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New, improved Big Sit



Hi Carolinabirders,

Just noticed on BIRDCHAT that the Big Sit now includes a $500 prize to 
the nonprofit environmental organization/bird club of one team's choice, 
courtesy of Big Sit cosponsor Swarovski Optics. The winning team that 
gets to donate the $500 is not a team that wins by any objective standard 
like number of species seen; instead, they pick a bird species at random, 
and then pick a team at random from all the teams that recorded that 
species. So technically, someone who watched their feeders all day and 
reports 12 species could win the drawing and pick the recipients of the 
$500! The next Big Sit is October 17; I'll paste the official 
announcement below...

The question is, where in the Carolinas could you see the most bird 
species in 24 hours from within a 17-foot diameter circle, on October 17?

Good birding,

Josh

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Date:         Fri, 20 Aug 1999 15:25:44 -0400
Reply-To:     jhimmel@CONNIX.COM
From:         John Himmelman <jhimmel@CONNIX.COM>
Subject:      The 1999 BIG SIT! - October 17, 1999

Hello Bird-chatters -

If this is of interest to you, please feel free to contact me.

John

*************************************************************************

Hello future Sitters -

Here is the info on the next New Haven Bird Club BIG SIT!.  This is our 
seventh year doing this event, but this year we have added a new twist... 
a $500 prize from our co-sponsors SWAROVSKI OPTIKS, to the team who gets 
the "Golden Bird". The money must go to a non-profit environmental-based 
organization - winner's choice.  Read below for details.  AND, we will 
have commemorative T-shirts for sale(and for the winning circle), again, 
details below.

Just a little history on this event:  Since 1993, 27 states, 2 counties 
in England, and one in British Columbia have participated.  420 bird 
species have been listed by over 60 circles and over 200 people.  These 
people have sat through searing heat, gale force winds, snow, pouring 
rain, oh, and some bee-utiful weather.  But every one of those people at 
any point during their sit, could imagine a circle of like-minded 
lunatics doing the same in another part of the world.

Below, you will find the electronic version of the rules and regs.  This 
cuts down greatly on postage and paper, which is appreciated by the New 
Haven Bird Club, who funds this.

Hope you'll join us!

Sit well,

John Himmelman
BIG SIT! Chief


"If you sit in one place long enough, eventually every species of bird
                            will pass by."

Set aside October 17, 1999 for the seventh annual New Haven Bird Club BIG 
SIT! now co-sposored by SWAROVSKI OPTIK!

The NHBC BIG SIT! is like a Big Day, or a Bird-a-thon in that the object 
is to tally as many bird species as can be seen or heard within 24 
hours. The difference lies in the area limitation (17 foot circle) from 
which you'll be allowed to observe. THIS FREE EVENT IS OPEN TO EVERY 
INDIVIDUAL & EVERY CLUB IN EVERY STATE in EVERY COUNTRY!

2 categories: 1)Best National Count (Most species seen by a single circle 
 - wins our new commemorative T-shirt)

             2)Best State Count (Highest combined total from circles 
within a state - wins... state pride?)

And now, a BRAND NEW PRIZE:  Swarovski is offering $500 to the circle who 
finds the....... "Golden Bird".

The prize money must go to the circle's choice of a non-profit, 
environmental organization or club (Bird Clubs, Audubon Chapters, etc.).  
Details on the "Golden Bird" below.

 GET A TEAM TOGETHER, OR GO IT ALONE, just for fun or to add to your 
state's or Country's total

Here are the guidelines:
1) Observations can be made from any area within the state/country you 
 live, or wish to represent.
2) Observations can only be made from within a 17 foot(diameter) circle.
3) There's no limit to how many people can occupy one area (other than 
 the obvious spatial limitations). Bring some chairs. Have a picnic or 
 barbeque.  Welcome passers-by and their contributions to your list.
4) If a bird is seen or heard from within the circle but is too distant 
 to identify, the circle can be left to get a closer look for 
 confirmation. However, any new bird seen or heard while confirming the 
 original, can't be counted unless it's seen from an "anchor" who stayed 
 behind in your circle, or when you return to your spot.
5) The Participants can work in shifts. No one person needs to be there 
 throughout the whole Sit. The area can be left and returned to as 
 frequently as desired, but you must be sure to return to the exact spot 
 each time. 
6) The same circle must be used for the entire Sit.
7) The BIG SIT will begin at midnight on October 17 and end 24 hours 
 later.

BEFORE THE SIT:
  Every area (not person) must be registered  before the event.  A  
confirmation and T-shirt ordering information will be sent upon receiving 
your registration. A phone call or E-mail (PREFERRED) will do!

Please call John Himmelman at (860)663-3225 , or E-mail to 
jhimmel@connix.com to register your spot, or send the following info: 
Name, Full Address, Phone, & brief description of area, to John 
Himmelman, 17 Hunters Ridge, Killingworth CT 06419 BEFORE OCTOBER 16, 
1999. THIS EVENT IS FREE.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

AFTER THE SIT:  Please send the following info, along with a completed 
checklist (in as close to taxinomical order as you can get it) of birds 
you saw, by November 1, 1999.

Name(s)(team name if you've got one!), Contact person's name, address, 
and phone, BIG SIT! location (state, town, habitat), Weather conditions, 
Time spent at location, Name of the organization who would receive $500 
prize Notes (write on on back  or separate sheet), AND - optional - a 
photo or slide of your team at your BIG SIT! location!!

Send to John Himmelman, 17 Hunters Ridge Rd., Killingworth, CT 06419 USA 
by Nov. 1, '99 or e-mail your results to jhimmel@connix.com

 A total list from all the areas/states/countries will be compiled & each 
individual, or team rep.  will receive the results.

And what is the Golden Bird? After all of the results are tabulated, a 
bird will be selected by random drawing from the total list. All of the 
circles who listed that bird (it could be just one!) will be put into 
another random drawing. The selected circle's organization wins the 
prize.

<><><><><><><><><>
John Himmelman
Killingworth, CT USA
jhimmel@connix.com
<><><><><><><><><>

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Joshua S. Rose
Duke University
Department of Zoology

jsr6@acpub.duke.edu
http://www.duke.edu/~jsr6/