1. – Module 6 – How to count a small group of birds
Identifying and Counting Waterbirds in Africa
– Training Course –
– Module 6 – How to count a small group of birds
Module 6 is part of Hecker N., Identifying and Counting Waterbirds in Africa: A toolkit for trainers. ONCFS, Hirundo-FT2E. France.
This PowerPoint presentation does not include any personalised activities. Trainers can therefore add some to suit their needs.
2015

2. Designed and written by Nathalie Hecker nat.hecker@yahoo.fr
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
Designed and written by
Nathalie Hecker
Photographs
Steve Garvie
Illustrations
Cyril Girard
Translation
Rachel Wakeham
Richard Lansdown
These tools have been adapted from Hecker N., Identifying and Counting Waterbirds in Africa – A toolkit for trainers -Sub-Saharan Africa. ONCFS, Hirundo-FT2E. France, and « La Mallette Pédagogique » by HECKER, N Formation pour le suivi des populations d’oiseaux d’eau en Afrique sub-saharienne. ONCFS - Tour du Valat, France.
This entire publication (text, photos and illustrations) is licensed by Creative Commons CC BY-NC-SA.
Any part of this publication may be copied, used, adapted and distributed for non-commercial purposes, citing the authors’ names and distributing any material produced from this publication under identical or similar license.

3. Technical explanations
Presenting the Module
Technical explanations
Indoor exercises
Fieldwork
“How to count a small group of birds” includes different types of slides:
White background: technical explanations;
Shaded blue / yellow background: indoor exercises, some of which can also be carried out as fieldwork.
Photo background: fieldwork.
The photographs
The contents of the Module apply regardless of the region in which it is used. However, it is important that the photos show species known to the trainees. If necessary they can be replaced to adapt the Module to the region.
The English, French and Latin names of the species shown are given in the notes section of each slide.

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
The trainer should explain where this Module fits into the teaching of count techniques.

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
Approach
This is the simplest and easiest to learn form of counting for trainees.
It is important to stress the need for rigorous and organised note-taking.
The roles of participants are generally either that of “counter” or “assistant” during a count. Note-taking is not always seen as a rewarding task even though it is essential. The trainer should emphasise the value of the assistant’s role (clear note-taking will make it easier to process data later) and responsibility (a good count can only be used when it is well transcribed).

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
Trainer’s role
To give the following explanations:
Explain the principles of counting: 1 at a time, as well as 2 at a time, 5 at a time, or 10 at a time depending on the size of the group and conditions of the count
Explain the notes to be taken:
At the beginning of each count, the date, time, name of the wetland, area (if the count site is divided into different transects), counter’s name, assistant’s name, and possibly the weather conditions, birds being disturbed during the count, and various facts that could influence the counts, must be written down.
Species and their numbers are written in a simple layout with a column for species on the left, then the number of individuals.

7. Example of a waterbird count form
The trainer may choose a waterbird count form used in the relevant region and adapt the slide.
Trainer’s role
To show an example of a waterbird count form;
To hand around count forms.

8. Example of a Wetlands International count form
Trainer’s role
To show an example of a waterbird count form;
To hand around count forms.

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
Indoor exercise: Counting a single-species group
Equipment: slides showing groups of < 100 birds.
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
Trainer’s role:
To reiterate the importance of both the counter’s and assistant’s roles;
To stress the need for the counter to give clear information to the assistant (giving the species first then the numbers, which is easier for the assistant), and rigorous note-taking by the assistant.

10. Counting a single-species group
Photo (Steve Garvie): Cattle Egret - Héron garde-bœuf –Bubulcus ibis
Indoor exercise: Counting a single-species group
See on the first slide of the exercise for instructions.

11. Counting a single-species group
Photo (Steve Garvie): Curlew Sandpiper - Bécasseau cocorli - Calidris ferruginea
Indoor exercise: Counting a single-species group
See on the first slide of the exercise for instructions.

12. Counting a single-species group
Photo (Steve Garvie): Red Knot - Bécasseau maubèche - Calidris canutus
Indoor exercise: Counting a single-species group
See on the first slide of the exercise for instructions.

13. Counting a single-species group
Photo (Steve Garvie): Eurasian Golden Plover - Pluvier doré - Pluvialis apricaria
Indoor exercise: Counting a single-species group
See on the first slide of the exercise for instructions.

14. Counting a single-species group
Photo (Steve Garvie): Lesser Flamingo - Flamant nain - Phoeniconaias minor
Start counting “in front” of the group, in the opposite direction to which the birds are walking.
Indoor exercise: Counting a single-species group
See on the first slide of the exercise for instructions.

15. Counting a single-species group
Photo (Steve Garvie): Greater Flamingo - Flamant rose - Phoenicopterus roseus
Total: 92 individuals, borderline whether to count or estimate.
Indoor exercise: Counting a single-species group
See on the first slide of the exercise for instructions.

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
Indoor exercise: Counting a multi-species group
Equipment: diagrams or photos of groups of different species of birds.
Procedure: working in pairs: a counter and a 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
Trainer’s role:
To show that species can either be counted one after another, or counted in small groups as the group is covered (“avocets 2, egrets 5, avocets 12, egrets 3, ...”);
To reiterate the importance of both the counter’s and assistant’s roles;
To stress the need for the counter to give clear information to the assistant (giving the species first then the numbers, which is easier for the assistant), and rigorous note-taking by the assistant.

17. Counting a multi-species group
Species and numbers:
Black: 50
Blue: 30
Indoor exercise: Counting a multi-species group
See on the first slide of the exercise for instructions.

18. Counting a multi-species group
Photo (Steve Garvie):
Species and numbers:
Larus sp.: 9
Sandwich Tern - Sterne caugek - Thalasseus sandvicensis: 14
Common Tern - Sterne pierregarin - Sterna hirundo: 12
Indoor exercise: Counting a multi-species group
See on the first slide of the exercise for instructions.

19. Counting a multi-species group
Photo (Steve Garvie):
Species and numbers:
Black-winged Stilt - Échasse blanche - Himantopus himantopus: 2
Marsh Sandpiper - Chevalier stagnatile - Tringa stagnatilis: 1
Spotted Redshank - Chevalier arlequin - Tringa erythropus: 36
Ruff - Combattant varié – Calidris pugnax: 1
Indoor exercise: Counting a multi-species group
See on the first slide of the exercise for instructions.

20. Counting a multi-species group
Photo (Steve Garvie):
Species and numbers:
Curlew Sandpiper - Bécasseau cocorli - Calidris ferruginea: 4
Greater Sandplover - Gravelot de Leschenault - Charadrius leschenaultii: 9
Indoor exercise: Counting a multi-species group
See on the first slide of the exercise for instructions.

21. Counting a multi-species group
Photo (Steve Garvie):
Species and numbers:
Eurasian Golden Plover - Pluvier doré - Pluvialis apricaria: 86
Northern Lapwing - Vanneau huppé - Vanellus vanellus: 4
Spotted Redshank - Chevalier arlequin - Tringa erythropus: 1
Indoor exercise: Counting a multi-species group
See on the first slide of the exercise for instructions.

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.
Fieldwork: Counting a multi-species group
Equipment: one telescope between two, a notebook and pencil.
Procedure: working in pairs: a counter and an assistant
The trainer should choose an area of wetland where different species of bird can be found in medium-sized groups and with good visibility;
The trainer should select the area to be covered and be sure that the trainees are certain of its boundaries;
The counter carries out the census using the telescope and the assistant writes down the numbers of each species;
If possible, the trainer should count at the same time then check the trainees’ results (species and numbers) and note-taking;
The counter and assistant switch roles and the exercise is carried out again in the same area or a nearby area.
Trainer’s role: important points:
Stress the need to identify species and how to note down information when a species cannot be identified accurately;
Not all birds can be seen as easily: this varies with size, colour of plumage, or behaviour. Some more secretive species are often underestimated and not all individuals are seen;
The counter must stay focused throughout the whole count of the area. If the count is interrupted there is a danger of missing out birds or counting them twice.

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
The trainer should introduce the next stage of the count techniques course
Stages already covered:
1. Count or estimate?
2. Counting a small group of birds
The next and final Module:
3. How to estimate the size of a large group

24. Thanks for your attention!