1. Purpose and aim
The two principal purposes of the Highland Charity Bird Race are to raise funds for the Speyside Trust based at Badaguish and to have a fun and sociable birding event in the Highlands which will become a major event in the annual UK birding calendar.
The aim of the Bird Race is to identify as many bird species as possible during the 24-hour period, while avoiding disturbance to both birds and nature.
2. Code of Conduct and Special Restrictions
The event will be run strictly under the RSPB Birdwatchers Code of Conduct.
http://www.bto.org/notices/birdwatchers_code/bwc.pdf
The race committee can restrict movement in a certain area. It will be forbidden to visit the nests of some species both before and during the race, a list will be published. The committee may announce other restrictions during the preparation week.
3. Birdrace period
The 24-hour race starts and finishes at the Grant Arms Hotel. It starts at Midnight on Friday 15th May 2009 at 9.00 and finishes at Midnight on Saturday 16 May 2009.
4. The race area and transport
The exact race area is yet to be confirmed.
The observer must be in this area when seeing the counted species. Property rights and traffic rules must be obeyed. You participate at your own risk. Each group chooses their own means of transport, which can be changed. The team can be divided, but must not use two or more means of transport at the same time.
5. Identification and validation
Validation of species will be on the basis of time and map co-ordinates of unusual or hard to find birds being given to the organisers on a confidential basis where appropriate.
6. Gear and special restrictions
Binoculars and telescopes are accepted. Whistles, tape-recorders and other gear used to lure birds are not. Nor are mist nets or other trapping equipment. Listening devices are only accepted with a doctor's certificate. It is acceptable to use a phone to relay information inside the team, but the use of helpers and phoning outsiders for information is prohibited. Buying, selling, exchanging or stealing observations from the other teams is prohibited. The race committee can restrict movement in a certain area. It will be forbidden to visit the nests of some species both before and during the race, a list will be published. The committee may announce other restrictions during the preparation week.
7. Notes and reporting observations
The result is reported on forms provided by the committee. The species list must be submitted directly after the race ends on Saturday by 12.00 midnight to the committee office. A full form and race file is submitted to the secretary at the final meeting. Forms for RC and LRC species have to be written and submitted to the committee before the final meeting. Species only seen by one team must also be similarly reported if the committee so requires.
8. Prizes
Prizes at this early stage have not been finalised but we are delighted to say that Roy Dennis will present signed copies of his latest book to the winning team.
9. Buffet lunch - Sunday 17th May 2009
There will be a concluding buffet meal at The Grant Arms Hotel at 11.30am on Sunday 17th May 2009, where participants will have the chance to meet members of rival teams and compare notes of where special species have been located. Roy Dennis will give a short talk to participants at this meal and present the prizes.
10. The judges
Any differences of opinion concerning identifications and protests are resolved by a three-member jury selected at the meeting before the start. |
