– Module 4 – Why count waterbirds?

1. – Module 4 – Why count waterbirds? Identifying and Counting Waterbirds in Africa – Training Course – 2015

2. This training course is one of the tools of:Hecker N., 2015. Identifying and Counting Waterbirds in Africa: A toolkit for trainers. ONCFS, Hirundo-FT2E. France Designed and written by Nathalie Heckernat.hecker@yahoo.fr Photographs Steve Garviewww.pbase.com/rainbirder Illustrations Cyril Girard girardcyril3335@neuf.fr, www.cyrilgirard.fr Translation Rachel Wakehammoosekeeper77@hotmail.com Richard Lansdownrlansdown@ardeola.demon.co.uk

3. Presenting the Module • Technical explanations Indoor exercises

4. Why count waterbirds? • Objectives of the Module • At the end of this Module, you will be able to: • explain how census results are used at three different levels: local, national and international • describe the operation and role of national and international networks • understand how your own work fits into these networks.

5. Why count waterbirds?What are the censuses for? • Indoor exercise • Equipment: flipchart pad, marker pens • Procedure: groups of 2 to 4 people • Each group must find answers to the question “What are waterbird censuses for?” • Each group should list their answers on paper, organising them into local (site-wide), national and international levels • Each group should present their answers to the other groups • A joint list can be drawn up by compiling the different results

6. Why count waterbirds? • At site level: to evaluate the importance of the site • To know the numbers of different species of waterbird at a site • To know how many birds of each species the site can hold, and how this varies • To compare census results from different sites in the region or the country and assess each wetland’s relative importance for waterbirds • To prioritise measures to be taken for threatened species

7. Why count waterbirds? • At site level: ensure the continued monitoring of a site • To detect changes in numbers of birds or their specific composition • To help identify the reasons for these changes in order to implement conservation measures if necessary • To assess the impact of various activities • To regularly check if the use and/or management of the wetland is wise and sustainable.

8. Why count waterbirds? • At a national level • To know the role and importance of the country’s wetlands for different species of waterbirds throughout their annual cycle • To provide information for implementing conservation measures and steps towards the sustainable use of natural resources • To provide information for nature protection laws (including huntable species, hunting seasons, species and areas to protect, and threatened species) and national policy for wetland conservation • To provide information to compile data.

9. Why count waterbirds? • At an international level • To improve the understanding of species in their distribution range (including population sizes, annual cycle, movements and migrations) and to monitor change in certain parameters such as population size • To provide information necessary for international conventions and agreements, and for producing strategic documents. • At all levels • To increase knowledge of species and their biology.

10. Why count waterbirds? • Further reading • National and international reports of census results • An Atlas of Wader Populations in Africa and Western Eurasia. 2009. Wetlands International – Wader Study Group. • Waterbird Population Estimates. Wetlands International. • Wings over Wetlands: • - The flyway approach to the conservation and wise use of waterbirds and wetlands: 2010 Training kit • Critical Site Network Tool • Etc.

11. Why count waterbirds?What are the censuses for? • The network is a chain made up of a series of links

12. 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

13. Thanks for your attention!