Resources
Forms for recording bird counts in the field
Use either of these forms for recording bird counts. They include descriptions of the data that needs to be collected such as sun, cloud etc. If you use these forms you will collect data in the same format as other 5MBC studies and as recommended in Dawson and Bull (1975).
A4 size
A4-sized standard field sheet (PDF, 21K)
A4-sized standard field sheet (Word, 93K)
Notebook size
Notebook-sized standard field sheet (PDF, 24K)
Notebook-sized standard field sheet (Word, 145K)
Entering your data
You can use this spreadsheet for entering data once you have finished your bird count.
It has five tabs. If you fill in the first few tabs systematically you will find the cells in the fourth tab will be automatically filled in as you enter the data.
The spreadsheet contains a background list of bird species. We recommend you use this list so your study can be easily compared with other five-minute bird count studies and easily entered into the DOC 5MBC database in the future.
Data entry spreadsheet (MS Excel, 300K)
Five-minute bird count training
Training on the method
DOC has designed a 5MBC training course. This is a field-based monitoring course covering the method and identification of common forest birds.
Training courses are held in Thames, Nelson and Glenorchy and they are open to the public and DOC staff.
Five-minute bird count field-based training course.
Contact Allison Wright.
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