Birdwatching offers a great opportunity to connect with birds and discover nature around us, even if it’s done in a city. We are inviting everyone to join our mini bird race from any place in Cyprus, on Sunday, 27 December.
 
How it works
On Sunday, 27 December, choose one place or natural area to see or hear birds- it could be literally anywhere: your balcony, your garden or local park, your neighborhood, the mountains, a wetland. Note down as many bird species you can see or hear and submit your observations to BirdLife Cyprus by 6:00pm on the same day. If you’re feeling creative, you can also take a photo or two and submit these also (yes, there is a prize for that too!).
 
Who can participate
Anyone living in Cyprus (individuals, couples or families – as long as they are under one household).

Spread the word
Share your experience on the day on social media using #XmasBirdRace.

Rules

• Participants must follow local COVID-19 restrictive measures to the letter. You can see the latest measures in force here: https://www.pio.gov.cy/coronavirus/eng
• Participants must send observations from only one site (eg local park, a wetland or your garden etc)
• Participants must send observations that were seen and/or heard for max. 3 hours (at any time of the day)
• ​Records of birds either seen or heard can be accepted.
• All observations or photos should be taken on Sunday, 27 December and should be sent to BirdLife Cyprus in one e-mail by 6pm on the same day,  at info@birdlifecyprus.org.cy with subject line ‘Christmas Birding’.
• The e-mail should contain:
  • Name(s) of observers
  • Area/site and district (i.e. Lakatamia, Nicosia or Oroklini Lake, Larnaca)
  • A list of bird species seen or heard – example given below:
    • 1. House Sparrow
    • 2. White Wagtail
    • 3. Great Tit (heard)
• Any photos of birds (or the view or other wildlife!) taken during the race
• A telephone number
• Postal address (to send you a bird guide or/and your prize-if you’re among the winners!)
• By entering this competition, participants agree that BirdLife Cyprus can publish in any format photos submitted as part of the Christmas Bird Race in the organisation’s website, social media and printed publications, with credit to the photographer.

Prizes will be given for:

1. The highest number of species observed in urban areas (seen and/or heard)
2. The highest number of species observed in a natural area (seen and/or heard)
3. ​The best photo (to be judged by the BirdLife Cyprus bird race committee)
4. The “best bird” seen (to be judged by the BirdLife Cyprus bird race committee: Melis Charalambides, Jane Stylianou, Martin Hellicar, Elena Markitani and Christia Alexandrou)

For categories 3 and 4, the committee will take into account the fact that some observers will be limited to urban settings.

The four winners will be informed by e-mail on 12 January and will have the opportunity to choose from among a nest box, a comic book, a t-shirt or a bird illustration as a prize.

A BirdLife Cyprus bird guide will be sent to all participants as a gift.