A Transect Method to Count Birds Eucalypt Forest
| Posted: |
05/10/2021 |
| Author(s): |
D. R. Milledge, H. F. Recher, P. Smith, W. G. Rohan-Jones |
A transect method used to count forest birds in south-eastern Australia is described
and its usefulness and limitations discussed. The method combines mapping along a
transect 420 m long and 120 m wide, with a point count of 60 m radius. The transect requires
two hours, one hour of which is spent on the point count. Four counts were
necessary at each site with six counts required in an area with a richer avifauna. Steps were
taken to reduce variation and bias due to weather conditions, time of day and differences
between observers. The point count was included to allow comparisons with similar counts
from areas of habitat too small for a full transect. The disadvantage was that the proportionally
greater time spent on the point count biased the overall transect count towards
birds recorded at the point. In common with other methods, the effectiveness of the census
method was limited by the sporadic occurrence of many of the bird species in the area,
and by the problems of the numbers of birds recorded varying with density of vegetation,
season, species of birds and duration of the census. The procedure is time consuming but
results in more information on bird disposition at each site and better species lists than
do shorter counts of smaller areas. It has proved useful in providing a broad data base in
surveys of large areas containing a variety of forest habitats and where knowledge of the
avifauna is poor.
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