– Module 4 – Why count waterbirds?

Identifying and Counting Waterbirds in Africa – Training Course –

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Module 4 – Why count waterbirds?

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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 Garvie sgarvie@aol.com, www.pbase.com/rainbirder

IllustrationsCyril Girard girardcyril3335@neuf.fr, www.cyrilgirard.fr

TranslationRachel Wakeham moosekeeper77@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

Module 4 – Why count waterbirds?

Presenting the Module

Technical explanations Indoor

exercises

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Module 4 – Why count waterbirds?

Why count waterbirds?

Objectives of the ModuleAt 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.

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Module 4 – Why count waterbirds?

Why count waterbirds?What are the censuses for?

Indoor exerciseEquipment: flipchart pad, marker pensProcedure: groups of 2 to 4 people 1. Each group must find answers to the question “What are

waterbird censuses for?”2. Each group should list their answers on paper, organising them

into local (site-wide), national and international levels3. Each group should present their answers to the other groups4. A joint list can be drawn up by compiling the different results

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Module 4 – Why count waterbirds?

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

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Module 4 – Why count waterbirds?

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.

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Module 4 – Why count waterbirds?

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.

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Module 4 – Why count waterbirds?

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.

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Module 4 – Why count waterbirds?

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. 2006. 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.

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Module 4 – Why count waterbirds?

Why count waterbirds?What are the censuses for?

The network is a chain made up of a series of links11

Module 4 – Why count waterbirds?

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

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Module 4 – Why count waterbirds?

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Thanks for your attention!