Leader Guidelines

Before the trip:

Plan the itinerary.
Scout, if possible, for key areas, road conditions, etc.
Where appropriate, contact the management of private and public sites asking for permission to visit and checking for any special regulations concerning group visits.
Plan lunch and rest stops.
Consider limiting the group size if necessary to provide for the maximum birding enjoyment.
Encourage car pooling.

At the meeting place:

Introduce yourself and ask others to do the same.
Brief participants on the trip itinerary. Update during trip stops.
Encourage car pooling.
Intersperse cars with CBs with non-CB cars.
If you and others on your trip use hand held radios (Family Radio Service [FRS]), keep the volume at a level low enough that allows you to hear a radio transmission without disturbing other nearby birders; if possible, try to put some distance between you and other birders if your radio transmission should become lengthy (i.e., receiving specific directions); and consider using an Earbud which will keep any transmissions between you and other FRS users private.
Speak with the drivers about the proposed route.
Arrange drivers familiar with the area at the end of the car caravan.

On the trip:

Assume responsibility for the conduct of the group.
Be familiar with the BBC Code of Ethics. Be sure participants are.
Keep talking on the trails to a minimum.
When using CBs, restrict conversation to bird information and route instructions.
Encourage participants to alert leaders when birds are noted.
Carry a notebook and jot down numbers during the trip.
Try to ensure that all participants see any special bird, if at all possible. If appropriate, familiarize participants in advance with convenient "how to describe where a bird is" methods.
Encourage participants to help each other.
Give ID points, readily observed by all.
Interject information of interest, such as botany, local history, conservation.
Try to make the trip fun by being an enthusiastic and considerate field leader.

After the trip:

Thank everyone for attending the trip.
If time permits, review the list of birds seen. Activate the BBC Hotline if an unusual bird is found. To start the hotline, call (978) 975-1167.
Fill out the BBC field trip card and return as soon as possible to the Statistician. Note any unusual birds or numbers and give the location of such birds.
Call Massachusetts Audubon in Lincoln to report unusual birds or significant numbers for the Voice of Audubon. Call (781) 259-9506 ext. 7403 or 7412 (anytime).
If you have any suggestions for this list, please contact the BBC Ethics Committee.