TECHNIQUES
When trying to observe birds in forest there are at least
three methods of approach. One can walk along slowly and quietly, hoping to come across
birds before they sense your presence. Alternatively, one can rush through a section of
forest, with consequent noise, with the object of spotting birds before they have flown
off. The other method is to wait patiently in a concealed position for birds to appear.
Each method has its merits, and a lot will depend on the habitat and species and numbers
of birds in the area. Having located a bird, always keep your eyes on it while bringing
your binoculars into play.
It is possible to walk for a long time in the forest
without seeing a single bird, and then a mixed feeding flock or 'bird wave' may appear
causing a resultant flurry of activity to identify and count species and to make notes of
species not identified or for reporting. A small cassette recorder can be useful here. If
you are able to obtain pre-recorded cassettes of bird calls, they can be used to attract
individuals to the species' call and verify their presence.
Counting species in the forest to assess their population
requires time in preparation of transects and subsequent plotting on maps. It is useful,
however, to record maximum numbers of each species seen at a site on each occasion it is
visited and to compare numbers and trends. In the case of shorebirds they are often
visible, but the numbers of species and individuals make counting difficult. With large
numbers one can count a section of a flock, say ten, and then estimate how many tens occur
in the flock. This technique can be applied in hundreds or thousands, or by the number of
times a counted number fills the field of binoculars or telescope. If it is not possible
to count the numbers of each species, an estimate can be made on a percentage basis. A
cassette recorder or tally counter is useful on these occasions.
Sections in Guide to Bird Watching
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