– Module 6 – How to count a small group of birds

Identifying and Counting Waterbirds in Africa – Training Course –

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Module 6 – How to count a small group of birds

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Authors

Revised and designed in 2012 by: Nathalie Hecker nat.hecker@yahoo.fr

Designed and written in 2001 by: Nathalie Hecker & Marc Lutz

Photographs Steve Garvie sgarvie@aol.com, www.pbase.com/rainbirder

IllustrationsCyril Girard girardcyril3335@neuf.fr, www.cyrilgirard.fr

TranslationRachel Wakeham moosekeeper77@hotmail.com

This training course is one of the tools of : Hecker N., 2012. Identifying and Counting Waterbirds in Africa – A toolkit for trainers. ONCFS, Hirundo-FT2E. France

Module 6 – How to count a small group of birds

Presenting the Module

Technical explanations

Indoor exercises

Fieldwork

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Module 6 – How to count a small group of birds

How to count waterbirds

Knowing how to count waterbirds is:

•Knowing when to count and when to estimate

•How to count a small group of birds

•Knowing how to estimate a large group

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Module 6 – How to count a small group of birds

Counting a small group of birds

Learning objectives of the Module

At the end of this Module you will be able to:

•Count small groups of one or more species of birds

•Rigorously record data from a count

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Module 6 – How to count a small group of birds

Counting a small group of birds

• Principles of counting: one at a time, as well as two at a time, five at a time, or 10 at a time depending on the size of the group and conditions of the count

• Note-taking: importance and careA good count can only be used when it is well

transcribed

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Module 6 – How to count a small group of birds

Example of a waterbird count form

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Module 6 – How to count a small group of birds

Example of a Wetlands International count form

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Module 6 – How to count a small group of birds

Counting a single-species group

Indoor exercise: Counting a single-species groupProcedure: working in pairs: a counter and an assistant1. The counter counts birds aloud to the assistant2. The assistant writes down the numbers as they are

given3. The assistant from each pair presents the results to

the rest of the group4. The counter and assistant switch roles for the next

slide

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Module 6 – How to count a small group of birds

Counting a single-species group

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Module 6 – How to count a small group of birds

Counting a single-species group

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Module 6 – How to count a small group of birds

Counting a single-species group

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Module 6 – How to count a small group of birds

Counting a single-species group

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Module 6 – How to count a small group of birds

Counting a single-species group

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Module 6 – How to count a small group of birds

Counting a single-species group

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Module 6 – How to count a small group of birds

Counting a multi-species group

Indoor exercise: Counting a multi-species group

Procedure: working in pairs: a counter and an assistant

The same work as before, but with groups of different species

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Module 6 – How to count a small group of birds

Counting a multi-species group

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Module 6 – How to count a small group of birds

Counting a multi-species group

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Module 6 – How to count a small group of birds

Counting a multi-species group

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Module 6 – How to count a small group of birds

Counting a multi-species group

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Module 6 – How to count a small group of birds

Counting a multi-species group

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Module 6 – How to count a small group of birds

Counting a multi-species group

Fieldwork:Equipment: one telescope between two, a notebook and pencil.Procedure: working in pairs: a counter and an assistant1. Each pair looks at the areas to be covered2. The counter carries out the census using the telescope and the

assistant writes down the numbers of each species3. The results are checked by the trainer4. The counter and assistant switch roles and the exercise is

carried out again in the same area or a nearby area.

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Module 6 – How to count a small group of birds

How to count waterbirds

Knowing how to count waterbirds is:

•Knowing when to count and when to estimate

•Knowing how to count a small group of birds

•Knowing how to estimate a large group

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Module 6 – How to count a small group of birds

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Thanks for your attention!