR!!!
There will also be multiple prize drawings for teams who have not already won in any 2 of the other categories:
Drawings for Teams raising:
- less than $1,000
- more than $1,000
Youth Teams:
Youth Birdathon participants must be younger than 18 or still in High School. Youth participants are not expected to solicit donations; however, adult chaperones/sponsors of the teams are encouraged to raise funds for their teams. Drawings will be held for prizes for Youth Teams.
Donor Prize:
All donors who are not businesses or Birdathon Team Members will be entered in a drawing for an $80 gift certificate for brunch or lunch at the Rainbow Lodge. So when you are collecting pledges for HAS, you are also giving the donors a chance to win a prize.
