1	The competition is open to anyone who wishes to take part. Ideally everyone should begin in January, but can begin at any time up to 31st March 2003.
2	Birds must be recorded on the island of Ireland or in Irish territorial waters.
3	Birds must be recorded in a wild state, no escapees, no caged birds or no birds in care
4	Competition begins on 01/01/2003 and ends 31/12/2003
5	Species points are awarded for sightings as per species list. Each species can only be counted once by each observer.
6	Finder bonus points are awarded as per Finder Bonus Chart. Finder bonus points are awarded to the person finding a species qualifying for bonus points. However finder bonus points are also awarded to a person finding a species that qualifies for bonus points (e.g. Snow Goose in Wexford Slobs next November will not be a new find) even though they have already seen the species (but not found it) provided that it's a new find and not a relocation. As per species points, bonus points can only be counted once for each species.
7	Multiple finders - Bonus points. If more than one observer genuinely finds a bird each finder is entitled to finder bonus points. However, for instance, when sea-watching the first observer to see the bird gets the bonus points.
8	Birds known to be present prior to the start will not count for finder bonus points e.g. Hawfinch at Curraghchase, Co. Limerick.
9	Species such as Black-throated Diver and Cory's Shearwater are considered not to be on the IRBC description list despite the geographical requirements.
10	Species currently recognised on or new to the Irish List are acceptable. Splits and races not recognised by the IRBC as full species are excluded e.g. American Herring Gull, Green-winged Teal etc.
11	Ideally records should be submitted weekly but must be submitted within 30 days of sighting. (but note 1 above)
12	When submitting records for species points ranking 6 to 15 inclusive you must include: species name, date and location of sighting. If claiming finder bonus points time of sighting will also be required. Failure to do so will mean that records cannot be scored. Name and email on all submissions.
13	Locations not required for species with species points ranking of 1 to 5 inclusive.
14	For records of species ranking 1 to 5 inclusive these species can be recorded on call. This should prevent disturbance to breeding birds.
15	Due to obvious areas of contention (e.g. is a first Irish sighting acceptable prior to the IRBC adjudicating on the record), the Irish Birding League committee decision will be final after considering all submissions.
16	All records must be submitted through I.B.L. web site.
17	John Joe Cahill, John Power and Colm Flynn will form an adjudication committee. Due to the Irish Birding League being a new concept situations may arise whereby modifications to the rules are required and the adjudication committee are entitled to do so.
18	A.)For the purposes the I.B.L. 2003 the following are considered to have already occurred in Ireland: Baltimore Oriole Brown Shrike Swinhoe's Petrel Isabelline Shrike Sooty Tern Brown Flycatcher But not: Booted Eagle Red Breasted Goose B.)"soft plumaged" Petrel records will be considered as species. "magnificent" Frigatebird records will be considered as species.
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19	By taking part in the Irish Birding League you are agreeing to be bound by the foregoing rules of the competition

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