The Fraser River Delta in British Columbia, Canada, is a globally significant stopover site for shorebirds, but the population status and trends of many species that use the site remain uncertain. We describe an ongoing program to monitor population trends of the two most abundant species, Western Sandpipers (Calidris mauri) and Dunlins (Calidris alpina), during northward migration. Counts of these species were conducted at a mudflat where large flocks assembled at mid‐tide from 15 April to 15 May, 1991–2013, and we estimated species‐specific counts as the product of daily total flock counts and species proportions obtained during supplementary sampling. The median peak count of both species combined was 177,000 birds, and occurred between 24 April and 3 May. Ratios (proportions) of the two species followed a predictable pattern during the migration period, with a low proportion of Western Sandpipers (3%–20%) in flocks before 20 April, followed by a rapid increase to 80%–100% between 25 April and 10 May and a variable decrease to 30%–80% by 15 May. Mean counts of Western Sandpipers showed no significant trend over the study period. Mean counts of Dunlins showed a non‐linear trend, decreasing until 2001 and then increasing to 2013. Bias and random error in field counts were quantified by comparing field counts to counts made from photographs taken during surveys, and analysis revealed that field counts had a downward, but predictable, bias, accounting for >90% of birds present, with a stochastic error rate of 28.0%. Uncertainty in total population estimates was high after accounting for the effect of length of stay and sampling error. Population estimates suggested that 600,000 Western Sandpipers and 200,000 Dunlins typically passed through the site during northward migration. Our estimates indicate the usefulness of daily counts at major stopover sites during northward migration as an effective tool for monitoring shorebird populations, and underscore the need for conserving such sites.

The effective protection of coastal and estuarine habitats requires reliable monitoring information on their use by waterbirds, and the use of small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) may provide access to these habitats without disturbing birds. We evaluated the use of a rotary-wing UAS with a high-end consumer camera to identify and count wintering waterbirds at two coastal sites in British Columbia, Canada, in January 2015, and to map mudflat and marsh habitats. Photos of shorebirds, waterfowl, and seabird species were taken at varying altitudes, and disturbance of birds appeared minimal when the UAS was flown at heights ≥61 m. A ground resolution of ~1 cm/pixel was needed to discern plumage characteristics necessary to reliably identify birds. For some duck species, identification of females relied on body size or close association with a nearby male. Photographs were also used to derive accurate counts of shorebirds. For diving birds, accurate counts from photographs will require information on the proportion of birds on the water surface. Orthomosaics of coastal habitats were constructed with sufficient detail to assess ecological and geomorphological features. The UAS can therefore assist with bird species identification, population assessment, and characterization of habitat types.

No abstract

Spray deposit patterns on simulated and live foliage of balsam fir and white birch were determined at different heights and at periphery and interior locations of the tree crown, following aerial and ground applications of fenitrothion formulations over a boreal forest near Searchmont, Ontario. Droplet size spectra and AI deposits were assessed at ground level with ‘Kromekote’ card/glass plate units. Aerial application was made with a Cessna 188 aircraft fitted with ‘Micronair’ AU3000 atomizers. For ground application, a ‘Soloport’ 423 backpack mistblower fitted with an extension tube and a diffuser nozzle at the tip was used. Deposit data on the ground samplers indicated significantly larger droplets and greater deposits from the aerial spray trial than from the mistblower treatment. However, foliar deposits at tree canopy level were only slightly higher in the former trial than in the latter. Analysis of spray deposits on simulated and live fir foliage showed definite gradients in deposit levels, decreasing from top to bottom crown, and from periphery to inner tree crown. In the birch tree crown, such gradients were not observed. The simulated leaves generally acted as better collectors of spray droplets than the natural leaves. The overall mean deposit values, expressed in ng cm−2, showed a wide variation, although there was generally a close relationship between the deposits on the simulated and natural surfaces.