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:
- The Pacific BioScapes programme
- The Palau seabird monitoring project
- Pacific Seabirds Survey and Monitoring Manual
- How to use the Palau workshop resources
- Overview of the three-day workshop structure, topics and resources
- Caution on seabird handling
- 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
- Download the Training-of-trainers introduction powerpoint presentation
- Read the notes and follow the links in the presentation
- Once you are familiar with the content
- Download the presentations for the three-day-workshop below
- Read the notes in those and follow the links in the presentations
- 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: 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 |