– Module 3 – How to identify a species North of Africa - Palearctic Migrants Identifying and Counting Waterbirds in Africa – Training Course –

Module 3 – How to identify a species Authors Designed and written by Nathalie Hecker Photographs Steve Garvie Illustrations Cyril Girard Translation Rachel Wakeham This training course is one of the tools of : Hecker N., Identifying and Counting Waterbirds in Africa – A toolkit for trainers. ONCFS, Hirundo-FT2E. France

Module 3 – How to identify a species Presenting the Module Technical explanations Indoor exercises 3 Fieldwork

Module 3 – How to identify a species Objectives of Module 3 At the end of this Module you will be able to: match a species to a family or genus by its silhouette; identify a species and explain your choice.

Module 3 – How to identify a species Approach Identifying a bird is knowing: “why it’s this species” and also “why it’s not that species”. It is therefore necessary to be able to name a bird and tell it apart from similar species.

Module 3 – How to identify a species A species? Little Egret Kingdom Animal Phylum Chordata Class Bird Order Pelecaniformes Family Ardeidae Genus Egretta Species garzetta

Module 3 – How to identify a species Family and genus

Module 3 – How to identify a species Large wading birds Cranes Spoonbills Ibises Herons Storks

Module 3 – How to identify a species Waders Tringa sandpipers Snipes Godwits Stilts Calidris sandpipers Plovers Thick-knees Curlews

Module 3 – How to identify a species MOORHENS GREBES ANATIDAE surface-feeding and diving ducks geese

Module 3 – How to identify a species RAPACESCORMORANTS LARIDAE gulls terns osprey harrier RAPTORS

Module 3 – How to identify a species To which family does this bird belong? Indoor exercise Learning how to match a bird to a family based on the description of its shape Equipment: “Waterbird silhouettes” factsheets S3.1.a and S3.1.b Procedure: 1.One trainee describes the bird’s shape and matches it to a family or group 2.The other trainees can add to the description

Module 3 – How to identify a species To which family does this bird belong? 13

Module 3 – How to identify a species To which family does this bird belong? 14

Module 3 – How to identify a species To which family does this bird belong? 15

Module 3 – How to identify a species To which family does this bird belong? 16

Module 3 – How to identify a species To which family does this bird belong? 17

Module 3 – How to identify a species To which family does this bird belong? 18

Module 3 – How to identify a species To which family does this bird belong? 19

Module 3 – How to identify a species To which family does this bird belong? 20

Module 3 – How to identify a species To which family does this bird belong? Indoor exercise Learning how to match a bird to a family based on the description of its shape Equipment: Field guide “waterbird silhouettes” factsheet Procedure: 1.With the book open, a trainee describes the shape of a waterbird chosen by the trainer from the field guide 2.With their books shut, the other trainees look through the sheet of silhouettes and work out which family it belongs to. They can ask questions to add to the description.

Module 3 – How to identify a species How to use the field guide Three stages of identification Observation  description  looking in the field guide Use the field guide to Look up birds in a family Compare the bird to the illustration Read the accompanying text about the species Check the distribution map Be aware of similar species

Module 3 – How to identify a species Describe and identify a species Indoor exercise Describe a bird methodically and accurately to identify its species Equipment: Silhouette factsheet, field guide Procedure: 1.With the book shut, a trainee describes the shape of the bird shown in the slide and matches it to a silhouette 2.The other trainees confirm the choice of family 3.The trainee describes the colour of the plumage, bill and legs, and if possible the habitat where the bird is found 4.The trainee looks in the field guide and suggests several options, then quantifies the final choice by “It’s this one because... and not that one because...”

Module 3 – How to identify a species Describe and identify a species

Module 3 – How to identify a species Describe and identify a species

Module 3 – How to identify a species Describe and identify a species

Module 3 – How to identify a species Describe and identify a species

Module 3 – How to identify a species Describe and identify a species

Module 3 – How to identify a species Describe and identify a species

Module 3 – How to identify a species Describe and identify a species

Module 3 – How to identify a species Describe and identify a species

Module 3 – How to identify a species Describe and identify a species

Module 3 – How to identify a species Describe and identify a species

Module 3 – How to identify a species Identify a species Fieldwork Equipment: Telescope, binoculars, field guide, factsheet Procedure: working in pairs 1.One trainee watches a bird with the telescope and describes it in detail out loud, also describing the behaviour, calls (how frequent and how loud) and habitat 2.The second trainee takes notes 3.They match the bird to a group then find it in the field guide to identify it

Module 3 – How to identify a species Waders These species can be difficult to identify! Identification must be methodical and rigorous

Module 3 – How to identify a species Waders: the main morphological criteria to note Silhouette Is it thin and slender? Is it squat and “round”? Is it in between, and neither slender or squat? Head Is it big, medium or small? Neck Is it visible? Is it long or short? Bill Is it long or short? Is it straight or curved? Is it fine or broad? Legs Are they long or short? – long legs: clearly visible tibia and long tarsus – short legs: barely visible tibia and short tarsus Compared to the rest of the body and overall silhouette Remember, if the bird is resting its neck may look short when it would seem long in another position compared with the length of the head seen from the side

Module 3 – How to identify a species Waders Plovers and Lapwings round and squat silhouette large head short, straight bill short, often barely visible neck long legs (plovers) to very long legs (lapwings)

Module 3 – How to identify a species Waders Calidris sandpipers - squat silhouette - medium-sized head - short to medium, slender, straight or down curved bill - fairly short, often hardly visible neck

Module 3 – How to identify a species Waders Tringa Sandpipers - thin and slender silhouette - small head - medium to long, slender, - straight or slightly upturned bill clearly visible neck - generally long legs

Module 3 – How to identify a species Waders Godwits and Curlews - large size - small head - very long straight or down-curved bill - long neck - very long legs

Module 3 – How to identify a species Waders Snipes squat silhouette large slightly square head medium to very long bill short neck medium to short legs

Module 3 – How to identify a species Waders Black and white birds Three easily recognised species thanks to their black and white plumage

Module 3 – How to identify a species To what group does this wader belong? Indoor exercise Establish which group of waders a bird belongs to Equipment: “Identifying common waders found in North of Africa - Palearctic species: characteristic shapes of main families” - S3.3 Procedure: 1.A trainee describes the shape of the wader shown in the slide and matches it to one of the six groups of waders 2.The other trainees agree or disagree with the choice

Module 3 – How to identify a species To what group does this wader belong?

Module 3 – How to identify a species To what group does this wader belong?

Module 3 – How to identify a species To what group does this wader belong?

Module 3 – How to identify a species To what group does this wader belong?

Module 3 – How to identify a species To what group does this wader belong?

Module 3 – How to identify a species To what group does this wader belong?

Module 3 – How to identify a species To what group does this wader belong?

Module 3 – How to identify a species To what group does this wader belong?

Module 3 – How to identify a species What is this species? Indoor exercise Identify which species a wader belongs to Equipment: “Identifying waders” factsheets S3.2 and S3.3 Procedure: 1.One trainee describes the shape of the bird shown in the slide and matches it to one of the six groups of waders 2.The other trainees agree or disagree with the choice 3.The first trainee opens the field guide, suggests several options and gives a well-argued final decision by saying “It’s this one because... and not that one because... ”

Module 3 – How to identify a species What is this species?

Module 3 – How to identify a species What is this species?

Module 3 – How to identify a species What is this species?

Module 3 – How to identify a species What is this species?

Module 3 – How to identify a species What is this species?

Module 3 – How to identify a species What is this species?

Module 3 – How to identify a species What is this species?

Module 3 – How to identify a species What is this species?

Module 3 – How to identify a species Identifying waders Fieldwork Equipment: Telescope, binoculars, field guide, key to waders Procedure: working in pairs 1.One trainee watches a wader through the telescope and describes it in detail out loud, as well as its behaviour, calls and habitat 2.The second trainee makes notes 3.They match the wader to a group then look for it in the field guide to identify it

Module 3 – How to identify a species Making a list of species present Fieldwork Equipment: telescope, binoculars, field guide Procedure: working alone or in pairs 1.Each trainee or pair should make a list of the species present, within a time limit 2.Once the time is up, each trainee or pair should present their list of recorded species

Module 3 – How to identify a species Difficult observation conditions Fieldwork Equipment: telescope, binoculars, field guide Procedure: working alone or in pairs Each trainee or pair should identify a bird on the ground chosen through the telescope by the trainer. It should be difficult to identify due to brightness, distance, or the species itself.

Module 3 – How to identify a species Thanks for your attention!