Subject: More on Brant Festival '95

One of the highlights of the festival, in addition to the Brant, is
our Big Day Birding Competition. Last year we had over 120 people
participate in about 30 teams. It's a short day, starting at 050 0 h
and ending at 1500 h with the day in the field followed by a post
count gathering at the Bayside Inn Resort overlooking beautiful
Parksville Bay. The gathering is, of course, as much fun as the
birding. We have soup and sandwiches, a silent auction, and each team
recalls a favorite happening of the day. Awards are presented (Team of
the Day; Bird of the Day; Most Sportsman-like Team, Bes t Story of the
Day, Best Raptor List, etc.) and the major draw prize, a pair of
Bausch & Lomb, 8x42 Elite binoculars, is presented.

We would like to extend an invitation and a challenge to all birders
on the Internet to come to Vancouver Island, April 7, 8, and 9, 1995
and join us in the Big Day. A good time is guaranteed for al l.

For those birders east of the Rockies that have never been to the west
coast, we have a number of lifers for you that we can almost
guarantee: Yellow-billed Loon, Pacific Loon, Brandt's and Pelagic c
ormorants, American Dipper, Norther Saw-Whet Owl. Northwestern Crow,
Glaucous-winged Gull, Marbled Murrelet, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Rufous
Hummingbird, Bushtit, Hutton's Vireo, Varied Thrush etc, a nd of
course, the Black Brant. On your way through Vancouver, and before the
beautiful ferry ride to Vancouver Island, you might even get a Crested
Myna!

Our weather at the time of the festival is usually sunny and mild and
there's lots to see and do on the Island in addition to the excellent
birding from watching Orcas and Gray whales to kayaking, hi king, and
sightseeing. And birders visiting us from the USA will get a
bonus--about $5.00 Can. for every $4.00 US they exchange.

Anyone interested in more information about the Festival or the Big
Day, and special Brant Festival accomodation packages can send their
name and address to:

BRANT FESTIVAL 95
Box 327 Parksville, B.C. V9P 2G3
Telephone (604) 248-4117

or email name and address to: bfest at qb.island.net



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siler at wharton.upenn.edu
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