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Rules of the Challenge

The challenge is open to anyone, and challengers are invited to register with the organiser. A list of all participants shall be maintained on the web-site:

Based on input from the ADU, and evaluation of the most important areas (with least data) we have compiled a list of over 150 conservation areas in the Pretoria area. In keeping with last years focus on the immediate Pretoria area, we have limited the areas to those within the 100km radius.

Surprisingly little is known about many of these places, let alone the birds in them. The challenge will therefore include a pioneer category, where points are awarded to people that complete the information for different sites. This will enable the club to have a fuller, more comprehensive database on all the conservation areas in our area.

All sites are rated 3,2 OR 1 as follows:

Sites rated 3 (3 points)

Little known (need data)
Large sites (therefore important)
Substantial wetlands (greater conservation importance)
Urgently in need of conservation
IBA's (Classified as Important Bird Areas by BirdLife

Sites rated 2 (2 points)

Small sites with little data
Large sites, with quite a bit of data.
ADU rated as important if small

Sites rated 1 (1 point)

Not rated by ADU
Generally small
Lesser conservation significance.

Allocation of points for "early lists"

The first 3 lists for a site get the points multiplied by 3.
The next three lists for a site gets the points multiplied by 2

Points awarded - Challenge Categories

There will be four categories in the challenge:

1. Value of site lists submitted. (The Trainspotter Award) - this category is for overall value of the site lists submitted.

2. Number of actual bird records across all site categories (rated sites only) this is the total number of observations made across all categories, including numbers, breeding remarks and additional information

3. Species recorded in the Pretoria Area (Twitcher Award) - 70% of species recorded in rated sites only. Other species recorded must be submitted with locality and date. This is the same as the Pretoria Challenge 2001, except that 70% of species must be recorded as part of a site visit, and included in site lists submitted to the organisers.

4. Amount of information submitted on listed sites. (Pioneer award) This will be rated on the total number of points aquired for submission of new site information.

In addition three lucky draw prizes will be awarded to participants who register for the challenge, and submit at least one list.

At the discretion of the organisers, an overall award (or two) may be made for people that have made a huge contribution to conservation, while not necessarily winning any specific award.

Site information

Any person sending in completed site information will be awarded 25 points for a full submission of required site information. This includes directions, contact numbers, access details, description of the habitats, and a site map.

If the information is mostly there, but not fully complete 20 points will be awarded.

At the discretion of the organisers, participants will get from 5-19 points for any new information on sites. Information required is:

Controlling Authority
Contact Person for arranging access
Telephone number
Size of area (hectares)
Who has visited/Knows the area(from a birding point of view), and telephone number.
Grid Reference (Quarter degree square) and within the quarter degree square, which sub-square.
GPS waypoints of key landmarks in area.
Map of the area, or description of boundaries.
Conservation issues and description.
Key birds (Red Data species, regional specials etc)

Listing a site.

The aim of the Conservation Challenge is to gather as much data as possible on all the protected sites in the area - defined as 100km from Pretoria. In order to ensure that the data is accurate and useful, the following guidelines should be followed:

Please indicate the time you started birding in the area, and time finished. Lists should be based on at least two hours of birding, in a variety of habitats.
Do not record birds from outside of the area. Birds recorded outside of the area, should be give the "o" code.
Please provide as much information as possible on numbers, breeding and any other interesting information gleaned from the outing.

The breeding status codes are those used by the Avian Demography Unit and are indications of whether breeding activity was observed or not.

present, but not observed breeding
present, possibly breeding (nest building, courtship displays, adults carrying food)
present, probably breeding (adults entering enclosed nests or carrying food to inaccessible nests)
present, confirmed breeding (eggs being incubated, chicks in nest, young fledglings or precocial chicks, adults carrying faecal sacs), give details on whether eggs or chicks noted in "Additional Information" column
present, has bred in the past.

Vetting Records

A committee has been elected from the most experienced birders in the bird clubs involved. These folk have been elected to help sift through mistaken identifications and genuine observations of rarities. Every observer will have unusual records scrutinised, from the most experienced to the beginner. It is unavoidable in a project of this nature that mistakes are made when identifying birds and these mistakes need to be sifted out for this project to have any value. Birds for which vetting will be done are those rated 4 or 5. Please also report other birds in atypical habitat, or unusual seasons, (ie European Bee-eaters breeding, Spotted Flycatcher in July, Puffback Shrike at Marievale.) These sightings should be mailed to [email protected], and if you wish, phoned in to Pauline Leinberger on 012-460-5834. Alternatively, you can post the sightings on Pretoriabirds. These should be reported within 24 hours of the observation, and bonus points will be awarded for prompt reporting.

All species recorded should be clearly identified either by sight or by sound, participants should keep a record of those species identified by Sound alone. However, the primary focus of this challenge should be to see the bird and attempts should be made to see all species, except in cases where this normally does not aid ID or where conservation is of concern.

See also the Code of Conduct

Page updated 26 May 2002. Site built by Etienne Marais. For more information e-mail Pieter van Zyl or Rob Geddes at pcc@@birding.co.za