2016

Bird-watching race to take place in september

Latvian bird-watchers and bird-watchers from other countries are kindly invited to take part in the international bird-watching race “Latvia’s State Forests Bird Rally 2016”. The race will this year take place on 24 September, and will run for not more than 14 hours. The race is organised by Joint-Stock Company “Latvia’s State Forests”, Latvia Birds Fund and portal www.latvijasputni.lv.

Registration for the race is open until 16 September; please send your applications to the e-mail address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The following should be indicated in the application: the name of the team, names and surnames of the team members, date of birth (date, month, year) of the team members, as well as their e-mail addresses. Teams will be registered for the race in the order of application. Teams should familiarise themselves with the terms and conditions of the bird-watching race before application.

In each team there should be three to five people who have reached the age of majority. To move around the specified area, teams will be allowed to use road transport, public transport and other motor vehicles. However, each team will be allowed to use only one vehicle. The race area - Kurzeme and Zemgale. The race closing place - LVM Tērvete Reservoir.

The observed bird species and subspecies will be recorded in the List of Latvian Bird Species and Subspecies, which will be sent electronically by the organisers of the race and printed out by the teams. Only the birds that are alive, and may be freely seen or heard in wildlife, and that have been clearly identified may be recorded in the list. Use of any traps or any other equipment for bird trapping during the race is prohibited.  It is also prohibited to attract birds with tape-recorders or any digital audio equipment.

The team which will have recorded the greatest number of nominal species will be the winner of the race. If several teams have the same number of recorded nominal birds species, the team with a greater number of unique species, that is, species that were not recorded by other teams, will be announced the winner of the race.

This year teams will also be presented a prize for the most interesting observation. Together with the list of bird species and subspecies recorded during the race, the teams should also choose one species or subspecies in the category "Most Interesting Observation". If the jury does not recognise any of the works as appropriate for this nomination, it is possible that the prize in this nomination will not be awarded.

Team members will also have an opportunity to get an inducement prize for the most attractive presentation of the birds recorded during the race in social media www.twitter.com, www.facebook.com, www.instagram.com

Contact information for Latvian teams:

• Kaspars Funts: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., tel.: +371 29467772

Contact information for foreign teams:

• Kārlis Millers: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., tel.: +371 29252138