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

1. – Module 6 – How to count a small group of birds Identifying and Counting Waterbirds in Africa – Training Course –

2. 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 Garviesgarvie@aol.com, www.pbase.com/rainbirder Illustrations Cyril Girard girardcyril3335@neuf.fr, www.cyrilgirard.fr Translation Rachel Wakehammoosekeeper77@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

3. Presenting the Module • Technical explanations Indoor exercises Fieldwork

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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 care • A good count can only be used when it is well transcribed

7. Example of a waterbird count form

8. Example of a Wetlands International count form

9. Counting a single-species group • Indoor exercise: Counting a single-species group • Procedure: working in pairs: a counter and an assistant • The counter counts birds aloud to the assistant • The assistant writes down the numbers as they are given • The assistant from each pair presents the results to the rest of the group • The counter and assistant switch roles for the next slide

10. Counting a single-species group

11. Counting a single-species group

12. Counting a single-species group

13. Counting a single-species group

14. Counting a single-species group

15. Counting a single-species group

16. 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

17. Counting a multi-species group

18. Counting a multi-species group

19. Counting a multi-species group

20. Counting a multi-species group

21. Counting a multi-species group

22. Counting a multi-species group • Fieldwork: • Equipment: one telescope between two, a notebook and pencil. • Procedure: working in pairs: a counter and an assistant • Each pair looks at the areas to be covered • The counter carries out the census using the telescope and the assistant writes down the numbers of each species • The results are checked by the trainer • The counter and assistant switch roles and the exercise is carried out again in the same area or a nearby area.

23. 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

24. Thanks for your attention!