Bird Atlas Data of Namibia

The Southern African Bird Atlas Project (SABAP) was a huge public participation projectcovering the southern African region; the results of the project were published in the two-volume Atlas of Southern African Birds in 1997 (Harrison et al 1997). Bird Atlas data were collected in Namibia between 1970 and 1993 and some historical data were also incorporated. Data were collected in the form of species lists at the resolution of quarter degree squares (QDS; approximately 27 x 27 km) and calendar month. Proven or suspected breeding activity was also recorded. The Namibian dataset contains over half a million records of over 600 species.

Uses of these data include:

• mapping of bird distributions and relative abundance
• identification of breeding localities
• assessing seasonality of bird distributions and movements
• obtaining species lists and reporting rates for areas such as National Parks and selected QDS
• diversity analyses to identify areas of particular importance for selected species or groups of species