What is a 5MBC
Five minute bird counts (5MBC) are used to survey and monitor birds, usually in forests, where it is hard to see them clearly. The method was developed independently in New Zealand over thirty years ago. Five minute bird count studies have been used to:
- Argue for the protection of forests e.g. they helped demonstrate the importance of West Coast and Central North Island forests when they were at threat from logging in the 1980s.
- Monitor progress in ecological restoration projects e.g. the Rotoiti Nature Recovery Project, St Arnaud Mainland Island.
- Monitor changes in bird populations over time e.g. in Northland Forests to see whether the number of New Zealand pigeon/kereru had decreased over time and whether pest control was helping to stop the decline.
- Investigate whether birds use different types of forest in different seasons. This understanding helped in designing reserves and wildlife corridors e.g. the North Westland Wildlife Corridor between the Paparoas and the Southern Alps.
- Identify sites of special wildlife interest e.g. Southland’s reserve network.
New Zealand pigeon/kereru
The method is regarded as an index measure. Rather than measuring the actual density or abundance of birds directly, an index records some of the individuals present and uses this measure to infer density or abundance. For five minute bird counts the relationship between the number recorded and the real density or abundance is usually unknown.
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