2nd Annual Birding Bonanza Rules
| rules_2026.pdf |
| rules_2026.docx |
1. American Birding Code of Ethics
https://www.aba.org/aba-code-of-birding-ethics/
2. This is a family friendly team event, and all participants must act accordingly. All birders at any skill level are welcome to participate. All teams must have at least one member who is 18 or older.
Honor System is key. Please do not cheat to win. Set a good example for those watching.
3. Each team must have a team name and must register at least two people, no more than 5. The team must appoint one Captain. They will collect the info and money and register the team. No individual registration will be had.
4. The competition will be held within Beaver Creek State Park including Lusk Lock and Grimms Bridge areas, Sheepskin Hollow State Nature Preserve, Guilford Lake State Park, Firestone -Yeagley Wildlife Area and Hellbender Bluff County Park. A map will be provided with registration.
5. The contest starts at 5pm on Friday May 1st, 2026 and ends on Saturday May 2nd, 2026 at 5pm.
All teams must check in with final tally by 5:30 at The Beaver Creek Wildlife Education Center pavilion. Dinner will be served as the final tally is being counted.
A high card pull from a deck of cards will provide as a tie breaker if needed.
Winning team will have their team name engraved on an in house trophy located at the wildlife center. Each team member will receive a plaque with team name engraved by mail after the winning team has been declared.
6. The winning team is the team that finds the most species of birds. Not individuals. Once a species has been found, any other finding of that species will not count toward your over all tally.
For example, you see a flock of European Starlings, that counts as seeing ONE species of bird and that species will be added to your over all tally and will not count again, except for personal use.
7. All teams must register online by April 17 and then check in at the Wildlife Education Center in person at the times listed below:
Early check-in will be held from 4pm to 5pm on Friday May 1st. Regular check-in will be held from 5:30am to 6:30am on Saturday May 2nd. Donuts & Coffee will be served. Both check-ins will be held at the pavilion at the Beaver Creek Wildlife Education Center. Participants will be handed their T-shirts, swag bag, official competition tally sheet, official rules, official map of Birding Areas and will have their team photo taken. If you cannot make early check-in, you may still start at 5pm on Friday. But you must be present at the Saturday morning check-in. Please try to have all team members present at check-in.
8. All properties will be off limits at night unless otherwise stated by official signs.
If you are camping at Beaver Creek or Guilford campground, any bird heard by 75 percent of your team may be counted to your total.
Two Owl Walks will be held on Friday night within the competition areas of you would like to attend those.
9. A rare bird will require some sort of proof to be counted, via a photo or sound recording. Rare birds will be listed on your tally sheet with a special code behind the birds name. Make sure to go over these codes with your team.
10. Team members need not remain together for the 24-hour period. One or more registered team members can leave or join at anytime during the event, as long as 2 team members remain at all times, but departed team members cannot apply any found birds to their teams total in their absence.
11. All birds counted must be observed while teams are physically located within the assigned birding areas. For example, if you are standing in Beaver Creek State Park but observe a bird soaring the sky over the border of the park, you may still count that bird
12. Team members must remain at distances that permit direct voice contact at all times while birding, Teams may not split up to simaltaneously cover different areas or trails.
13. All birds counted must be conclusively identified by sight or sound. Teams may use field guides or apps to aid in the identification of a species.
14. Birds counted must be alive, wild, and unrestrained. Nests, eggs, feathers, pellets or other artifacts do not count as birds.
15. All birds counted must be observed by 75% of team members present. For example, in a team of 2, both members would need to see or hear the bird to count it for their list, in a team of 4, at least 3 team members would need to see the bird.
Registered team members who have yet to join their team or those who have already left the team are not included, only those team members who are actively birding at the time of observation.
16. Teams may go birding anywhere within the assigned birding areas as long as it is open to the public. PLEASE respect all homeowners & private property that may fall within these boundaries. Do not point binoculars, scopes or cameras at private homes or property. Do not use or block driveways.
17. Each team must submit a final checklist of birds observed using an official Bird Bonanza checklist in order to be eligible for any awards. Final check-in on the second day of the event concludes at 5:30pm.
18. Drivers should drive and pay attention to road conditions, speed limits and other safety considerations. Let the passengers look for birds.
19. Alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs or substances, and weapons of any kind are strictly prohibited at this event or in the parks.
20. All participants must practice common sense health and safety measures throughout the event. Call 911 in case of emergency.
21. If you are a single individual and would like to participate, get ahold of me. I most likely can find a team for you to join.
Have FUN!
Any questions or concerns contact Jason Short at [email protected] or 330-565-9784
Outline of rules borrowed from Stark County Bird Quest. Check them out here: https://cantonaudubon.org/stark-county-bird-quest/
https://www.aba.org/aba-code-of-birding-ethics/
2. This is a family friendly team event, and all participants must act accordingly. All birders at any skill level are welcome to participate. All teams must have at least one member who is 18 or older.
Honor System is key. Please do not cheat to win. Set a good example for those watching.
3. Each team must have a team name and must register at least two people, no more than 5. The team must appoint one Captain. They will collect the info and money and register the team. No individual registration will be had.
4. The competition will be held within Beaver Creek State Park including Lusk Lock and Grimms Bridge areas, Sheepskin Hollow State Nature Preserve, Guilford Lake State Park, Firestone -Yeagley Wildlife Area and Hellbender Bluff County Park. A map will be provided with registration.
5. The contest starts at 5pm on Friday May 1st, 2026 and ends on Saturday May 2nd, 2026 at 5pm.
All teams must check in with final tally by 5:30 at The Beaver Creek Wildlife Education Center pavilion. Dinner will be served as the final tally is being counted.
A high card pull from a deck of cards will provide as a tie breaker if needed.
Winning team will have their team name engraved on an in house trophy located at the wildlife center. Each team member will receive a plaque with team name engraved by mail after the winning team has been declared.
6. The winning team is the team that finds the most species of birds. Not individuals. Once a species has been found, any other finding of that species will not count toward your over all tally.
For example, you see a flock of European Starlings, that counts as seeing ONE species of bird and that species will be added to your over all tally and will not count again, except for personal use.
7. All teams must register online by April 17 and then check in at the Wildlife Education Center in person at the times listed below:
Early check-in will be held from 4pm to 5pm on Friday May 1st. Regular check-in will be held from 5:30am to 6:30am on Saturday May 2nd. Donuts & Coffee will be served. Both check-ins will be held at the pavilion at the Beaver Creek Wildlife Education Center. Participants will be handed their T-shirts, swag bag, official competition tally sheet, official rules, official map of Birding Areas and will have their team photo taken. If you cannot make early check-in, you may still start at 5pm on Friday. But you must be present at the Saturday morning check-in. Please try to have all team members present at check-in.
8. All properties will be off limits at night unless otherwise stated by official signs.
If you are camping at Beaver Creek or Guilford campground, any bird heard by 75 percent of your team may be counted to your total.
Two Owl Walks will be held on Friday night within the competition areas of you would like to attend those.
9. A rare bird will require some sort of proof to be counted, via a photo or sound recording. Rare birds will be listed on your tally sheet with a special code behind the birds name. Make sure to go over these codes with your team.
10. Team members need not remain together for the 24-hour period. One or more registered team members can leave or join at anytime during the event, as long as 2 team members remain at all times, but departed team members cannot apply any found birds to their teams total in their absence.
11. All birds counted must be observed while teams are physically located within the assigned birding areas. For example, if you are standing in Beaver Creek State Park but observe a bird soaring the sky over the border of the park, you may still count that bird
12. Team members must remain at distances that permit direct voice contact at all times while birding, Teams may not split up to simaltaneously cover different areas or trails.
13. All birds counted must be conclusively identified by sight or sound. Teams may use field guides or apps to aid in the identification of a species.
14. Birds counted must be alive, wild, and unrestrained. Nests, eggs, feathers, pellets or other artifacts do not count as birds.
15. All birds counted must be observed by 75% of team members present. For example, in a team of 2, both members would need to see or hear the bird to count it for their list, in a team of 4, at least 3 team members would need to see the bird.
Registered team members who have yet to join their team or those who have already left the team are not included, only those team members who are actively birding at the time of observation.
16. Teams may go birding anywhere within the assigned birding areas as long as it is open to the public. PLEASE respect all homeowners & private property that may fall within these boundaries. Do not point binoculars, scopes or cameras at private homes or property. Do not use or block driveways.
17. Each team must submit a final checklist of birds observed using an official Bird Bonanza checklist in order to be eligible for any awards. Final check-in on the second day of the event concludes at 5:30pm.
18. Drivers should drive and pay attention to road conditions, speed limits and other safety considerations. Let the passengers look for birds.
19. Alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs or substances, and weapons of any kind are strictly prohibited at this event or in the parks.
20. All participants must practice common sense health and safety measures throughout the event. Call 911 in case of emergency.
21. If you are a single individual and would like to participate, get ahold of me. I most likely can find a team for you to join.
Have FUN!
Any questions or concerns contact Jason Short at [email protected] or 330-565-9784
Outline of rules borrowed from Stark County Bird Quest. Check them out here: https://cantonaudubon.org/stark-county-bird-quest/