Content: Chris Hassell, Danny Rogers, Adrian Boyle, Rob Clemens

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How do we count all these birds?

• Content Chris Hassell, Danny Rogers, Adrian
  Boyle, Rob Clemens
• Photography Adrian Boyle, Jan van de Kam, Rob
  Clemens, Dean Ingwersen, Chris Tzaros

Broome beach, Adrian Boyle
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SOMETIMES ITS EASY!
1 Common Redshank
Adrian Boyle
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SOMETIMES ITS OK!
12 Curlew Sandpipers 7 Red-necked Stints
Adrian Boyle
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SOMETIMES ITS HARD!
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19 total
1 WHIMBREL
15 GREY-TAILED TATTLERS
Well start with a simple situation
1 RUDDY TURNSTONE
1 BAR-TAILED GODWIT
And two mystery birds
Adrian Boyle
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Terek Sandpiper 6 Grey-tailed Tattler 2 Little
Tern 1
Bar-tailed Godwit 49 Ruddy Turnstone 5 Great Knot
6 Red Knot 3
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• We need to count every bird not just those
  individuals we can see well
• We think this is the main reason why experienced
  counters tend to make bigger counts
• Experienced counters are better at identifying
  and counting birds when they can only see a tiny
  fragment of them
• Estimating is OK but dont count what you cant
  see i.e. dont assume the flock is the same
  behind the rock

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• Sometimes counting every single wader, one at a
  time, is almost impossible, because
• There are thousands of birds, but there isnt
  much time to count them (especially at sites with
  big tides).
• The birds might be disturbed before you finish
  your count

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Estimation
n 10
Dean Ingwersen
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10 circles of 10 app 100 (plus a few more)
Dean Ingwersen
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1 block 50 birds 6 blocks x 50 birds 300
estimated Number from counting 1 by 1 284 Plus
19 flying birds 303
50
50
50
50
50
50
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Estimation is most effective when the flock is
evenly spread. What to do when there are
different densities within the one flock?
How Many?
First form a quick estimate
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Row 1 80 birds 5 x 80 400 birds
Row 2 50 birds 5 x 50 250 birds
Row 3 30 birds 5 x 30 150 birds
Row 4 10 birds 5 x 10 50 birds
Total 850 birds
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Actual number of birds here 853
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Black-tailed Godwits in blocks
Initial estimate 290
Counted total 303
20
20
53
49
50
50
54
50
45
40
20
20
62
60
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Grey-tailed tattlers 67
10
7
9
11
10
11
9
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What do you do when you have to count a big flock?

• DONT STRESS!
• probably possible
• If you cant make a good count, then youve
  learned something.
• WAIT FOR BIRDS TO SETTLE
• Estimate total flock size
• Start identifying species, and estimate of
  each.
• If the flock disappears, at least youve got some
  data.

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• If alone, start with one of the less common
  species
• Then you scan through the flock quite quickly,
  and get a better idea of what is there (in case
  birds are frightened away before you finish)
• Count every species. Count one at a time, or in
  blocks if you have to.
• If in a team One person counts each species.
• Agree on favourite species.
• Scribes help speed up speed and accuracy.

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• Before leaving Check your notes
• Has everything been counted?
• Does everyone agree with the totals?
• Add notes if needed

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IF IT GOES BADLY, DONT WORRY (TOO MUCH!)

• Happens to all of us
• Include notes on why you had problems, and submit
  any data you collected
• Repeat the count if possible

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How Many??
Answer 587
Rob Clemens
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How many here?
Around 2000
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On the perfect shorebird count You should count
EVERY shorebird ONCE
Rob Clemens
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http//www.stigc.dk/projects/countinggame/
Chris Tzaros
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Acknowledgements This project is supported by
Birds Australia and The Australasian Wader
Studies Group, through funding from the
Australian Governments Caring for our Country
and WWF/Australia
Adrian Boyle