Dear Birders:

Here's the latest info on the Okanagan Big Day Challenge. A lot of you (at
least a lot of the British Columbians) will be getting a package of this
stuff in the mail soon, including your all important pledge sheets. Please
pass this message on to any birders you think might be interested in this
fun event; we want to make it a fairly big splash this year. One more
thing--every participant will get a free coffee and donut at Tim Hortons!
I knew that would increase our numbers 100%!

If you have any questions or would like the full package (checklist, pledge
sheets, etc.), send me a message *by April 10* (I'm out of the country
after that), or get in touch with the Meadowlark Festival at the
numbers/addresses provided.

Hope to see you in the OK in May!

Dick Cannings

THE 1998 OKANAGAN BIG DAY CHALLENGE

Welcome to the thirteenth annual Okanagan Big Day Challenge, held each year
on the Sunday of the Victoria Day weekend. This year it will be a main
event of the first annual Meadowlark Festival. Teams of birders come from
all over Canada and the northwestern United States to participate in this
fun event.

What is the Big Day Challenge? It is a friendly competition to see which
team can see and hear the most species of birds in one day--midnight to
midnight, Sunday, May 17th--in the Okanagan Valley. For those not wanting
to deal with sleep deprivation there is the Little Big Day, which starts at
4 a.m. and ends at noon. Winning teams usually tally about 160 species;
the all-time record is 174!

For eight years, the Challenge has been organized as a fund-raising event,
with participants collecting pledges for each species they see. This year
all proceeds will be split betweeen the Nature Trust of British Columbia
and the Okanagan Similkameen Conservation Legacy Fund for habitat
acquisition and management in the Okanagan and Similkameen valleys.

This year the $15 entry fee gets you
a special commemorative T-shirt featuring a White-throated Swift painted
by Rob Butler (only available to Big Day Challenge participants)
free entry to the Monday awards brunch at the SS Sicamous hosted by Rick
Howie ($5 for non-participants)
your passport to all Meadowlark Festival activities ($10 for
non-participants)

Awards
The Big Day Challenge has many coveted awards, including:
The Flammulated Owl Award, for the team with the highest species total
The Kootenay Kup, for the runner up team
The Oka-Noggin, for "best bird of the day"
The Sour Grapes Award, for worst miss of the day
The Lydia Bishop Award, for best species total on a Little Big Day
Best species total for a Bicycle Big Day
Best species total for a Walking Big Day
The Wandering Albatross Award, for the participant who travelled the
farthest to get to the Okanagan

Prizes
Prizes will be awarded for fund-raising--every $50 you raise gives you a
chance at a great list of prizes, including binoculars, hats, field guides
and other birding necessities!

Details
Write or phone for complete details to:
Okanagan Big Day Challenge
The Meadowlark Festival
1099 Lakeshore Drive W.,
Penticton, BC, V2A 1B7

Phone: 1-250-492-LARK
E-mail: meadowlark at img.net


cannings at vip.net
(250) 496-4019
1330 Debeck
S11, C96, RR1
Naramata, BC V0H 1N0