Palau workshop resources

These resources were initially developed for a workshop in Palau in October 2026, by Monica Gruber (Pacific Biosecurity) and Ray Pierce (Eco-Oceania). 

Training-of-trainers introduction : Three-day workshop

Training-of-trainers introduction

The purpose of the training-of-trainers introduction is to familiarise future trainers in seabird monitoring with the resources to support training activities, using the materials in the three-day workshop section (outlined below).

The Training-of-trainers introduction powerpoint presentation introduces the seabird survey and monitoring three-day workshop, and covers the following topics:

  1. The Pacific BioScapes programme 
  2. The Palau seabird monitoring project
  3. Pacific Seabirds Survey and Monitoring Manual
  4. How to use the Palau workshop resources
  5. Overview of the three-day workshop structure, topics and resources
  6. Caution on seabird handling
  7. How to update Palau pages on this website 

The following three-day workshop demonstrates how the training can be delivered to others once participants have completed the training-of-trainers workshop.

All the supporting materials can be downloaded and tailored as needed.

This webpage and the other Palau-specific pages can be edited as outlined in this guide.

To review the Training-of-trainers Introduction

  1. Download the Training-of-trainers introduction powerpoint presentation
  2. Read the notes and follow the links in the presentation
  3. Once you are familiar with the content
    1. Download the presentations for the three-day-workshop below
    2. Read the notes in those and follow the links in the presentations
    3. Add, change content as required

Mentimeter

Mentimeter is a way for people to share their views anonymously. The presenter does not know what answers individual people gave, only the group results. The The three-day workshop uses Mentimeter for spot quizzes.

Mentimeter is free, but you need to set up a new "menti" for each presentation, and you need to have your own access. So if you also wish to use Mentimeter, you will have to set up your access, create messages, and update the Mentimeter instructions with your new QR codes and menti codes.

Workshop evaluation

The workshop evaluation was implemented in a personal Qualtrics account, using these questions. Other survey software can be used for the evaluations, or the evaluations can be paper-based. 

Three-day workshop

Day 1 : Day 2 : Day 3

Day 1: Introduction to seabirds and seabird monitoring

This powerpoint presentation is the primary workshop resource for Day 1. 

The "notes" in the powerpoint presentation act as a script for the delivery of the workshop, and describes the content of each of the slides.

The following table provides an outline of topics covered in the workshop. The powerpoint presentation follows this outline.

The references and notes provide links to source information for the topic. 

Topic References and notes Timing (minutes) Exercises/materials
Introduction to the Pacific BioScapes programme  Introduction from the SPREP website 5  
Introduction to the Palau seabird monitoring project   5  
Overview of the three-day workshop (scope, objectives)   5  
Part 1: Introduction to seabirds Part 1: Introduction to seabirds 5   
Importance of seabirds  1.1 Seabirds 5   
Seabird ecology 1.1.1 Seabird ecology 10   
Seabirds of Oceania 1.4 Seabirds of Oceania 5  Mentimeter
Identifying seabirds Identifying Palau's seabirds 40

Identifying Palau seabirds exercise

Mentimeter

Introduction to the Pacific Seabird Colony Database and Seabirds of Palau  4.2 Pacific Seabird Colony Database; Seabirds of Palau 20 Mentimeter
    TOTAL 100  
Seabird-driven ecosystems 1.3 Seabird-driven ecosystems 10  
Threats to seabirds 1.5 Threats to seabirds 10  Mentimeter
Part 2: Survey tools & types Part 2: Survey tools & types 5  
Survey tools  2.1 Survey tools  5   
Community surveys 2.1.2 Community surveys 15  
Survey types 2.2 Survey types 5  
Rapid assessment 2.2.1 Rapid assessment 5  
Threat assessment 2.2.2 Threat assessment 5  
Colony surveying 2.2.4 Colony surveying 10   
Shore-based surveys 2.2.8 Shore-based surveys 5  
At-sea surveying 2.2.9 At-sea surveying 5  
Shoreline surveying 2.2.11 Shoreline surveying 10  
Finding breeding sites 2.2.12 Finding breeding sites 10  
    TOTAL 100  
Part 3: Measurement & monitoring Part 3: Measurement & monitoring 5  
Population Monitoring   10

Which Palau seabirds to monitor?

Design a monitoring programme for a sensitive (or favorite) Palau seabird

Nest monitoring 3.1 Nest monitoring 5  Mentimeter
Reproductive success 3.6 Reproductive success 15  
Preparation for field day   30  
Wrap up   5  
    TOTAL 70  

Day 2: Practical seabird monitoring on-land and at-sea

The second day of the workshop is intended to give participants practice in the skills that were discussed on Day one.

Schedule  Notes
Meet and board boat 0900 - 9 am
Travel to Ngeanges 60 minutes (45 travel plus 15 minutes surveying en route)
  At-sea surveying: During the trip we will practice identifying seabirds that we see, as well as recapping the methods we went over the previous day
  Shoreline surveying: 30 minutes
On Ngeanges 1-2-hours: Activities will depend on how plentiful seabirds are and the time available, and may take place on Ngeanges and/or on Ulong
  Threat assessment: Rat eradications on Ngeanges failed, so this offers a comparison with Ulong
Travel to Ulong 45 minutes (more opportunities to survey en route)
On Ulong 2-3 hours: Rats have been eradicated from Ulong, and birds are likely more abundant
  Colony surveying
  Shore-based surveys
  Finding breeding sites
  Nest monitoring
  Reproductive success
Return to Koror 45 minutes: Arrive back 1600, 4 pm

Day 3: Review and evaluation

Day three is intended to review the practical work. A powerpoint presentation is the main workshop resource. 

The following table provides an outline of topics covered in the workshop. The powerpoint presentation follows this outline.

The references and notes provide links to source information for the topic. 

Topic References and notes Timing (minutes) Supporting materials
Introduction to the day   5  
Review of field trip   40  Mentimeter
Other surveying methods   20  
    TOTAL 65  
Part 4: Managing data Part 4: Managing data 30  
Updating the Pacific Seabird Colony Database 4.2 Pacific Seabird Colony Database 60 Exercise
Part 5: Resources Part 5: Resources 30  
    TOTAL 120  
Evaluations   10  
Planning for Monitoring   60  
Closing   5  
    TOTAL 75