From: Colin Jackson <colin.jackson@arocha.org>
Date: 2015-12-22 09:50
Subject: Egyptian Vultures & The value of bird atlassing using a set simple protocol
The Kenya Bird Map
project is nearing the end of its first full calendar year since it
has been running with the management office set up in the Museum,
Nairobi. All those who have taken part have contributed to now
almost 400 atlas squares ('pentads') covered in total (we need just
8 more) and 300 pentads for 2015 (only 14 more needed) and 60,000
records submitted (only 434 records needed... and there are still 10
days left in the year for anyone reading this in Kenya to be able to
help meet those targets!).
This is a superb effort and sets an excellent baseline and challenge
for the next year to see how quickly we can better it - but more
than that it provides an solid basis of data upon which to build for
analysing and tracking changes in bird populations. A recent
paper in Ostrich highlights how the data collected in the
South African Bird Atlas Project really does allow for accurate
assessment of population declines in Martial Eagles. This is exactly
the same protocol that is being used for Kenya Bird Map - and thus
the data you have collected will allow for similar such assessments
of threatened species.
An additional reason why the Kenya Bird Map is important is
illustrated in the recent submission of a record of an Egyptian
Vulture (now officially (?) considered 'Critically Endangered' since
Darcy et al's paper on vulture declines) on the shores of Lake
Turkana. This record makes twelve records of this species in the
database - data which are openly
available to anyone visiting the website. Click on this
link to see the species map - turn the different protocol
layers on and off using the 'Tools' icons (the pop-up label is
correct only for the first icon "Show the pentads layer". The second
icon shows / hides the 'Ad hoc' records layer, the third shows /
hide the 'Incidental records' layer).
Another example of a species map is this for the Southern
Ground Hornbill - you will note on this one when turning the
'incidental record' layer on that there are lot of records showing
in Tanzania. If you zoom out to the map of Africa level, you'll see
the distribution of records for wherever they've been submitted -
mostly southern Africa and Kenya.
Thank you again to all who have contributed so far - this is an
incredible resource for conserving our birds in Kenya. Don't stop
now and we would welcome all and anyone else to join in as well -
write to kenyabirdmap@naturekenya.org to register. The free Android
smart phone app by BirdLasser designed specifically around atlassing
with the KBM protocol is a superb resource for making the atlassing
significantly easier - again, write to the same email address to be
sent the link for it (it will soon be available on the Google store
but for now can be obtained through the KBM office).
Wishing all a wonderful Christmas.
Colin
-------------------------
Colin Jackson
A Rocha Kenya
Kenya Bird Map - funded by People Programme (Marie Curie Actions) & Natural History Museum of Denmark
www.arocha.org
www.assets-kenya.org
Blog: www.arochakenya.wildlifedirect.org