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

Module 6 – How to count a small group of birds 2 Authors Revised and designed in 2012 by: Nathalie Hecker Designed and written in 2001 by: Nathalie Hecker & Marc Lutz 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 6 – How to count a small group of birds Presenting the Module Technical explanations Indoor exercises Fieldwork 3

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 4

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 5

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

Module 6 – How to count a small group of birds Example of a waterbird count form 7

Module 6 – How to count a small group of birds Example of a Wetlands International count form 8

Module 6 – How to count a small group of birds Counting a single-species group Indoor exercise: Counting a single-species group Procedure: working in pairs: a counter and an assistant 1.The counter counts birds aloud to the assistant 2.The assistant writes down the numbers as they are given 3.The assistant from each pair presents the results to the rest of the group 4.The counter and assistant switch roles for the next slide 9

Module 6 – How to count a small group of birds Counting a single-species group 10

Module 6 – How to count a small group of birds Counting a single-species group 11

Module 6 – How to count a small group of birds Counting a single-species group 12

Module 6 – How to count a small group of birds Counting a single-species group 13

Module 6 – How to count a small group of birds Counting a single-species group 14

Module 6 – How to count a small group of birds Counting a single-species group 15

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 16

Module 6 – How to count a small group of birds Counting a multi-species group 17

Module 6 – How to count a small group of birds Counting a multi-species group 18

Module 6 – How to count a small group of birds Counting a multi-species group 19

Module 6 – How to count a small group of birds Counting a multi-species group 20

Module 6 – How to count a small group of birds Counting a multi-species group 21

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 assistant 1.Each pair looks at the areas to be covered 2.The counter carries out the census using the telescope and the assistant writes down the numbers of each species 3.The results are checked by the trainer 4.The counter and assistant switch roles and the exercise is carried out again in the same area or a nearby area. 22

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 23

Module 6 – How to count a small group of birds 24 Thanks for your attention!