Transect line method

Thank you Hemanta. Your simple choice "Transect Method" is not going to solve the problem. You need to argue against the total count method. Please add your experience also, if any.

Sorry for the short answer.

For the long term comparative status of the vulture, I prefer the Transect line and as you already mentioned it is better for low-cost incurring but it runs the risk of poor selection of representative samples in varied landscapes, especially inaccessible areas of vulture abode, i.e., deep forests and difficult cliffs. This can be overcome by the selection of some hotspots as points along the transect line and doing point count method. Since vultures are big birds can be identified from a far distance too.

If we are doing a basic study on the population status of vultures we can monitor them at the feeding station. Another way is monitoring their nesting sites and roosting sites.

Dear Sir,

Population estimation of vultures is a huge task.

1. If you are estimating vulture population in a large are Road transect method is an apt one to estimate the roughed estimation of vultures in the vast area

2. In a confined space (Tiger reserve) have a breeding population u can adopt Nest site count and roos site count you get the exact estimation of breeding as well a non-breeding population

3. Carcasses count also a very good method for estimating the population in foraging grounds

I hope it will more useful for your question

I did nest site count for to estimate the White-rumped vulture population in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve for 10 years (2011 to 2020) it gives some meaningful result for conservation as well as management purposes

Thank you Arockianathan Samson for your very useful input. If possible kindly try to give demerits of total count. You may read the protocol in two of our papers on vulture count in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh (Jha 2015 and Jha et al. 2020) available at my researchgate page.

Dear Peers

Transect method is very common and it is hoped that known to most of the population researchers. For convenience I am adding the total count protocol. It is requested that please write your critique on the methodology comparing the two Transect vs Total count).

Protocol

Forest department of the State was divided into forest circles and further into Forest Divisions (FDs) or district level administrative units. All the FDs were surveyed for vulture occurrence sites. Preliminary surveys located historical vulture distributions, whereas current roosting and nesting sites were identified and later revisited for data collection. Two vulture counts were undertaken in winter (23/01/2016) and summer (14/05/2016). All sightings at pre-decided sites (ascertained during preliminary survey) were counted. Dates were fixed to avoid

double counting from bird movements. Count times were fixed between 7:00 h - 9:00 h in winter and 6:00 h - 8:00 h in summer, to ensure full counts. Species, adults and juveniles were identified. Roosting, nesting and bathing sites were recorded using a GPS system. Several teams of forest guards and volunteers were engaged in each FD to do the job of survey and counting.

(Jha KK et al. 2020; Notulae Scientia Biologicae 12,1:124-142)

Dear Hemanta Dhakal

If you have been involved in synchronized counting of vultures in Nepal recently, or you know Bhusal KP and Rana DB, you should be able to share your experiences (merits and demerits) of total count. Or could you discuss with them (B & R) and give your viewpoint?

Dear Arockianathan Samson

You can read Bhusal and Rana (2020) also, a short communication on synchronized counting of vultures in Nepal (available on research gate) recently and get back with your analysis.

Dear Sir,

Thanks for your suggestion our southern Indian states (Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana) plan to conduct a vulture census we are initiated vantage point count based on the grids as well as nest site count also lots of activities are involved the three days protocol ones we finalized the methodology I will update to u