Perthshire Birds

Training

‘BTO Bird Survey Techniques Workshops’ - Information sheet 2006

Background
These courses are designed to help people learn about, and develop confidence in, the main methods that are used to survey birds in differing habitats and situations. As well as being very informative, our courses are relaxed and, we hope, enjoyable and we encourage questions and discussions at any point.

All the courses, both one-day workshops and the longer residential ones, consist of useful and informative indoor sessions learning about each technique in turn, alternated with outdoor practical sessions where we try the methods out for ourselves, so appropriate outdoor clothing is essential

Content
The courses start with an introduction to the whole subject of why we survey birds and how surveying can be used to show population levels and trends, to find out about habitat associations and why habitat recording is so important. We also look at some of the main ‘rules’ to consider when surveying birds.

This is followed by our first and most simple method – point counts. We look at how you carry out a point count, but also when they are of use and when they are perhaps not the best method to choose. Our first practical involves having a go at two point counts in two differing habitats.

Back indoors, and we move onto line transects, and use the BTO/JNCC/RSPB Breeding Bird Survey as our basis for this section. We concentrate on how to record the birds, and just as importantly how to record the habitat. Out in the field we practice what we have just learned, and attempt several sections of a transect recording both birds and habitat as we go – this usually creates a lot of discussion!

Finally we return to the classroom to learn about mapping, first developed for the Common Birds Census, but often used in adapted forms for other surveys. Again, the theory is backed up with a practical, and we will have a go at mapping an area around the venue.

This forms the basis for all our courses, but the residential ones go into each section in more detail. In addition, our practical sessions are longer to enable everyone to really get to grips with each method and feel confident about it. We will also look in more depth at why we survey birds and, importantly, which type of survey to use in different situations. There are only one-day training courses available in Scotland.

Scottish Training Course Dates (2006)

Location Venue Date
Stirling University of Stirling Sun 23 April
Inverness Forestry Commission, Inverness Sat 6 May

Other Information
Due to the partially outdoor nature of the courses we strongly recommend suitable waterproof clothing, and stout shoes or boots. To get the most from the courses, we would recommend that you have at least a basic knowledge of most of the common bird species by sight and, preferably, by song as well. The courses are not suitable for complete beginners to bird-watching.

If you would like any more information about any aspects of the courses please contact Su Gough at BTO HQ (su.gough@bto.org or ‘phone 01842 750050). If you would like to book a place on one of our courses please contact Rebecca Cranston at BTO Scotland (rebecca.cranston@bto.org or ‘phone 01786 466560). Information on the Field Studies Centres used as venues for the residential courses can be found on www.field-studies-council.org

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