A grid-based map was produced and assigned to each team to use as reference in the field (see Figure 1). Each team was given an assignment to focus its survey effort on one 2x2km grid cell, using the GPS associated with a geographic map to locate a listening post and mark any evidence of Green Peafowl when encountered. The listening post was the central point in each grid cell, and these were spaced about two kilometers apart from each other. The reasoning behind this was to ensure independent counts as over a large distance the Green Peafowl calls cannot be heard.
Teams conducted listening counts simultaneously each morning between 6:00am to 8:00am, and each evening between 4:30pm to 6:30pm for two consecutive days. Standardized data forms were prepared, and handed over to each team to use for recording data at their listening post, and also during their walk while traversing from the camp to the point, or searching for Green Peafowl signs after the completion of a listening post survey. If they heard the Green Peafowl’s call, they took a compass bearing from their location towards the direction of the call, and recorded the compass bearing, type of calls (males or females), time and the number of calls into the data form.
After the completion of the listening post in the morning, the team visited water holes along streams to search for signs of the Green Peafowl (e.g., footprints or feathers) to support the evidence of its presence in that grid cell or to generate evidence of its presence if calls were not made by birds because of human activities