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xoc ch’ich’

THE FESTIVAL’S MAJOR BIRDING EVENT

xoc ch’ich’ in the Maya language literally means xoc = count, ch’ich’ = bird or “count bird”. Since the First Yucatan Bird Festival in November 2002, this bird-a-thon, has developed a character of its own. Rather than being a fiercely competitive event in which winning is everything, the emphasis is on having a good time with multi-cultural teammates. Maya bird names are interchanged with English names, while differences in lifestyles and customs are compared and embraced.

The outward objective of the xoc ch’ich’ is the same as other such events held in other parts of the world in that teams are rewarded for finding the highest number of bird species in a limited time period. But the more subtle objective is for everyone to enjoy the experience …and their teammates! Participants spend two nights at hotels located in rural environments so that they have the best of all chances to add up a long list of the 444 bird species registered in the state of Yucatan.

CATEGORIES

In order to allow for different levels of enthusiasm and stamina, two divisions are available to participants. One is the classic xoc ch’ich’ and the other one is the xoc ch’ich’ light.The only difference between both is that in the xoc ch’ich’ lightparticipants can identificate few birds species or identificate to family nivel.
The xoc ch’ich’ light is an excellent option for nature photographers and beginner birders.
The classic xoc ch’ich’ implies staying in  different locations in order to take advantage of visiting different habitats and identificate more bird species.

TEAMS

Teams are integrated by a minimum of 3 people and 8 maximum. One of the participants must be a professional bird guide, who should be hired by the team. Some teams may decide to hire a driver as well.
Everyone (except the hired driver) must be registered and the Registration fee paid.
The Organizing Committee can assist in the formation of teams if requested. (See the Registration Information)

RULES

Schedule

The competition is limited from 5:30 a.m. Saturday, November 27 to 10:00 a.m. Sunday, November 28 for a total of 28 hours. Each registered species must be identified by at least three members of the team. The official bird list for the group, with the correct totals should be handed in no later than 10:15 a.m. Sunday, November 27 at the party a hacienda near Mérida. 

Species Identification

1. Each registered species must be identified by at least three members of the team. The identification can occur during different moments of the competition. It is not valid to list a species identified by only one or two members of the team.
2. Each participant should have a copy of the official bird list to be used in the competition.
3. The use of play-back tapes are prohibited both during the day as well as at night.
4. All the team members should travel together, even though traveling in different vehicles. It is not permitted to divide the group in the field.
5. It is expected that everyone will sleep comfortably in their hotel rooms in the field…but may count nocturnal birds calling through the quiet of the night…if heard by three participants. It is prohibited to use flashlights at night.
6. The list verifier accompanying the group is responsible for checking off the species registered during the competition in the official bird list of the team and for handing it in. This person should have an extra copy for personal use and keepsake.
7. The sub-totals of bird species seen should appear at the foot of each section and the total at the end of the list. In addition, notation of sightings of “endemic and specialty birds” should be duplicated on the separate list provided with the total noted. Be careful not to duplicate the number in the final tabulation.
8. It is strongly recommended that participants keep field diaries that note location, date, number and sex of interesting birds that can be contributed later to the regional report for publication in North American Birds.

Species Documentation

1) Species that require no documentation include:
a) Species expected in the state during the month of November and December.
b) Species found within their known, limited distributional area. If species are coded with a (QR) after name, they should be found only along the northeastern border with Quintana Roo (forested area behind El Cuyo), and those coded with (S) should be found only in the extreme southern part of the state.

2) Species that require documentation for any of the following reasons:
a) Species not expected in Yucatan during the month of November and December and are coded with (N/D).
b) Species found outside their known distributional areas and are coded with (QR), (S) or (QR/S).
c) “Review Species” which are so designated by the Yucatan Bird Atlas Committee (YUBAC)* as requiring full documentation due to being Accidental (A) or occasional (O) to the state; or species not reported in recent years.
d) Species easily misidentified in field due to similarities to other potential species. These often include female warblers in winter plumage as well as resident birds that are very similar to transient species.
e) The identification of Tyrannus couchii and T. melancholicus must be made by call note only. The identification of the genus alone is not sufficient to count for the check-list.
e) Species not appearing on either list below due to being a new register for the state.
A duplicated list of endemic or regional specialty bird species and sub-species is provided for purpose of easy tallying of total species in this category for the “endemic bird award”. These species are already included in the general list and the total should not be duplicated in the final species total.

Documentation consists of: a detailed written description of the bird, habitat in which found, behavior, date, location, time and weather conditions, signed by all viewers; a photo, a drawing, or a tape of call. At least two of the viewers must be previously acquainted with the species.

• Consideration of documentation of some species may require more time than exists for selecting winners. We apologize in advance if such species must be eliminated from the competition due to time restraints.

This list follows the A.O.U. (1998) Check-list of North American Birds, 7th edition, and the 45th supplement (AOU 2003) in taxonomic treatment and species sequence. However, for the purposes of the xoc ch’ich’, two sub-species, Ridgway’s Rough-winged Swallow and Mangrove Warbler, are counted as species.