TWITCHATHON 2000 RULES
OPEN RACE
1. RACE LIMITS. Your team is confined to the State for which you
enter.
2. COUNTING.
* Before a species may be counted, an individual, pair or flocks must
be identified by sight or sound, by more than 50% of team members.
* Only full species on the bird list may be counted (see rule 4
below). Teams should keep detailed notes on rarities and vagrants.
* All species must be unquestionably identified.
* All team members must remain within direct voice contact throughout
the Twitchathon.
3. TIME.
All counting must be within the 24 hours from the starting time
designated in your state on Saturday 28 October 2000 (16:00 or 4pm in
Victoria) to the finishing time designated in your state on Sunday 29
October 2000 (16:00 or 4pm in Victoria). Teams must return to one of
the State meeting points (designated by the State Coordinator) by the
finishing time on Sunday. The time of finishing is when the team's list
is presented to the Adjudicator. Please use the list provided. Once
presented the list may not be returned or amended. One species will be
deducted for every five minutes or part thereof that your team is late
in finishing. Teams finishing more than 30 minutes late will be
disqualified.
4. COUNTABLE SPECIES.
Birds can only be listed if they are alive, unrestrained and from
free-living established populations of full species. You cannot count
birds that are road-killed, beachwashed, captive, trapped or escaped
(eg. in Victoria, Mallards and Magpie Geese are illegal as it cannot be
determined whether viable wild populations are established. Yellow
Rosellas and Crimson Rosellas are a single species.).
5. TRAVEL.
Travel may be by any means except aircraft, provided that all team
members remain within direct voice contact.
6. PARTICIPANTS.
Each team must appoint a representative. Teams will be closely linked
to their sponsors. Teams must have at least two participants. Under
exceptional circumstances a team member may retire, in which case the
size of the team will be treated as if the person was still present.
The retired member may not rejoin or aid the team. Non-participating
companions may accompany the team and may record or drive the vehicle
but must not assist in the identification or location of species.
7. OUTSIDE INFORMATION.
During the event, teams must make every attempt to avoid receiving any
bird-finding help from non-participants. Any information received prior
to the count may be used.
8. ETHICS.
For the birds' sake keep disturbance to an absolute minimum. The use of
recorded calls or mechanical devices to attract birds is illegal. Be
careful not to obstruct or otherwise affect other teams. The
responsibility is on you to notify the management of areas with
restricted access (eg. Western Treatment Plant, Werribee; Swan Island at
Queenscliff; etc.) if your team plans to visit any of these areas. Do
not trespass.
9. SAFETY.
Teams are required to observe the rules of the road, and to take the
utmost care. Teams booked for traffic offences during the Twitchathon
will be automatically disqualified.
10. FUNDRAISING.
Individual sponsorships are eagerly sought. The team is responsible for
collecting his/her team's money and returning it to the State
Coordinator or Treasurer. A team must have pledges of at least $50 of
sponsorship before they are eligible for prizes.
11. JUDGING.
The Adjudicator's decision on all matters pertaining to the rules is
final. Teams should keep detailed notes of their observations.
12. LIABILITY.
Teams enter and participate at their own risk. No liability is implied
or accepted by Birds Australia (Royal Australasian Ornithologists
Union), its office-holders or staff.
Good luck, and remember that all money raised will help protect
Australia's birds.
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L A W R I E C O N O L E
3 Gezireh Street, Pascoe Vale South, Victoria 3044 AUSTRALIA.
Phone (03) 9354 2484; Mobile (0419) 588 993
E-mail: <>
Twitchathon 2000 info: http://www.bluep.com/~oco/vthon2000.html
My Twitchathon site: http://www.bluep.com/~oco/cdph.html
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Birding-Aus is on the Web at
www.shc.melb.catholic.edu.au/home/birding/index.html
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