FAQs for the Great Kererū Count 2015

Q1. What is the difference between a “timed survey” and a “chance observation”?
A1. In a timed survey, you decide in advance to spend between 5 and 30 minutes looking for kererū. This can be done while standing at a bus stop, walking to work, during a lunch-break or a tramp into the bush. In fact, the more varied the locations and habitats surveyed the better. Count how many kererū you see in that time period (including “zero” if you don't see any) and enter that number. A chance observation is everything else, e.g. when you see a kererū but you weren’t doing a timed survey. Timed surveys provide more informative data than chance observations, especially useful for discriminating hotspots from coldspots, so if you have the opportunity we would love it if you could do several timed surveys every day of the count! Read below for further details.

Timed surveys

Q2. Should I keep recording the same bird many times in one day?
A2. If you are making a casual observation try not to knowingly record the same bird in the same place more than once a day. If you are doing multiple timed surveys in the same place, then it is OK to report a bird more than once (but see Q3 below).

Q3. How many timed surveys should I do in the same place in the same day?
A3. We recommend a maximum of three timed surveys in the same location in any single day. If you are performing multiple timed surveys at the same location in the same day, then leave a gap of at least half an hour between repeat surveys. If you can do more than three timed surveys in one day that’s great, - but try to vary the location of timed surveys done in the same day by at least 200m.

Q4. Should I repeat the location(s) of timed surveys on successive days?
A4. Yes, this is perfectly fine. Please answer the optional questions for each timed survey you do, even if this means repeating your answers from a previous day.

Q5. How long should a timed survey be?
A5. Any time period between 5 and 30 minutes is perfect. We recommend a maximum of 30 minutes for timed surveys done while walking so that each survey can be related to a reasonably localised area. If you are out and about for a long time then multiple surveys of 30 minutes each are ideal, but time intervals greater than 30 minutes can be used when it is awkward to keep track of time.

Walking surveys

Q6. Where do I place the location pin for a timed survey done while walking?
A6. At the location where kererū were first seen, or if no kererū were seen then near the midpoint of your route.

Q7. What habitat do I record for a walk that traverses more than one habitat?
A7. Record the most common habitat in the area. If necessary provide extra detail in the comments box.

Q8. How many kererū do I record if I see two or more different groups in the same timed survey?
A8. For example, in a 20 minute timed survey performed while walking you see 4 kererū after 8 minutes and then a group of 6 kererū after 15 minutes. If you are reasonably confident that they are different groups then record the total (10), if you think it more likely that the same group was encountered twice then report the larger number (6). Please use the comments box to clarify if a total is composed of two or more groups.

Data entry

Q9. Why can't I see an interactive map to pinpoint my location?
A9. It could be a compatability issue with Internet Explorer. Try using a different browser such as Chrome or Safari.

Q10. Why does the map show me existing records, but not let me add my own observation?
A10. Most likely you are on the project homepage of the Great Kererū Count within NatureWatch NZ. This displays statistics about the observations already entered. To add your own observation via the data entry page press the orange button/banner towards the top-right that says "Add Observations".

Thank you for your participation!

From the team at Great Kererū Count.

Posted on September 21, 2015 03:25 AM by stephen_hartley