Applications for GPS

Atlassing in NSW - Tony Saunders

(Note from Kim Thurlow - I have reproduced the article in full because it contains issues about collecting data, which may be of interest to other bird-watchers.)

Tony Saunders is now the NSW facilitator for the Birds Australia Atlassing Project, with the specific task of increasing the amount of Atlassing carried out in Western NSW, and encouraging the use of the smaller search area methods.

As at June 1st 2002, of the 2670 10 minute grids within NSW, 1563 had been surveyed, compared to the 1828 that had been completed at a similar time in the previous Atlas. Much of Western NSW has only been sparsely surveyed, mostly along major roads and within National Parks. Tony is keen for bird clubs and any other groups to adopt an area that has not been surveyed, and organise some Atlassing trips to that area - in particular in those areas so far only sparsely surveyed. By co-ordinating surveys, we can ensure the greatest return for the effort. Groups and individuals intending to travel in Western NSW, and who can do surveys as they go, are encouraged to contact Tony. He can provide coverage maps showing where the effort is most needed, and information on other groups' efforts, so there is less overlap.

He also has addressed some concerns shown by Atlassers about the new survey methods used in the current project. The main concern is that fewer species are recorded within a single survey, particularly the 20 minute / 2 ha survey design. He stresses that a single 20 minute / 2 hectare survey would never be used to characterise the population of an entire 10 minute or one degree grid block - nor would a 500 metre radius search. However, these searches provide valuable data due to their more precise location, and the increased likelihood that the search represents only one habitat type.

In encouraging the smaller searches to be done when travelling through an area, Tony points out that even a zero count is a valuable datum. Eventually, a series of 20 minute / 2 ha searches, or 500 metre counts will reveal the full population of an area.

For example, Tony and his partner recently did some atlassing in the Back Yamma S. F. Before the new Atlas, he was producing one list per visit to the forest. Under the new regime, he did four 500 m radius searches on the one visit, and was in different habitats for each search. Each search had its central position determined with a GPS unit, and the duration noted. The number of species recorded for each survey ranged from 23 to 36, and 54 species were recorded for the forest as a whole. No species were missed between survey points, and even if there had been, these could have been recorded as incidental surveys.

This might seem like a lot of extra effort that could have been saved by producing just one list. However, the whole forest was not covered, so a single list would not represent the forest anyway. It was interesting to compare the lists for each survey. For example, Speckled Warbler and Red-capped Robins were recorded on all four surveys, while Gilbert's Whistler and Turquoise Parrot were recorded on two out of four. This already provides useful information on the relative abundance of these species based on reporting rates. Such detail would have been lost if only one survey had been done for the whole forest.

Contact details:
Tony Saunders 17 Poplar Grove, Lawson, NSW 2783.
Ph. 02 4759 2559(h)
02 4759 3843(fax)
0409 399 849(mob)
Contact Tony at the Birds Australia Atlassing Project.

"Returning to the unnamed picnic area (Ti Tree is the other picnic area) the bush birds also didn't disappoint. Brush & Red Wattlebird, Brown Thornbill, White-browed Scrubwren, New Holland Honeyeater, Grey Fantail, Eastern Spinebill, Yellow Robin, possible Brown Goshawk, Silvereye, Red-browed Firetail whilst out in the paddocks Eastern Rosella and Black-shouldered Kites. A great area.

GPS reading for the bridge across the Powlett River: 38° 34'26"S 145° 30'40"E

Happy birding
Marlene."