Bird point counts

KEY DETAILS

Principal Investigator
Dr. Matthew Rogan
Date
18 July 2023
Version
0.0.1
Programme
Rangelands Biodiversity Project (RBP)
Study Site
Lewa-Lolldaiga-Borana-Ngare Ndare (LLBN)
Key partners
K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics
Contact email
mrogan@naturalstate.org

1. PREAMBLE

Natural State’s objectives and activities are detailed by a set of accepted Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). These documents describe the steps involved in all Natural State projects, from data collection to data processing and storage. Each SOP documents key project details and provides methodological details specific to the project. The objectives and background of the project, features of the study area, and details on survey and sampling design may be found in the project Design Document (DD) which is available in the Related Documents section below.

1.1 SOP PURPOSE

To provide a clear step by step guide to the methods implemented in the project, therefore allowing for consistency in data collection and repeatability of all steps involved in a project’s data collection, processing and storage. This is crucial to Natural State’s mission of facilitating nature restoration at scale by using the latest technology and methods to revolutionise impact monitoring for carbon, biodiversity and human well-being.

1.2 SOP SCOPE

This document details how this project will be implemented. All methodological steps are explained, and the principal team members overseeing the project are listed in case further clarification is required. It also further directs readers to where they can find additional information relevant to the project. This document is intended to be printed out and taken to the field for reference sake.

2. GLOSSARY

[INSERT RELEVANT TERMS FROM MAIN NS GLOSSARY AS DEFINITION LIST HERE]

3. PROJECT OVERVIEW

3.1 PROJECT AIMS

The Bird Point Counts project aims to:

  1. Generate multiple-observer, replicated abundance counts of all visually and audibly detectable bird species in the immediate vicinity of passive acoustic monitoring stations.
  2. Compare abundance estimates to species richness and abundance estimates derived from passive acoustic monitoring.

3.2 PROJECT BACKGROUND

[PROVIDE PROJECT BACKGROUND HERE]

3.3 STUDY AREA

The Bird Point Coints project will take place within the Lewa-Lolldaiga-Borana-Ngare Ndare (LLBN) study site, at a subset of passive acoustic monitoring stations deployed in the Rangelands Baseline Survey.

[ADD A MAP OF THE STUDY AREA]

3.4 PROJECT TIMELINE

[INSERT PROJECT TIMELINE]

4. SAMPLING PREPERATION

The equipment mentioned in the list below needs to be gathered, checked and packed before sampling begins. If any sensors need to be configured prior to commencing sampling this will be documented below the equipment list.

4.1 EQUIPMENT LIST

  • Handheld GPS with extra batteries
  • 2 fully charged mobile devices with eBird loaded and signed in
  • Extra batteries and sd cards for AudioMoths
  • Fully charged mobile device with the eBird app loaded and logged in for each observer
  • Fully charged mobile device with the Survey123 BPC survey loaded (can be the same as one of the mobile devices used for recording in eBird)
  • Timer
  • Additional recording devices with play back functions are useful for recording unknown calls but are not essential

4.2 DEVICE CONFIGURATION

  • eBird needs to be loaded and logged in on 2 mobile devices prior to departure to the field

5. SAMPLING PROCEDURES

Each BPC consists of two human observers, one bioaccoustic recorder (AudioMoth), a human data recorder for each observer, and one askari (e.g., a conservancy ranger or a NS driver). One person should also be designated as the metadata recorder responsible for capturing survey metadata in Survey 123. The human observers must be trained ornithologists who are experts in local bird diversity and can reliably identify local bird species both visually and audibly. If only one qualified human observer is present, then BPCs may be conducted with a single observer. Similarly, while it is always preferable for each observer to have a data recorder, if that is not feasible, it is better to have a second observer who records observations in eBird themselves than to just use a single observer.

Each observer/recorder pair should stand 5-10 m from the bioaccoustic recorder in opposite directions of each other (i.e, pairs should be 10-20 m apart). When the 30-minute timer for the sampling period begins, each observer should begin softly calling out to their respective recorder the species and number of individuals observed both visually within 100 m of the bioaccoustic recorder and audibly at any distance. Sightings that are more than 100 m away do not count towards the local abundance for that station and therefore should not be recorded. The data-tech should record all observations at the species level (no subspecies or variants but hybrids with no clear species are acceptable, e.g., lovebirds) and number of individuals in eBird. The askari should monitor the surrounding area for dangerous wildlife.

The number of individuals is defined as the number of confirmed distinct individuals observed during the entirety of the 30-minute sampling period. Observers should do their best to track individuals of the same species and only count additional individuals if they are reasonably confident that each additional individual is distinct from previously recorded individuals of that species.

The two observers should not share or discuss observations during the 30-minute survey period. If data-techs overhear the other observer, they should not record any observations except those called out by their own observer. The two observer/data-tech pairs should operate completely independently.

In general the data-tech should not call out birds or add observations that they themselves make. The count is meant to be a single independent observer (i.e., the ornithologist).

Survey time is measured by the eBird App (Android) . The timer is only used to notify the field team when the sampling duration has been reached and it is time to move on to another station.

At the conclusion of each bird count, the observations should be copied from eBird into Survey 123.

5.1 PASSIVE ACOUSITC MONITORING

  • Check the AudioMoth to ensure it is operating. If the AudioMoth is not working, replace the battery if it has died and/or the memory card if it is full.
  • Record the metadata in the Survey123 BPC survey.
  • Standing in front of the AudioMoth, say in a slow clear voice the following information so that it is recorded on the Audiomoth itself.
    • The date
    • The station ID
    • The survey (“bird point count)
    • The start time

5.2 BIRD POINT COUNTS

  • Both observer/recorder pairs should position themselves and open eBird to a new survey.
  • When ready begin the 30-minute timer and initiate the survey in eBird.
  • Collect data until the timer goes off.
  • Hit stop on the eBird survey.
  • Record the survey as stationary.
  • Record the survey as a “Complete” count.
  • Tag mrogan@naturalstate.org as an observer on the eBird checklist.
  • Record the area as:
    • “Lewa Wildlife Conservancy” if sampling within Lewa.
    • “Borana Conservancy” if sampling within Borana (do not use “Borana Conservancy–Borana Wildlife Lodge).
    • “Ngare Ndare Forest” if sampling within Ngare Ndare.
    • “Lolldaiga Hills” if sampling within Lolldaiga.
  • In the comments, record the station ID without spaces (i.e., “RBS4_AM1” or “RBS54_AM1”).
  • Check that the map location is correct.
  • Before proceeding to the next station, the recorder should check with their respective observer about any species they weren’t sure about or any mistakes they think may have arisen.
  • The observer should then look over the checklist and ensure that no species are missing or misidentified.
  • The two observers may then discuss any observations that they were uncertain about and correct any misidentifications. This only applies to birds they saw or heard during the 30-minute sampling period but which they could not identify. They should not add to the list any species they had not seen or heard, or any species observed outside the 30-minutes sampling period.

6. POST PROCESSING

This section details all steps that need to be followed after returning to the office from the field to ensure that samples are properly processed and stored and that data is uploaded and saved to the correct location.

6.1 SAMPLE PROCESSING AND STORAGE

  • No samples need to be collected or stored for this project.

6.2 DATA ENTRY AND UPLOADS

[INSERT INSTRUCTIONS FOR DATA ENTRY AND UPLOADS]

7.1 DESIGN DOCUMENT

DD

7.2 OTHER RELEVANT SOPS

SOP_XXX

7.3 DATA ELEMENTS

Survey Design

Data Collection

Data Layers

Dashboard

8. REVISION AND VERSION HISTORY AND DESCRIPTION

==XXX==

9. SIGNATURES OF CONFIRMATION

Principal Investigator: ______________             Date: ___________

Director of Impact Insights: ____________             Date: ___________

10. APPENDICES

None currently available