1. Necessary materials for surveys: car; data sheets (SRS data sheet; WRS data sheet); description of route(s) to be surveyed; map of route(s) with stops marked on it; pen; optical equipment; and thermometer (optional if reasonably accurate estimate of temperature can be provided).

2. Become familiar with the datasheet before beginning; for winter surveys know the alpha codes for the species expected to occur and know where the codes appear on the sheet; for summer surveys know the alpha codes. Become familiar with route map and stop descriptions beforehand.

3. At the start and end of each 10-stop survey, fill in the top of the data sheet with appropriate information.* At each stop note species detected and note habitat code(s) appropriate for the stop (it is acceptable to use two or even three codes for one stop):

1—mixed habitat, none dominating (use sparingly)
2—mainly rural, agricultural land
3—mainly deciduous woodland
4—mainly coniferous woodland
5—mainly deciduous-coniferous woodland
6—mainly suburban or urban yards
7—shrub-scrub
*—water nearby (pond, stream, lake, etc.)

4. At each stop count birds for four (4) minutes at unlimited distance during winter; count for five minutes at two distance bands (< 50m; >50 m) during summer, with separate counts for minutes 1–3, minute 4, and minute 5 (data from the first four minutes become SRS data, but data from the entire five minutes are shared with PIF); for winter surveys pishing is allowed; use no recording devices except during summer night surveys (count for three minutes, playing only a tape of EASO for one minute during that interval). For raptors note age (A= adult; I=immature; U=unknown) or sex (F=female; M=male; U=unknown [scientific symbols for sex may be used instead of letters]); for kingfishers and RHWO note sex or age where possible. Make an effort to avoid double-counting birds that might be seen from two or more consecutive stops (i.e., vultures).

5. If you see uncommon birds between stops, record numbers for them in the margin next to the species’ line; note interesting behavior and, especially, habitat changes, at bottom of datasheet; note changes in route on page describing route.