Part of the PIAS mission is to encourage education and public awareness of our natural environment. The Bird Photo of the Month’s purpose is for members to get involved and out in nature observing and taking bird photos, to learn about specific birds that are selected, an to appreciate and understand good bird photography.

Instructions for PIAS Bird Photo of the Month
Each month we will select a bird photo for the PIAS Photo of the Month.
To submit a photo for this month, the deadline is the last day of the month.

1. You must be a paid up PIAS member.

2. A bird must be pictured in your photograph.

3. Since we really want to encourage: observing and looking at our local Florida birds which are numerous and beautiful and we are a local chapter in Florida, the photo must be taken in Florida.

4. A photographer may submit only one digital image per month.

5. PIAS will accept only .jpg digital images.

6. Deadline: The last day of the month.|

a. email to piaudubon@bellsouth.net
b. if CD or DVD is mailed (Mail to: P.O. Box 1833, Vero Beach, FL 32961-        1833, postmarked by the last day of the month)
c. if CD or DVD is brought to PIAS office (Office: 200 9th Street SE (Oslo Road), bring by the last open business day in the month.

7. If PIAS receives your digital image after the deadline (last day of the month), it will automatically be submitted for the following month’s PIAS Bird Photo of the Month.

8. You will be notified by email of receipt for which month.

9, Information must be provided:

Photographer’s full name:
Email address (if you have one){
Home address:
Telephone:
Date photograph was taken:
Place photograph was taken:
Camera, settings used,
Len(s) used, if applicable:
Bird(s) identification (but we can help you with this if unknown):
Title of photo:
Any alteration of the original photograph:
Other remarks:

10. You may only be selected once in one year (Sept-May).

11. Birds should remain undisturbed, whether resting, feeding or caring for nestlings when you photograph birds. Wildlife does not exist for our personal pleasure; it is simply trying to survive. Do not feed the birds, use audio means to call the birds to you, or disturb them to take a picture of their fleeing. Your photograph may be disqualified if we judge you obtained your photograph by disturbing the bird. Please do not submit nest photos unless you are on a boardwalk or trail or using telephoto lenses at a distance.

National Audubon requests photographers: “When photographing birds it is essential to avoid disturbing them. When you’re trying to get close-ups, be sure to watch the bird’s behavior. You will quickly learn to recognize signs of nervousness, and when you see those signs, you should back off. Do not flush birds (that is, disturb them and make them fly)—either your subject or other birds near your subject. Nest photography is especially delicate. Be sure not to keep the parents away from the nest during incubation or the feeding of nestlings, and do not move or remove anything near the nest—camouflage is key to success for most bird nests.”

12. Please follow the American Birding Association’s Birding Code of Ethics, see: http://www.aba.org/about/ethics.html

If there are any questions, please call the PIAS office:
Phone: 772-567-3520 - Office hours: M-F 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
or email piaudubon@bellsouth.net