Aerial Total Counts

Abstract

The technique and the field procedures relating to aerial total counts were first summarised by Norton-Griffiths (1975). Although the concept is simple, the design of an aerial census requires careful consideration to minimise error and bias. The main objective of an aerial census is to describe accurately the total number of a particular target species, and its spatial distribution over the study area. The census requires at least two observers, each counting on a different side of the aircraft, to scan the entire study area, as the aircraft flies along parallel flight lines that are between 500 m and 2 km apart. In the case of a hippo count the observers scan rivers and pools, while for puku, reedbuck and oribi they scan dambos.