Introduction & Rules

In 2006, we set up the inaugral Challenge to see if we could collectively record 250 species during the year in the club's survey area. How did we go? Extremely well considering the drought... Plenty of unusual and rare birds .... some great records from non-members too. It was a fascinating year. And a worthwhile exercise which we encourage other groups to follow. See for yourself...

Moderator: Mick Atzeni

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Mick Atzeni
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Joined: Sun Dec 11, 2005 9:08 pm

Introduction & Rules

Post by Mick Atzeni »

Dear TBO members and visitors

We are about to have a very exciting year. In fact, it has already started!

The inspiration for setting up this Challenge was Sean Dooley's must-read book, "The Big Twitch", which I read over the Christmas break. Sean set out to see 700 species in Australia and its territories in 2002. He ended up with a total of 703, smashing the previous record of 633!

The number of species officially recorded in the local survey area (see Species List on this site) is 289 species. Of these, about 40 have only been recorded no more than a handful of times in our 30 years of record-keeping! Several, such as the Blue-billed Duck, Whimbrel and Red-necked Phalarope, have only been recorded once.

So, on 4/1/06, I proposed that TBO do a "Shorn" Dooley and aim for a mere 250 species in our local survey area during 2006. Talk about a red rag to a bull! The response has been amazing!

Putting this Challenge into some perspective, during our annual October Species Census we usually see around 150 species in one weekend. We have the rest of the year to find a hundred more! Sounds easy? Let's see!

The aim is to give local and visting birders the incentive to not only get out there and look, but to post their sightings to the Forum for the benefit of other participants and to keep the tally ticking over. That way they can focus their efforts on the remaining species and everyone, including the general public, can follow the Challenge's progress.

As well as a worthwhile exercise, the '250 in 2006' Challenge is a great way to promote the club and to raise awareness about our our diverse local avifauna, particularly the uncommon and under-reported species of this region. It also serves as a new vehicle for sharing our local knowledge with the wider community.

A Starting List of what's been seen as at 10/01/06 has already been compiled and posted to the forum.

The rules of the Challenge are:

1. Only records in the TBO survey area count. Broadly speaking, the area takes in Toowoomba, Helidon, Highfields, Flagstone Ck, Rockmount, Preston, Hodgson Vale, Wyreema, Umbiram, Kingsthorpe and Gowrie Junction. Survey area and grid boundaries are available from the Secretary.

2. Species must be positively ID'd. If in doubt, leave them out.

3. Only contributions made through the website forum will be considered. These may be posted by a third party e.g. restrospectively, by the Records Officer, off a monthly checklist.

4. When posting sightings to the forum, please supply the Species, Date, and accurate Location details e.g. GPS reading, address, or distance to nearest landmark, and, if known, the TBO grid reference, e.g. Pacific Black Duck 010106 Lake Annand, Toowoomba (Grid C3). If you are unsure of the boundaries and grids, please contact the Secretary.

By all means include details of other species seen, even if they're not new for the Challenge list.

5. Asterisked (*) species on the club list generally require more detailed information in the form of a Rare/Unusual Bird Report (available on request from Pat McConnell, our Records Officer. See Contacts). Any species seen which are not on the official list will definitely require a Rare/Unusual Bird Report. These will be appraised by the club's Rarities Committee before they can be officially accepted.

Updated reports of both Seen and Unseen species will be posted to the forum regularly as required.

That's all for now. We can review the rules down the track if need be.

Look forward to your participation.

Good birding and good luck!

Cheers

Michael
Michael Atzeni
7 Woden St, Murphys Creek 4352
Mob: 0499 395 485
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