CFS426 Five Minute Bird Count

If the scheduled dates and locations do not work for you, we can arrange to deliver the course at another date and location.

Please register your interest here(external link), and one of our friendly team members will contact you.

Academic requirements

If you under 20 years old: Achieved NCEA Level 2 – (credits in Numeracy, Science or English desirable).
If you are 20 years or over: No minimum academic requirements.

English language requirements

All applicants must have a level of English sufficient to be able to study at this level.
If English is not your first language you should have an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) overall Academic score of at least 5.5 issued within the last two years (or equivalent).

Other requirements

You will be required to notify facilitation staff of any medical issues that NMIT and DOC need to be aware of. This should be done upon enrolment if the medical issue may impact upon your ability to meet the demands of the training. Other medical issues of lesser impact should be brought to NMIT staff attention at the start of the course. Each course will include a documented group job safety analysis to keep everyone safe. This adheres to the “Health and Safety in at Work Act 2015”.

Special Entry

In exceptional circumstances, an applicant under the age of 20 years who does not meet the academic entry requirements may be granted entry to the programme where they supply evidence of their ability to succeed on the programme.

Our conservation short courses are part of the Conservation Field Skills Training Scheme.

This Training Scheme is 20 credits. If you complete all the credits you will receive a Training Scheme award.

The Conservation Field Skills Training Scheme includes the compulsory course Risk Assessment worth 5 credits.

The remaining 15 credits can be made up of the short courses that best fit with your work.

Only one can be at level 3.

You will need to complete all the courses within three years to complete the training scheme and receive the award.

The Study dates reflect the preparation time that you may need prior to the actual face-to-face workshop.

Accommodation

Travel and accommodation arrangements are your own responsibility.

Catering

You will need to bring a packed lunch with you for both course days. Tea and coffee will be provided.

Contact us

Should you need to make contact before, during or after the workshop, please contact our friendly team via information and enrolments or contact the facilitator for the course.

There is a great deal of information to get through during the week. 

Please take the time to complete these online courses so you are prepared, you will need to allow up to 8 hours. 

• Bird Identification(external link)
• Birds: incomplete counts(external link), pages 2-4, 7-8, 17-20
• Field Skills(external link) 
• Introduction to Natural Heritage, modules 1-3(external link)

Expand your knowledge with DOC online courses(external link). 

DOC staff can find these courses via DOCLearn.

Hearing test

Collecting accurate data for Five Minute Bird Counts relies on the practitioner to be aware of their hearing limitations prior to recording bird calls. Hearing loss will affect the quality of data collected and you need to be aware of any limitations.

Information on a hearing test will be sent to participants by email.

A hearing test is recommended but not required, however, for all DOC staff it is a required prerequisite.

You must bring the following to the course:

• Pen and pencil 
• Headphones/earbuds (to study bird calls in class) 
• A laptop or tablet – if you have one available, please bring this along (we do have some tablets in the classroom to use if you do not bring your own)
• First Aid kit 
• Footwear suitable for walking off and on tracks, you may get your feet wet 
• Warm outdoor clothing and a raincoat 
• Drink bottle and small daypack 
• Optional - A pair of binoculars, if you use these