General Rules - Don't Worry, It's Simple
(At least read the bold print)

1. All sightings must be within DuPage County (except for Field Trip, Yard, and Member Big Years). Heard only birds count, as long as you are confident of the ID. Birds must be seen while YOU are in DuPage County (the bird CAN be in an adjacent county as long as you are seeing it from DuPage). To avoid confusion, FermiLab and Tri-County State Park will be considered as being entirely in DuPage County even though small (usually insignificant) sections are in other counties.

2. Only wild birds count. “Countable birds” will be based on the DuPage Checklist of Birds. Escaped and domestic species are not countable unless they are on the checklist and have an established population. Countable: Monk Parakeets in Addison, Wild Turkeys at Herrick Lake, ect.
Not Countable: Two flightless Mute Swans on a private pond, Trumpeter Swans (released by BP), your pet Budgie, already deceased birds, ect.

3. Birds must be seen in 2005. The contest shall run from 12:01am on January 1st to 11:59pm on December 31st. Final tallies should be submitted by January 11, 2006.

4. Share what’s rare. If you see a rare, extremely rare, accidental, or unlisted bird (according to the DuPage Checklist), you should report it to the DuPage Hotline within a reasonable amount of time so that others have an opportunity to see it (nesting birds, roosting owls, and any other birds that are easily disturbed are obviously exempt from this rule). In other words, just don’t keep a bird to yourself because you want to get ahead of others. Competition comes second to sharing your neat finds with others.

5. Members can win and have fun, Non-members can have fun. The Big Year is open to all members of the DuPage Birding Club. Non-members are also welcome to participate, but they don’t qualify for prizes, the glory of winning, or any other benefits accorded to the victors.

6. Update your totals and keep a list. We will occasionally ask for your updated totals so that we can post the current standings. All that you need to send us is your updated totals as of that date. At the end of the year, we may ask for a copy of your complete lists (excluding the member big year).

7. Be Honest. The Big Year Committee reserves the right to disqualify participants for submitting obviously bogus sightings or totals; or for engaging in unethical behavior. The Big Year Committee reserves the right to clarify upon / modify any of these rules.

8. Have Fun and Share Stories. The biggest rule of all - You MUST have fun! Get out and enjoy birding in 2005. Remember or write down and special stories from the year. What where your big misses? Your best birds? Your funny stories and encounters? Save them up