Rules & Guidelines | Twitchathon

Big Weekend (30 Hour) Rules

Teams must consist of two or more members.
All species must be unquestionably identified.
Each Twitchathon must be confined to NSW and the ACT, with no air travel allowed.
All team members must remain within direct voice contact throughout the Big Weekend. The use of mobile phones, walkie talkies and similar for this purpose is considered indirect voice contact and is not permitted.
Teams must make every effort to avoid receiving bird-finding help from non-participants.
Before a species may be counted, an individual, pair or flock must be identified by sight or sound by more than 50% of the team members.

The Twitchathon Big Weekend relies on an honour system. You must be 100% sure of the identification of each bird. If you are not sure, don’t put it on the list.

TIMING The Big Weekend must be held within any single 30 hour period between 8am Saturday 25th October and 6pm Sunday 26th October. A sleep break that comprises six consecutive hours must be taken by all team members sometime between 10pm and 6am. No birds can be counted on team lists during the 6hr sleep break and teams are not permitted to travel during this time.

Teams must finish the Twitchathon not more than 30 hours after the start time on the Saturday.

During registration, your team will be required to nominate a start time, as well as approximate start, end, and overnight locations. The start time nominated on the registration form is final; teams may not change their start time on the day of the event. Please use the species list provided. Your team’s final tally must be sent, by text or e-mail only, to the Twitchathon Coordinator before 11:59pm on Sunday the 26th October. Your final list must be submitted by email to the Twitchathon coordinator by 11:59pm on Friday 31st October.

COUNTABLE SPECIES must be alive, unrestrained and from free-living established populations of full species. You cannot count birds that are road killed, beach washed, captive, trapped or escaped. Please note, for example, that pure and wild Mallards can be counted, but domestic ducks and geese, and hybridised ducks cannot. Similar rules apply for most free-flying populations of Guineafowl, Peafowl, Pheasant and Junglefowl, which in most instances should not be counted on a species list.

NON-COMPETITORS Any team member may retire if required, in which case the size of the team will be treated as if the person was still present. The retired member may not re-join or aid the team. Non-participating companions (retired or otherwise) may accompany the team, record species, or drive the vehicle. Non-competitors must not assist in the identification or location of species.

ETHICS For the birds’ sake keep disturbance to a minimum. Recorded calls or the use of mechanical devices to attract birds are prohibited. Be careful not to obstruct or otherwise affect other teams. It is your responsibility to obtain permission beforehand to access areas with restricted access.

SAFETY For safety reasons, as outlined above, all teams must stop and may not travel for a consecutive 6 hour sleep break sometime between 10pm and 6am. All teams must also rotate drivers at intervals of, at most, 2 hours. Teams booked for traffic offences during the Twitchathon or failing to stop for the required breaks will be disqualified.

CHILDREN We are not able to include teams which include one or more children unless they are accompanied by their parent or legal guardian

Your Twitchathon NSW & ACT Coordinators

Bastian Phelan & Elisabeth Karplus: info@twitchathon.com.au

Twitchathon Safety Information

Keep your team safe, healthy and alert throughout the weekend.

1. Be prepared

Bring plenty of food and water — drink regularly throughout the day.
Pack a first aid kit, including a snake bite kit.
Wear sun protection (hat, sunscreen, sunglasses) and insect repellent.
Dress for the outdoors — long pants or gaiters, sturdy boots, hat, gloves, and warm/rain gear.
Carry torches, spare batteries, and mobile phones with chargers and battery packs.
Check the weather and any warnings for the areas you’ll be travelling through using the BOM Weather app.
Download the Hazards Near Me and Emergency Plus apps (links below) to stay informed and prepared.
If you’re heading into remote areas, consider a personal locator beacon and tell someone your plans.
Bring all medication and personal care items you need.

2. Safe driving

Obey all road rules and drive to the conditions.
- Teams booked for traffic offences or failing to take rest breaks will be disqualified.
If participating in the 30-hour Big Weekend, take a 6-hour sleep break between 10 pm and 6 am — no travel during that time.
Rotate drivers every 2 hours, and never drive while fatigued.
Watch for wildlife, particularly at dawn, dusk, and night.

3. Health and wellbeing

Check in with teammates for signs of fatigue, stress, or dehydration.
Prioritise your health — if you feel unwell or unsafe, take a break.
Let someone know if you have any pre-existing medical conditions that might affect you.

4. Team admin

Keep a record of your team members’ names and contact details in your vehicle.This helps in case of an emergency or if assistance is required.
Exchange the name and phone number of your emergency contact with your team mates.
Make sure everyone knows the plan for the day.

IN AN EMERGENCY

Dial 000

Download these apps to stay safe:

Hazards Near Me

Live Traffic

BOM Weather

Emergency Plus

Champagne Event (8 Hour) Rules

Teams must consist of two or more members.
All species must be unquestionably identified.
Each champagne Event must be confined to NSW and the ACT, with no air travel allowed.
All team members must remain within direct voice contact throughout the Champagne Event. The use of mobile phones, walkie talkies and similar for this purpose is considered indirect voice contact and is not permitted.
Teams must make every effort to avoid receiving bird-finding help from non-participants.
Before a species may be counted, an individual, pair or flock must be identified by sight or sound by more than 50% of team members or by both team members if the team has only two members.
Teams may choose to include a lunch break, which pauses the 8 hour block for exactly 1 hour, during which no birds may be counted, and no travel or transportation is allowed.

The Twitchathon Champagne Event relies on an honour system. You must be 100% sure of the identification of each bird. If you are not sure, don’t put it on the list.

TIMING. All Champagne Event must be within a single 9 hour period (if a lunch break is taken), or one single 8 hour block if not choosing to have a lunch break, some time on Saturday, 25th October or Sunday, 26th October. As noted in point 7 above, birds may not be counted during the lunch break.

During registration, your team will be required to nominate a race date, an approximate start time, and approximate start and end locations. Once your team chooses to begin the race period, it may not be paused or restarted. Please use the species list provided. Your team’s final tally must be sent by text or e-mail only, to the Twitchathon Coordinator before 11:59pm on Sunday 26th October. Your final list must be submitted by email to the Twitchathon coordinator by 11:59pm on Friday 31st October, 2025.

COUNTABLE SPECIES must be alive, unrestrained and from free-living established populations of full species. You cannot count birds that are road killed, beach washed, captive, trapped or escaped. Please note, for example, that pure and wild Mallards can be counted, but domestic ducks and geese, and hybridised ducks cannot. Similar rules apply for most free-flying populations of Guineafowl, Peafowl, Pheasant and Junglefowl, which in most instances should not be counted on a species list.

NON-COMPETITORS Any team member may retire if required, in which case the size of the team will be treated as if the person was still present. The retired member may not re-join or aid the team. Non-participating companions (retired or otherwise) may accompany the team, record species, or drive the vehicle. Non-competitors must not assist in the identification or location of species.

ETHICS For the birds’ sake keep disturbance to a minimum. Recorded calls or the use of mechanical devices to attract birds are prohibited. Be careful not to obstruct or otherwise affect other teams. It is your responsibility to obtain permission beforehand to access areas with restricted access.

SAFETY For safety reasons, all teams must rotate drivers at an interval of not more than two hours. Teams booked for traffic offences during the Twitchathon or failing to stop for the required breaks will be disqualified.

See below for all safety and Covid safe protocols

CHILDREN We are not able to include teams which include one or more children unless they are accompanied by their parent or legal guardian

Your Twitchathon NSW & ACT Coordinators

Bastian Phelan & Elisabeth Karplus: info@twitchathon.com.au

Twitchathon Safety Information

Keep your team safe, healthy and alert throughout the weekend.

1. Be prepared

Bring plenty of food and water — drink regularly throughout the day.
Pack a first aid kit, including a snake bite kit.
Wear sun protection (hat, sunscreen, sunglasses) and insect repellent.
Dress for the outdoors — long pants or gaiters, sturdy boots, hat, gloves, and warm/rain gear.
Carry torches, spare batteries, and mobile phones with chargers and battery packs.
Check the weather and any warnings for the areas you’ll be travelling through using the BOM Weather app.
Download the Hazards Near Me and Emergency Plus apps (links below) to stay informed and prepared.
If you’re heading into remote areas, consider a personal locator beacon and tell someone your plans.
Bring all medication and personal care items you need.

2. Safe driving

Obey all road rules and drive to the conditions.
- Teams booked for traffic offences or failing to take rest breaks will be disqualified.
If participating in the 30-hour Big Weekend, take a 6-hour sleep break between 10 pm and 6 am — no travel during that time.
Rotate drivers every 2 hours, and never drive while fatigued.
Watch for wildlife, particularly at dawn, dusk, and night.

3. Health and wellbeing

Check in with teammates for signs of fatigue, stress, or dehydration.
Prioritise your health — if you feel unwell or unsafe, take a break.
Let someone know if you have any pre-existing medical conditions that might affect you.

4. Team admin

Keep a record of your team members’ names and contact details in your vehicle.This helps in case of an emergency or if assistance is required.
Exchange the name and phone number of your emergency contact with your team mates.
Make sure everyone knows the plan for the day.

IN AN EMERGENCY

Dial 000

Download these apps to stay safe:

Hazards Near Me

Live Traffic

BOM Weather

Emergency Plus

Birdathon (3 Hours) Rules

Teams must consist of two or more members.
All species must be unquestionably identified.
Each Birdathon must be confined to NSW & the ACT, with no air travel allowed.
All team members must remain within direct voice contact throughout the Birdathon. The use of mobile phones, walkie talkies and similar for this purpose is considered indirect voice contact and is not permitted.
Each team will have 3x 1 hour blocks at their disposal in which to count birds.
Once a team decides to begin any 1 hour block, it cannot be paused, restarted or prolonged.
A team may have their 3 blocks spaced however they choose on the nominated race day. For example.
a) 6 - 9am Saturday

b) 6 - 7am, 1 - 2pm, 4 - 5pm Saturday
c) 6:01 - 8:01am, 5:35 - 6:35pm Sunday

Teams must make every effort to avoid receiving bird-finding help from non-participants. However outside the designated 1 hour blocks, you are encouraged to drive to, search for, and locate species which you can re-find later during one of your timed competition blocks.
Before a species may be counted, an individual, pair or flock must be identified by sight or sound by more than 50% of team members or by both team members if the team has only two members.

The Twitchathon Birdathon Event relies on an honour system. You must be 100% sure of the identification of each bird. If you are not sure, don’t put it on the list.

TIMING All counting must be within the three allocated hour long blocks which must all be used on only a single day, either Saturday 25th October or Sunday 26th October.

During registration your team will be required to nominate a race date and approximate start and end locations. Please use the species list provided. Your team’s final tally must be sent, by text or e-mail only, to the Twitchathon Coordinator before 11:59pm on Sunday 26th October. Your final list must be submitted by email to the Twitchathon coordinator by 11:59pm on Friday 31st October 2025.

COUNTABLE SPECIES must be alive, unrestrained and from free-living established populations of full species. You cannot count birds that are road killed, beach washed, captive, trapped or escaped. Please note, for example, that pure and wild Mallards can be counted, but domestic ducks and geese, and hybridised ducks cannot. Similar rules apply for most free-flying populations of Guineafowl, Peafowl, Pheasant and Junglefowl, which in most instances should not be counted on a species list.

NON-COMPETITORS Any team member may retire if required, in which case the size of the team will be treated as if the person was still present. The retired member may not re-join or aid the team. Non-participating companions (retired or otherwise) may accompany the team, record species, or drive the vehicle. Non-competitors must not assist in the identification or location of species.

ETHICS For the birds’ sake keep disturbance to a minimum. Recorded calls or the use of mechanical devices to attract birds are prohibited. Be careful not to obstruct or otherwise affect other teams. It is your responsibility to obtain permission beforehand to access areas with restricted access.

SAFETY For safety reasons, all teams must rotate drivers at an interval of not more than two hours. Teams booked for traffic offences during the Twitchathon or failing to stop for the required breaks will be disqualified.

See below for all safety and Covid safe protocols

CHILDREN We are not able to include teams which include one or more children unless they are accompanied by their parent or legal guardian.

Your Twitchathon NSW & ACT Coordinators

Bastian Phelan & Elisabeth Karplus: info@twitchathon.com.au

Twitchathon Safety Information

Keep your team safe, healthy and alert throughout the weekend.

1. Be prepared

Bring plenty of food and water — drink regularly throughout the day.
Pack a first aid kit, including a snake bite kit.
Wear sun protection (hat, sunscreen, sunglasses) and insect repellent.
Dress for the outdoors — long pants or gaiters, sturdy boots, hat, gloves, and warm/rain gear.
Carry torches, spare batteries, and mobile phones with chargers and battery packs.
Check the weather and any warnings for the areas you’ll be travelling through using the BOM Weather app.
Download the Hazards Near Me and Emergency Plus apps (links below) to stay informed and prepared.
If you’re heading into remote areas, consider a personal locator beacon and tell someone your plans.
Bring all medication and personal care items you need.

2. Safe driving

Obey all road rules and drive to the conditions.
- Teams booked for traffic offences or failing to take rest breaks will be disqualified.
If participating in the 30-hour Big Weekend, take a 6-hour sleep break between 10 pm and 6 am — no travel during that time.
Rotate drivers every 2 hours, and never drive while fatigued.
Watch for wildlife, particularly at dawn, dusk, and night.

3. Health and wellbeing

Check in with teammates for signs of fatigue, stress, or dehydration.
Prioritise your health — if you feel unwell or unsafe, take a break.
Let someone know if you have any pre-existing medical conditions that might affect you.

4. Team admin

Keep a record of your team members’ names and contact details in your vehicle.This helps in case of an emergency or if assistance is required.
Exchange the name and phone number of your emergency contact with your team mates.
Make sure everyone knows the plan for the day.

IN AN EMERGENCY

Dial 000

Download these apps to stay safe:

Hazards Near Me

Live Traffic

BOM Weather

Emergency Plus

Twitchathon

Information & Downloads

Rules & Safety Information

Twitchathon Safety Information

1. Be prepared

2. Safe driving

3. Health and wellbeing

4. Team admin

IN AN EMERGENCY

Dial 000

Download these apps to stay safe:

Twitchathon Safety Information

1. Be prepared

2. Safe driving

3. Health and wellbeing

4. Team admin

IN AN EMERGENCY

Dial 000

Download these apps to stay safe:

Twitchathon Safety Information

1. Be prepared

2. Safe driving

3. Health and wellbeing

4. Team admin

IN AN EMERGENCY

Dial 000

Download these apps to stay safe: