CAR: Coordinated Avifaunal Roadcounts
The Wits Bird Club supports the conservation initiatives of the Animal Demography
Unit at the University of Cape Town by conducting bi-annual Co-ordinated Avifaunal
Roadcounts, popularly known as CAR.
Large terrestrial birds, such as cranes, storks,
korhaans and bustards are counted in order to monitor the populations of these species
and assess their relative abundance.
CAR attempts to establish a link between privately owned land and nature conservation
and results are made available to the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism.
Farmers are encouraged to adopt responsible farming methods and local communities
are also encouraged to get involved.
WBC was instrumental in setting up the routes in Chrissiesmeer and has been involved
there since 2005. The Chrissiesmeer precinct is situated in a unique and very beautiful
part of our country. Our seven routes cover just over 410 kilometres of secondary
roads through farms in the area. Counts are usually conducted on the last Saturdays
of January and July each year.
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