The Irish Rare And Scarce Bird News Group is delighted to announce that, thanks to PhoneSkope, through to the end of 2023, we will be running a phonescoping competition here in the group.
The best Rare/Scarce Bird Find News Post, which includes a phonescoped image or video each month will win a Phonescoping kit (phonecase and adapter for their scope) from Phoneskope.
DSLR, Bridge Camera or Back of the camera photos do not apply.
Here's the rules:
1. The post must qualify as News. The aim and spirit of this group is to share rare bird news with as many members as want rare bird news, as quickly as possible. If we detect entrants are dropping news elsewhere, but only dropping news here 20 mins later/later that day/the next day etc because they remember there's a prize to be won, the admins will take a dim view of that entry.
Rarity/Scarcity is defined by the group's own species list available below.
2. The Rarity/Scarcity must be a find (A new bird, or a genuine surprise relocation, we will go by the famous Punkbirder Rules on that one). In the unlikely event that the bird in question is a dreaded co-find...work out a way to share the prize, though favor, obviously, will be given to that person dropping the news.
3. You can add an image or video after the fact. If you find a bird, drop your news in the group's main page in good time as per rule 1, you can always add any image or video later by editing your post. If you ever need help figuring out how to edit a post don't hesitate to contact admins.
4. It's a bit of fun. The image or video doesn't necessarily have to be an award winning magazine shoot.
5. Tag your entry with the hashtag #phoneskope . This helps admins to find entries later. If you would be so good, if posting the image or video on twitter or instagram, tag the group (@irsbg1) with the same hashtag #phoneskope for extra visibility.
6. Every month we will hold a poll on the competition entries, with the collated photos/videos. The poll will take place on the first of each month.
7. To diversify the competition, you may only win a monthly poll once. A winner of a PhoneSkope monthly poll will then be excluded from competing in subsequent months.
8. Any potential ties will be decided by vote within the admin team (with any admin contestants recusing themselves from the vote).
9. Should there be no available entries in a month, that month's prize will be held over and the competition extended an extra month.
10. The prize covers a phone case and adapter kit. Shipping and customs costs are the responsibility of the recipient winner.
Download the Band app and join at the link above.
Happy PhoneSkoping and good birding!
