Count birds wherever you choose! For information on how to participate, contact DOAS Director, Bob Donnelly at 607-264-8156.
Big Day Bird Count – Saturday, May 20 is this year’s Big Day for DOAS – the day on which small groups enjoy trying to locate the maximum number of bird species in any amount of time they choose within that 24 hours. Everyone is welcome, novice or experienced. If you are interested and have not participated before, please contact Bob Donnelly at 607-264-8156 to join or start a group. People who have participated before will be contacted by their leaders. Wish for favorable weather and southerly winds the night before!
A special prize for anyone who documents one of these birds in our territory with a verified photo!
Modified from ABA:
A Big Day Count is a single-team effort in which the primary objectives are (1) to identify as many bird species as possible during a single calendar day and (2) to strive to have all team members identify all species recorded.
1. Counting
A. Count only full species as indicated by a recognized field guide.
B. Birds must be conclusively identified by sight or sound. Use common sense: if in doubt about the bird’s identity, don’t count it.
C. An introduced species may be counted.
D. Birds counted must be alive, wild, and unrestrained. Birds attracted to tape-recorders or feeders may be counted. Injured birds may be counted if wild and unrestrained. Eggs do not count as birds.
2. Time
A. All counting must be within a single 24-hour period, on a single calendar day, determined by where the Count begins or ends.
B. The compiler may designate a time-out for gas, food, rest, or separate motorized travel. A bird first seen or heard during a time-out may not be counted, nor may the same individual be counted if located during regular counting time.
3. Area – Any geographic area may be covered.
4. Travel
A. Travel may be by any means, provided that all participants remain within direct voice-contact distance during all travel except timeouts.
B. When motorized vehicles are used, all participants must travel in the same vehicle, except during time-outs.
5. Participants
A. Any number of participants may constitute a team.
B. Nonparticipating companions may accompany the team and may record or may drive the vehicle. A companion may not aid in identification of, nor in any way indicate to the participants the presence of any bird not previously identified by every participant.
6. Conduct
Each participant must:
A. remain within direct voice-contact distance of all other participants at all times, except during time-outs.
B. make every reasonable effort to identify personally and to help other team members identify every species counted by the team.
C. count only birds personally and unquestionably identified.
D. review the Big Day Count Rules before the start of the Count.
7. Outside Information
A. During the Count, teams must make every reasonable effort to avoid receiving bird-finding help from nonparticipants.
B. Any information received prior to the Count may be used during the Count.
8. Ethics – Each participant should strive to maintain proper birding ethics at all times.
