Birdathon Rules

Our rules generally conform to the ABA Recording and Big Day Count Rules 

Rules specific to Birdathon Count events are as follows:

1. Ethics: All participants must bird in accordance with the ABA Code of Ethics
2. Counting: Only full species as indicated by the current ABA Checklist will be considered
3. Time: All counts must be conducted between 5am-9pm. Counts must take place on Saturday, April 9th.
4. Area: San Francisco Team (SF and San Mateo County). East Bay Team (Contra Costa and Alameda County)
5. Travel: Participants on a team must remain within direct voice-connect distance during all travel (except when traveling in multiple vehicles).
6. Identification: Birds can be identified by sight or call. Species must be identified by two people.
7. Outside Information: Teams can use all outside information they choose before the count begins, and then none after counting has started.
8. Use of Audio: Electronic or recorded bird calls may not be used for attracting bird species during the Bay Birding Challenge.
9. Deadline: To be eligible for an award, partcipants must submit their list to eBird by April 11, 2022.