BEAVER CREEK
BIRDING BONANZA
MAY 2 - 4, 2025
RULES
BIRDING BONANZA
MAY 2 - 4, 2025
RULES
| birding_bonanza_rules.pdf |
| birding_bonanza_rules.docx |
Honor System is key. Please do not cheat to win. Set a good example for those watching.
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.
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.
Regular registration will be held from 5:30am to 6:30am on Saturday May 3rd. Donuts & Coffee will be served.
Both registrations will be held at the pavilion at Beaver Creek Wildlife Education Center.
Participants will be handed their T-shirts, swag bag, official competition tally sheet, official rules, official map of Beaver Creek State Park and will have their team photo taken.
If you cannot make early registration, you may still start at 5pm on Friday. But you must be present at the Saturday morning registration. Please try to have all team members present at registration.
If you are camping at the park campground, any bird heard by 75 percent of your team may be counted to your total.
An Owl Walk will be held on Friday night by The Division of Natural Areas and Preserves on Park property if you would like to join. Info will be with your itinerary.
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/
- American Birding Code of Ethics
- 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.
- 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.
- The competition will be held entirely within the Beaver Creek State Park & Beaver Creek State Forest properties. A map will be provided with registration.
- The contest starts at 5pm on Friday May 2nd, 2025 and ends on Saturday May 3rd, 2025 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.
- 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.
- Early registration will be held from 4pm to 5pm on Friday May 2nd.
Regular registration will be held from 5:30am to 6:30am on Saturday May 3rd. Donuts & Coffee will be served.
Both registrations will be held at the pavilion at Beaver Creek Wildlife Education Center.
Participants will be handed their T-shirts, swag bag, official competition tally sheet, official rules, official map of Beaver Creek State Park and will have their team photo taken.
If you cannot make early registration, you may still start at 5pm on Friday. But you must be present at the Saturday morning registration. Please try to have all team members present at registration.
- A special pass will be presented with your registration papers that allow you to go birding on certain park property at night. All other properties will be off limits unless otherwise stated by official signs. You must keep the pass on your present at all times at night and also have one on each vehicle present.
If you are camping at the park campground, any bird heard by 75 percent of your team may be counted to your total.
An Owl Walk will be held on Friday night by The Division of Natural Areas and Preserves on Park property if you would like to join. Info will be with your itinerary.
- 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 or in the eBird app.
- 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.
- All birds counted must be observed while teams are physically located within Beaver Creek State Park or Beaver Creek State Forest. For example, if you are standing in
- 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.
- 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.
- Birds counted must be alive, wild, and unrestrained. Nests, eggs, feathers, pellets or other artifacts do not count as birds.
- 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.
- Teams may go birding anywhere within Beaver Creek State Park or Beaver Creek State Forest as long as it is open to the public. PLEASE respect all homeowners & private property that may fall within park boundaries. Do not point binoculars, scopes or cameras at private homes or property. Do not use or block driveways.
- 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.
- Drivers should drive and pay attention to road conditions, speed limits and other safety considerations. Let the passengers look for birds.
- Alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs or substances, and weapons of any kind are strictly prohibited at this event and in the park.
- All participants must practice common sense health and safety measures throughout the event. Call 911 in case of emergency.
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/