Study site and base of the monitoring:
Census taker training:
Three persons from the community of Sanimtaca were trained as bird census takers from May to October 2003. For the methodology see Part I: Introduction and Methods. The 3 first months of this training were accompanied by one of the census takers from the community of Rocjá Pomtilá, who were trained in 2001. This helped significantly in the transmission of the monitoring concept, since explanations were also given in Q’eqchi’, their native language.
In order to evaluate the training we conducted simultaneous point counts. The trained census takers counted together as the trainer was counting simultaniously. Table 1 shows a summary of the number of detected species during these counts. From a total of 52 species, 45 species were detected by both, the census takers and the trainer.
Table 1
| Number of species and individuals detected during simultaneous point counts (n=51 points). | ||
| Census takers | Trainer | |
| Total number of detected spp. | 45 | 48 |
| Total number of detected individuals | 849 | 791 |
| Number of spp. exclusively detected | 3 | 6 |
Table 2 shows density data calculated with software Distance 3.5 (Thomas et al. 1998) for the most abundant species with at least 80 records during the simultaneous counts. This number is recommended for reliable calculation with Distance 3.5. (Buckland et al. 1993). Density estimates are very similar between the monitoring team and the trainer.
Table 2
| Density estimates of species with more than 80 records, calculated with software Distance 3.5 (Thomas et al. 1998) | ||||
| Census takers | Trainer | |||
| Density in Ind./ha (95% confidence interval) | n (detected individuals) | Density in Ind./ha (95% confidence interval) | n (detected individuals) | |
| Chlorospingus opthalmicus | 14.2 (11.4-17.7) | 161 | 14.3 (10.5-19.5) | 140 |
| Henicorhina leucophrys | 7.3 (5.4-9.9) | 125 | 7.4 (5.5-10.0) | 97 |
| Myadestes unicolor | 5.0 (3.9-6.5) | 100 | 5.3 (4.2-6.7) | 104 |
Results:
Table 3
Habitat data:
A forest cover map was elaborated for the Sacranix mountain based on a Landsat ETM image.
An inventory of plant diversity is currently carried out as part of the bird habitat assessment. Dr. Harald Förther (Germany) has collected plant specimens in the area since 1998.
Eisermann, K. (2001): Investigación de la avifauna de las regiones: planicie del río Ik’bolay, Sierra Guaxac, Sierra Sacranix. Reporte, Proyecto Eco-Quetzal, Cobán, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala.
Eisermann, K. (2005): Noteworthy bird observations in Alta Verapaz, Guatemala. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club 125: 3-11.
Buckland, S.T., D.R. Anderson, K. P. Burnham, & J. L. Laake (1993): Distance Sampling: Estimating abundance of biological populations. Chapman & Hall, London.
Jones, H. L. (since 2004): Central America. North American Birds. Since Vol. 58.
Thomas, L., J. L. Laake, J. F. Derry, S. T. Buckland, D. L. Borchers, D. R. Anderson, K. P. Burnham, S. Strindberg, S. L. Hedley, M. L. Burt, F. F. C. Marques, J. H. Pollard & R. M. Fewster (1998): Distance 3.5. Release 6. Research Unit for Wildlife Population Assessment, University of St. Andrews, UK.
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