Waterbird counts on large water bodies: comparing ground and aerial methods during different ice conditions
The aerial and ground methods of counting birds in a coastal area during different ice conditions were compared. Ice coverage of water was an important factor affecting the results of the two methods. When the water was ice-free, more birds were counted from the ground, whereas during ice conditions...
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2018
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.5195 https://doaj.org/article/e1d7ca090a3b4bff88c87199a2c9889d |
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:e1d7ca090a3b4bff88c87199a2c9889d 2024-01-07T09:38:14+01:00 Waterbird counts on large water bodies: comparing ground and aerial methods during different ice conditions Dominik Marchowski Łukasz Jankowiak Łukasz Ławicki Dariusz Wysocki 2018-07-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.5195 https://doaj.org/article/e1d7ca090a3b4bff88c87199a2c9889d EN eng PeerJ Inc. https://peerj.com/articles/5195.pdf https://peerj.com/articles/5195/ https://doaj.org/toc/2167-8359 doi:10.7717/peerj.5195 2167-8359 https://doaj.org/article/e1d7ca090a3b4bff88c87199a2c9889d PeerJ, Vol 6, p e5195 (2018) Wintering Costal lagoons Baltic Sea Ducks Waterfowl Accuracy of population estimates Medicine R Biology (General) QH301-705.5 article 2018 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.5195 2023-12-10T01:49:41Z The aerial and ground methods of counting birds in a coastal area during different ice conditions were compared. Ice coverage of water was an important factor affecting the results of the two methods. When the water was ice-free, more birds were counted from the ground, whereas during ice conditions, higher numbers were obtained from the air. The first group of waterbirds with the smallest difference between the two methods (average 6%) contained seven species: Mute Swan Cygnus olor, Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus, Greater Scaup Aythya marila, Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula, Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula, Smew Mergellus albellus and Goosander Mergus merganser; these were treated as the core group. The second group with a moderate difference (average 20%) included another six species: Mallard Anas platyrhynchos, Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope, Common Pochard Aythya ferina, Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus and Eurasian Coot Fulica atra. The third group with a large difference (average 85%) included five species, all of the Anatini tribe: Gadwall Mareca strepera, Northern Pintail Anas acuta, Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata, Eurasian Teal Anas crecca and Garganey Spatula querquedula. During ice conditions, smaller numbers of most species were counted from the ground. The exception here was Mallard, more of which were counted from the ground, but the difference between two methods was relatively small in this species (7.5%). Under ice-free conditions, both methods can be used interchangeably for the most numerous birds occupying open water (core group) without any significant impact on the results. When water areas are frozen over, air counts are preferable as the results are more reliable. The cost analysis shows that a survey carried out by volunteer observers (reimbursement of travel expenses only) from the land is 58% cheaper, but if the observers are paid, then an aerial survey is 40% more economical. Article in Journal/Newspaper Anas acuta Aythya marila Cygnus cygnus greater scaup Mergellus albellus Northern Shoveler Shoveler Whooper Swan smew Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Olor ENVELOPE(88.531,88.531,69.600,69.600) PeerJ 6 e5195 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Wintering Costal lagoons Baltic Sea Ducks Waterfowl Accuracy of population estimates Medicine R Biology (General) QH301-705.5 |
spellingShingle |
Wintering Costal lagoons Baltic Sea Ducks Waterfowl Accuracy of population estimates Medicine R Biology (General) QH301-705.5 Dominik Marchowski Łukasz Jankowiak Łukasz Ławicki Dariusz Wysocki Waterbird counts on large water bodies: comparing ground and aerial methods during different ice conditions |
topic_facet |
Wintering Costal lagoons Baltic Sea Ducks Waterfowl Accuracy of population estimates Medicine R Biology (General) QH301-705.5 |
description |
The aerial and ground methods of counting birds in a coastal area during different ice conditions were compared. Ice coverage of water was an important factor affecting the results of the two methods. When the water was ice-free, more birds were counted from the ground, whereas during ice conditions, higher numbers were obtained from the air. The first group of waterbirds with the smallest difference between the two methods (average 6%) contained seven species: Mute Swan Cygnus olor, Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus, Greater Scaup Aythya marila, Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula, Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula, Smew Mergellus albellus and Goosander Mergus merganser; these were treated as the core group. The second group with a moderate difference (average 20%) included another six species: Mallard Anas platyrhynchos, Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope, Common Pochard Aythya ferina, Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus and Eurasian Coot Fulica atra. The third group with a large difference (average 85%) included five species, all of the Anatini tribe: Gadwall Mareca strepera, Northern Pintail Anas acuta, Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata, Eurasian Teal Anas crecca and Garganey Spatula querquedula. During ice conditions, smaller numbers of most species were counted from the ground. The exception here was Mallard, more of which were counted from the ground, but the difference between two methods was relatively small in this species (7.5%). Under ice-free conditions, both methods can be used interchangeably for the most numerous birds occupying open water (core group) without any significant impact on the results. When water areas are frozen over, air counts are preferable as the results are more reliable. The cost analysis shows that a survey carried out by volunteer observers (reimbursement of travel expenses only) from the land is 58% cheaper, but if the observers are paid, then an aerial survey is 40% more economical. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Dominik Marchowski Łukasz Jankowiak Łukasz Ławicki Dariusz Wysocki |
author_facet |
Dominik Marchowski Łukasz Jankowiak Łukasz Ławicki Dariusz Wysocki |
author_sort |
Dominik Marchowski |
title |
Waterbird counts on large water bodies: comparing ground and aerial methods during different ice conditions |
title_short |
Waterbird counts on large water bodies: comparing ground and aerial methods during different ice conditions |
title_full |
Waterbird counts on large water bodies: comparing ground and aerial methods during different ice conditions |
title_fullStr |
Waterbird counts on large water bodies: comparing ground and aerial methods during different ice conditions |
title_full_unstemmed |
Waterbird counts on large water bodies: comparing ground and aerial methods during different ice conditions |
title_sort |
waterbird counts on large water bodies: comparing ground and aerial methods during different ice conditions |
publisher |
PeerJ Inc. |
publishDate |
2018 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.5195 https://doaj.org/article/e1d7ca090a3b4bff88c87199a2c9889d |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(88.531,88.531,69.600,69.600) |
geographic |
Olor |
geographic_facet |
Olor |
genre |
Anas acuta Aythya marila Cygnus cygnus greater scaup Mergellus albellus Northern Shoveler Shoveler Whooper Swan smew |
genre_facet |
Anas acuta Aythya marila Cygnus cygnus greater scaup Mergellus albellus Northern Shoveler Shoveler Whooper Swan smew |
op_source |
PeerJ, Vol 6, p e5195 (2018) |
op_relation |
https://peerj.com/articles/5195.pdf https://peerj.com/articles/5195/ https://doaj.org/toc/2167-8359 doi:10.7717/peerj.5195 2167-8359 https://doaj.org/article/e1d7ca090a3b4bff88c87199a2c9889d |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.5195 |
container_title |
PeerJ |
container_volume |
6 |
container_start_page |
e5195 |
_version_ |
1787430559827361792 |