Field validation of effects of species and flock size on echoes in avian radar surveys

Abstract

Radar is a powerful technology for surveys of avian movements. Validating the accuracy of radar detection is essential when establishing quantitative criteria for tracking bird trajectories and counting bird flocks. This study clarifies the positional and biological factors influencing the probability of detection (POD) and echo size on X-band marine radar. The bird trajectory for validation was obtained by ornithodolite at the same time as the radar scan. Distance was found to have a negative effect on POD and echo size, while elevation angle positively affected POD. Body mass and flock size positively affected POD and echo size. In predicting detection performance, the survey distance required to achieve 50% POD was 750 m or less for Grey-faced Buzzard, the lightest target species, but up to 1800 m for a pair of Bewick’s Swan. Our study provides survey and analysis procedures that allow for efficient validation using ornithodolites. Then, we identify the range settings that should be considered for target species and contribute to establishing criteria for quantitative radar bird surveys.