QUALICUM BEACH — Grab your binoculars, field guide, your sense of adventure and come birding to the Parksville Qualicum Beach area on Saturday April 9.
Birders from up and down Vancouver Island are looking forward to the 18th Big Day Birding Competition.
Teams of three to five birders in both Green and Motorized categories will scour the shoreline, estuaries, marshes and varied habitats to count as many species of birds as possible from 4:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Novice, intermediate, experienced and young birders are all encouraged to participate. The teams will compete for prizes and glory with a spirit of good sportsmanship and the friendly tradition of past Big Days. An awards presentation will follow the day of birding at Deez Bar and Grill in Qualicum Beach.
All teams will compete for: Most Species Green or Most Species Open, both at novice, intermediate and experienced levels; Bird of the Day; Story of the Day; Most Owls; Least Distance Driven; Most Banded Canada Geese.
To encourage young birders, a Young and Young at Heart Award will be given to the highest scoring team determined by dividing their species total by their team average age.
Teams may walk, run, cycle, use wheelchairs or drive their route searching for and identifying birds within the allotted time. Individuals or couples are encouraged to enter and will be organized into a new team or added to an existing team.
Form a team within your family, friends, work place or club and come enjoy your Big Day.
For more information and to reserve your spot contact: rhysharrison@shaw.ca or 250-248-5305.
An entry fee of $10 per individual team member applies.
All proceeds to the Brant Wildlife Festival.
— Submitted by the Big Day Birding organizers
