SABAP2 - Frequently Asked Questions

A. They aren't initially, but they may well be later as the project develops. Tools and methods for SABAP2 will be made available for use by any other southern African country which commits to participating. But this would need to be driven, and funded, by teams in these countries, not by the project team based in South Africa. SABAP1, involving South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe, was a major success. It was also extremely complex and difficult to manage. SABAP2's steering committee took the decision to limit planning to South Africa and its two 'internal' neighbours for simple geographical reasons, but to facilitate the atlasing of northern neighbours at a later stage, if and when required.

A. The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) supports most of SABAP2's development and implementation, with public funds through the South African Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT). These funds are channeled through SANBI's Conservation Science and Sustainable Use Programme, via its Birds and Environmental Change Partnership. SANBI has a national mandate for delivering biodiversity information and analysis in support of the National Environmental Management (Biodiversity) Act. There is also significant co-financing from SABAP2's other partners, BirdLife South Africa (BLSA) and the Animal Demography Unit (ADU), via staff time, transport and infrastructure.

The project will initially cost R1 971 715 over three years in decreasing amounts (R720 500 in 2007-08, decreasing annually until 2009-10, with the possibility of extension). BLSA additionally contributes significant funding for project training, outreach and publicity. These amounts are typical of major regional biodiversity projects, and less than most.

A. Not at all. Experience will certainly help when it comes to recording species in the field but the atlas is intended for both the novice and skilled bird-watcher. However, for novice or inexperienced birders, it may be worthwhile considering going out with experienced observers for the first few surveys before deciding to tackle an atlas survey on your own or with other inexperienced birders. It is important that, as an atlaser, you are confident in identifying the species you see and/or hear during your surveys.

Attending bird ID courses will also aid in improving your knowledge about birds and this will certainly help in developing your field skills as an atlaser. BirdLife South Africa intends coordinating bird ID courses during the course of the project and these will be advertised on this website in due course. Above all, it is important to remember, whether as an experienced or casual birder, to enjoy yourself and to have fun when atlasing!

A. To answer this question click here - this will take you to the 'How do I take part' section which deals with the protocol in detail.

A. The basic answer here is do your best. Cover all terrestrial patches that are available and beach areas and if you are able to identify any off-shore species (possibly diving for fish) then that will be great. We don't want observers to worry about now having to arrange a boat to go out and tick pelagics etc.

A. Different observers should report incidental records whenever they can. We would rather have too many records than too few and we can then decide how best to use these records as part of the project. On an individual level, however, and to make it manageable, monthly submissions would probably suffice, with every second week possibly being first prize, given that the species hangs around in the same locality for a month or more!

These records take up very little space in our database so there wouldn't be a problem - if you did submit a record everytime you recorded the species in the same locality - with the overall number of incidental records submitted to the project.

At the end of the day, in 2078, it is going to be useful for someone describing, for example, the range expansion of the Goliath Heron into the Western Cape, to be able to look at the SABAP2 data and say: A Goliath Heron was continuously present at Rondevlei from date A to date B. The problem with so many rarities that hang around for a while is that no one reports when they are first missing (for the obvious reason that they simply are out of sight). In the "comments" on the incidental submission form it is helpful to say that this is almost certainly the same individual as reported on previous occasions.