Metadata for Datasets Curated by the ADU

  • BIRP: Birds In Reserves Project (BIRP)
  • CAR: Biannual roadcounts of large terrestrial birds
  • CWAC: Coordinated Waterbird Counts (CWAC) Programme
  • SABAP1: Southern African Bird Atlas Project
  • SABAP2: Southern African Bird Atlas Project 2
  • SABCA: Southern African Butterfly Conservation Assessment (SABCA)
  • SAFAP: Atlas of the Frogs of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland
  • SAFRING: Southern African Bird Ringing Unit (SAFRING)
  • SARCA: Southern African Reptile Conservation Assessment (SARCA)

CWAC Metadata:

1) DATASET CONTACT
Name of Organization/Department Animal Demography Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Cape Town
Contact person (Person to contact about the dataset) Prof. Les Underhill
Position ADU Director
Postal Address Animal Demography Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch
Postal code 7701
City/Town Cape Town
Province Western Cape
Country South Africa
Telephone +27 (0)21 650 3227
Cell
Fax +27 (0)21 650 3301
Email les.underhill@uct.ac.za
Website address (url) http://cwac.adu.org.za/
2) DATASET METADATA
Title of dataset Coordinated Waterbird Counts (CWAC) Programme
Brief description (max. 200 words) The Animal Demography Unit (ADU) launched the Coordinated Waterbird Counts (CWAC) project in 1992 as part of South Africa?s commitment to International waterbird conservation. This is being done by means of a programme of regular mid-summer and mid-winter censuses at a large number of South African wetlands. Regular six-monthly counts are regarded as a minimum standard; however, we do encourage counters to survey their wetlands on a more regular basis as this provides more accurate data. All the counts are conducted by volunteers; people and organisations with a passion for waterbird conservation. It is one of the largest and most successful citizen science programmes in Africa, providing much needed data for waterbird conservation around the world. Currently the project regularly monitors over 400 wetlands around the country, and furthermore curates waterbird data for over 600 sites.
Purpose (max. 200 words) There are many reasons for collecting waterbird data from around the country. A comparison of counts from different wetlands gives indications of seasonal movements and the relative importance of sites for the conservation of different species. Long-term monitoring of waterbird population numbers on a site basis allows for the development of annual population indices to trace the fluctuations of such populations. Furthermore the project also allows for the collection of status information such as identifying the threats facing waterbirds and wetlands. CWAC counts form part of the African Waterbird Census (AfWC), which is coordinated by Wetlands International (WI). The project is supported and endorsed by both the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) as well as BirdLife South Africa (BLSA).
Begin date (When data collection started) 01/01/1992
End date (For dormant datasets: When was data collection ended Open-ended Project
3) DATA QUALITY
Give a brief account of any biases, gaps or errors which may exist in the dataset. Data are collected by volunteers and as a result bias may be present; however data collection protocols are in place and the aim is to achieve a high standard of data quality over time. Incoming data are screened and vetted electronically before entering the main database. Most of the data in the database are correct but some errors are inevitable. Data gaps are imminent due to the nature of the project.
4) ACCESS/USE CONSTRAINTS
How to get a copy of the dataset Contact the Project Coordinator
5) OTHER INFORMATION
Other information about the dataset which may be important. Whenever data is used, due acknowledgement must be given to the Animal Demography Unit, the Coordinated Waterbird Counts Programme as well as the compilers involved in the counts. Scientific collaboration is welcome.
6) METADATA AUTHOR
Author name (name of the person who entered the metadata record) Marius Wheeler
Author organization Animal Demography Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Cape Town
Author position Project Coordinator
Author address Animal Demography Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch
Author postal code 7701
Author city/town Cape Town
Author province Western Cape
Author country South Africa
Author telephone +27 21 650 4698
Author fax +27 21 650 3434
Author email marius.wheeler@uct.ac.za
Metadata creation date 26/08/2009
Last update of metadata 26/08/2009