Posting below, a mail from Anvitha S (Undergraduate student, St Joseph’s College) on <bngbirds@yahoogroups.com>, requesting for volunteers for the Waterbird Survey 2015-16.
We are reviving the waterbird survey which was conducted between 1987 – 1996 by the Bird Watcher’s Field Club Of Bangalore. We request experienced birdwatchers and others to contribute to this effort.
In the 80s and 90s the Mid-winter waterfowl survey proved to be a great experience for novices and specialists in sharing and learning skills. Since then the water scape of Bangalore has changed dramatically. So an initiative is planned to revive waterbird survey in atleast the surviving sites to see how much change has happened and also to continue the excellent traditions which was started off in the 80s. We require your sincere participation and work.
Objective
* To see the change that has occurred over the years (includes change in bird diversity, bird density and habitat.)
* Revive the exposure of birdwatchers to wetland habitats and also help new birdwatchers improve waterbird identification skills.
Tentative Protocol
* To visit major lakes along the highways leading out of Bangalore with more importance given to the lakes covered during the census of 1987-1996.
* New comers will be entrusted with data maintenance and record keeping. They will take gross counts at the lakes, differentiating the birds of the major familial groups.
* Experienced birdwatchers will help in identification and counting species. Their experience in assessing habitat parameters would be shared with new birdwatchers.
Depending on the availability of experienced birdwatchers, the surveys will be conducted, mostly on weekends. People with transport and willing to join the effort please reply on this thread. We’ll also need help in logistics.
Those interested can write to Anvitha S, undergraduate at St. Joseph’s College, Bangalore.
December 26 – Sarjapur Road
- Meeting point – Agara Lake entrance near St. John’s
- Meeting time – 7:30 AM
Tentative list of lakes
1. Agara lake
2. Bellandur Lake(may be covered on a separate day with Varthur)
3. Bhoganahalli Lake
4. Devarabisanahalli Lake
5. Saul kere
6. Doddakanelli Lake
7. Kasavanahalli lake
8. Kaikondrahalli lake
The order in which the lakes are covered will be decided by the team because the present condition of the lakes and condition of roads leading to many of the lakes are not known.
Participants – MBK, Ulhas, Anvitha, Joiston, MS Raghunath
Others who are available and are interested please add your name in the excel sheet (link below)
Transport – Ulhas (can accommodate 4 people in his car), MS Raghunath(can accommodate 4 people in his car?)
A small training session will be done at Agara Lake before the start of the survey.
December 27 – Hosur Road
- Meeting point – St. John’s Hospital entrance
- Meeting time – 7:30 am
Tentative list of lakes
1. Madivala (on the way back in the evening)
2. Somasundarapalya lake
3. Chikka kudulu lake
4. Lake in ACTS campus (if entry is permitted)
5. Raysandra lake
6. Dodda Begur lake
7. Chikka Begur lake
8. Chikka Begur lake industrial layout
Participants – Joiston, Anvitha
Transport – needed
Mostly, in a day maximum of six lakes will be covered. Lakes which cannot be covered on that day will be assigned to individuals who can cover it on their way to work or back home. If we are falling short of time, route will be altered to cover the major/big lakes.
Lakes in the Bangalore core area will be assigned to students/others who stay close by and can cover it.
If you are interested and available for any of the above surveys(including the lakes in Bangalore core areas), please fill in your name in the surveyor and vehicle provisioning column(if you have vehicle) in the excel sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1IlDjohubM1APoup_wBHx_mFsSzwuXPTP1BEA7aLOxZQ/edit?ts=5676449a#gid=0.
Even though email is an easy mode of communication, work of the organizers becomes easy if you all filled the excel sheet rather than sending mails.
For those interested, here is a link on estimating flock size: http://www.sibleybirds.com/w/index.php?title=Estimating_numbers
Data will be put up on bngbirds as well as on ebird.
Since one of the objectives of the survey is to expose new birdwatchers/students to wetland habitats and waterbirds and since the survey is an initiative of the students, it is important for the students to be present for most of the wetland visits.
As mentioned by Ulhas sir, here is the list of things to carry for a survey
- Water, lots of it
- A good hat, not a cap
- Good walking shoes
- Book and pen
- Binoculars/Spotting scope if u have one
- Sun screen/block
- Food
- Mosquito repellent, if you are sensitive
- Offline map of the route
- Latest Google map of each lake that we will be visiting
