EDP Foz-Tua: Dipper (Cinclus cinclus) (point counts) - Ecological Monitoring Program [2013-16]

Study Extent

The data were collected in the riverbeds of the Tinhela river (river Tua sub-basin) (Northeast Portugal), up to 10 km from the mouth, in the municipality of Murça.

Sampling

Sampling was designed to cover the main habitats for the Dipper and other riparian birds along the Tinhela valley affected by the Foz-Tua dam (the mouth) and upstream. A total of six count points was established along the river Tinhela, in the starting point of a corresponding linear transect. All points were sampled once in winter and 1-2 times in the reproductive period (spring), in the early morning or late afternoon. Each sampling point was surveyed for 30 minutes. Species identification and assessment of age and sex (when possible) were made “in loco”, with the help of appropriate field guides.

Quality Control

All identifications were performed by qualified technicians

Method steps

1. To be completed

The taxonomic coverage of this dataset spans 1 phylum, 1 class, 2 orders, 4 families, 5 genera and 5 species.

1. Chordata
   rank: phylum
2. Aves
   rank: class
3. Coraciiformes
   rank: order
4. Passeriformes
   rank: order
5. Alcedinidae
   rank: family
6. Cinclidae
   rank: family
7. Motacillidae
   rank: family
8. Cetiidae
   rank: family

The data were collected within a 5-km buffer around the valley of the River Tinhela (Northeast Portugal), up to 10 km from the mouth, in the municipality of Murça.