Return to Contents Page
Page 1                                                                                                                                   Form 16
ATLAS OF THE BREEDING BIRDS OF ARABIA:
 HALF HOUR TRANSECT CENSUS  FORM
Observer: Observer’s own Ref: ABBA Ref:
CENSUS DETAILS   (Please complete a new form for each census of the same site).
Date: Start time: Finish time: The actual census time must be 30 minutes - explain if the finish is more than 30 minutes after the start; e.g. time spent inspecting nest, taking photographs.
Name of Site: Co-ords of start point (say if GPS used)                      …………….. ….…. …..oN …………... ……..….oE ABBA Square: Altitude(m):
Has site been censused previously?      Yes/No    (If “Yes” give date(s))
Weather at time of Census: (Comment on wind, temperature, cloud cover, visibility, sun/shade etc):
Short narrative description of site :  (Try to keep to one general habitat during the census .  Describe the route and main features, include where appropriate notes on topography, geology, condition of vegetation, presence of water, built up areas, disturbance by stock animals and human activity and mention anything that may have biased the census):
CATEGORISED DESCRIPTION OF SITE How representative is the site of the whole ABBA square? (NB A square is approx 50 km X 50 km)
      a.  Is it a unique site:                 Yes/No
Surface/Geology % of Site Vegetation/Usage % of Site       b.  Site represents about             % of the square
Water Habitats   Open water (fresh/salty?)   Sketch of site and route
Built up (roads/houses/industry)   Built up (roads/houses/industry)    
Sand/Subkha   Wetlands (describe)  
Gravel    Trees (species)  
Small rocks  (< 30 cm)      
Boulders(>30 cm)      
Rock outcrop (rock type)   Bushes/Shrubs  
Silt/Soil/Mud   Grass  
Tilled Soil   Herbs  
  Crops (specify)  
  Bare ground (rocks/sand)  
100% 100%
  Additional comments on surface/geology, usage/vegetation   (Include reference to threats, changes in usage, recent weather conditions which may have affected the census, condition of crops, and other wildlife, etc.) On  sketch show ‘North’, start point/co-ords point and route (as  dotted line).  Sketch should be detailed enough to allow someone  else to repeat the census in future years.
Approximate distance and area censused   ..................m.   by   .................   m.   =   ....................  m2   (ie the core area of the census where most birds were observed)
Page 2
BIRDS SEEN OR HEARD   Include allmigrants andvisitors not just the breeding birds.
ABBA Species No Species Presumed status at census site (See Key) BEC at census site Total Seen or heard Notes
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
Status Key: BR = Breeding resident, MB = Breeding visitor, PM = Passage migrant, WV = Winter visitor.  Specify any other status 
Additional notes on birds.  (Include details of other breeding/resident species seen in the area which were not recorded during the census and species confirmed breeding etc.)
When complete this form should be sent to Mike Jennings, Co-ordinator, Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Arabia,  Warners Farm House, Warners Drove, Somersham, Cambridgeshire, PE28 3WD, England.  Tel/Fax 01487 841733 (International 0044 1487 841733)   Email: arabian.birds@dial.pipex.com     A copy should be sent to the local bird recorder.
Return to Contents Page