Notes from PCC/BiG Meeting held on 25 October 2005

 

 

Present:

 

Pieter van Zyl

Anthony Cooper

Stefan Swanepoel

Roger Fieldwick

Etienne Marais

Pat Tattersall

Ernst Retief

 

Apologies:

 

Gisela Ortner

Lia Steen

Faansie Peacock

Andre Marx

Rihann Geyser

 

 

 

Summary of key issues

 

• The PCC/BiG bird monitoring project has gathered over 4000 lists and 170 000 records – mainly from the wider Pretoria area. Data collected made a significant contribution to the Gauteng Birp Report, published by the ADU.
• The PCC/BiG Bird Monitoring Project is envisaged as nothing other than a project in total support of a national bird atlas project.

• The PCC/Avitrack monitoring system is primarily a data-capturing system, around which participants have been involved in exploring and developing methodologies for bird monitoring.
• Species write-ups, based as far as possible on PCC data, but also taking into account any other data and experience available to us, are a good endorsement of this project, and should continue. About 20 draft texts have been done, mostly by Faansie Peacock, and are available on the website at www.birding.co.za/challenge (follow the links to draftexts)
• Communication as regards our objectives and development need to be stepped up.

 

 

 

Issues discussed

 

Report back from Atlas Workshop held on 1 October, 2005

 

Etienne, Pieter and Ernst were at the meeting, and reported back some impressions of the workshop.  A summary of the workshop has been circulated by Pam Barrett and Gerhard Verdoorn will circulate a discussion document.

 

Relationship to National Atlas project (SABAP 2)

 

The process of atlassing and discussing and collecting atlas data in the Pretoria and Gauteng region started in the absence of any discussion nationally about an atlas project.  Now this is being seriously discussed and there is absolutely no question that the Regional Atlas Project would be part of a national atlas. A national atlas is after all, just an overview of data that has been collected locally. Given feedback and discussion at the National Atlas Workshop, the Avitrack software and some of the methods used locally would be very useful in the national atlas project.

 

Species Write-ups.

 

It was felt that this was a very valuable exercise, as it represented progress and achievement for the participants. Some felt that the texts already published were very good and should get wider coverage.

 

Challenges/Difficulties of Species Write-ups.

 

• Difficulties with the way the data is presented in reports that Pieter provides. At drafters are working on a simple list of actual records. However drafters do not have an overall context to understand the relevance of these records. For more comprehensive and detailed reports,
• A map interface would be very useful to demonstrate distribution. Ernst Retief said that he may be able to assist with maps.

 

Anthony Cooper said that the next edition of Laniarius was in sore need of material and suggested that a few species texts might be published as a feature in the next Laniarius.

 

Faansie Peacock has completed the bulk of species texts, but has less time for co-ordination as he is working on a book on Pipits. 

 

Roger Fieldwick was asked to play a role in co-ordination of the species texts.

 

 

Assistance with analysis of spatial data.

 

Anthony suggested that the PCC should interact with post-graduade students who are looking for projects for thesis, which include spatial analysis of data. Faansie Peacock could also help with putting us in touch with the right people at Tukkies.  Anthony offered to look into this issue further.

 

Grid Monitoring

 

Grid monitoring has been proceeding apace. For the year, a very significant number of lists have in fact been for 3x3 minute grid squares, which is very heartening. Out of 571 lists received in 2005, 385  (66%) are for 3x3 grids. Some felt that the number of people collecting data was too small.  

 

If possible, it would be good to have a map which shows the coverage that we have achieved at 3X3 grid level.

 

The “Grid guides” are aimed at enabling people without GPS to atlas squares, and should be made available on the web-site. 

 

 

Atlas Draft Manual

 

The draft document prepared by Etienne was discussed. Ernst Retief has had a good look at the document and made many useful comments.

 

New Version of Avitrack.

 

Pieter van Zyl showed the group the latest version of Avi-track (which was formerly PCC).

 

The software shows a number of new features. These include:

 

• The option of selecting “casual” or “intensive” birding.
• For intensive birding, one can only bird within one day, for casual birding for up to three days.
• The functionality to add new lists for new areas.
• The ability to sort by family name or species name (English or Afrikaans), or Roberts VII sequence in-built
• A single “count” column for each bird
• Revised breeding data options
• Grid and Site fields (need to stress that only grid is required)

 

Pieter stressed that avitrack still needed a few improvements, but that a point needed to be reached when it was final.

 

Southern African Bird Atlas Introductory Chapter.

This chapter is essential reading for anyone interested in bird monitoring and atlassing. Etienne offered to make an electronic copy of this chapter available.

 

The future and Development of the PCC

 

The PCC/BiG has as its focus the fine-tuning of atlassing and bird monitoring for the Gauteng Region. The ultimate aim is the ongoing, detailed mapping and monitoring of the birds of the region. Our second (but not secondary) aim is to involve the widest possible range of people from all walks of life in the monitoring of birds locally and in their areas.

 

The national atlas would be based on a compilation of regional data. Given that our main interest is on this data, the PCC/BIG is of great value, but needs to improve communication and liaison with the main roleplayers in birding in the region.

 

While those involved cannot presume to appoint themselves as a BirdLife regional Atlas Committee, we are a de facto group of people working on Atlassing, and doing atlassing. We would therefore be keen to play the role of an interim atlas committee in the region, together with whoever the Region appoints to work on the SABAP II project once this gets off the ground.

 

 

It was agreed that the PCC group should communicate better with the Gauteng BirdLife branches, and particularly BLNG. 

 

Appendix

 

(Revised Draft Atlas Manual – short version)  (With changes included)