Some human, aircraft and animal factors affecting aerial surveys: how to enumerate animals from the air

Fleming, Peter J. S.; Tracey, John P.

doi:10.1071/wr07081

Cited by 44 publications

(59 citation statements)

References 62 publications

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“…As an alternative to ground-observer counts, Booth et al (2009) tested the efficacy of aerially photographing active leks to obtain lek counts but concluded it was not effective. In general, aerial surveys can produce misleading results largely on the basis of the speed of the aircraft, time limitations, and an observer's capability to locate animals, and remember and maintain concentration among other biases (Caughley 1974;Fleming and Tracey 2008). Detection of animals using IR technology has become a valuable tool for image-based data collection.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Can Reliable Sage-Grouse Lek Counts Be Obtained Using Aerial Infrared Technology?

Gillette

Coates

Petersen

et al. 2013

Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management

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More effective methods for counting greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) are needed to better assess population trends through enumeration or location of new leks. We describe an aerial infrared technique for conducting sage-grouse lek counts and compare this method with conventional ground-based lek count methods. During the breeding period in 2010 and 2011, we surveyed leks from fixed-winged aircraft using cryogenically cooled mid-wave infrared cameras and surveyed the same leks on the same day from the ground following a standard lek count protocol. We did not detect significant differences in lek counts between surveying techniques. These findings suggest that using a cryogenically cooled mid-wave infrared camera from an aerial platform to conduct lek surveys is an effective alternative technique to conventional ground-based methods, but further research is needed. We discuss multiple advantages to aerial infrared surveys, including counting in remote areas, representing greater spatial variation, and increasing the number of counted leks per season. Aerial infrared lek counts may be a valuable wildlife management tool that releases time and resources for other conservation efforts. Opportunities exist for wildlife professionals to refine and apply aerial infrared techniques to wildlife monitoring programs because of the increasing reliability and affordability of this technology.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Can Reliable Sage-Grouse Lek Counts Be Obtained Using Aerial Infrared Technology?

Gillette

Coates

Petersen

et al. 2013

Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management

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“…The speed of an aircraft allows greater coverage, but entails an increased chance of missing target objects in the search strip. As near-line objects pass through the field of view up to 4x faster than objects near-horizon (Fleming and Tracey 2008), higher altitude allows more time for visual detection. On the other hand, if higher altitude imposes a nontrivial distance between observer and objects below, it reverts to the same drawback brought about by lower altitude, which reduces distance to target objects, but affords less time to process sightings from the air (Buckland et al 2001).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Estimating the migratory stopover abundance of phalaropes in the outer Bay of Fundy, Canada

Hunnewell¹,

Diamond²,

Brown³

2016

ACE

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ABSTRACT. We investigated the abundance and turnover rate of phalaropes (Red-necked and Red: Phalaropus lobatus, Phalaropus fulicarius) in the outer Bay of Fundy, Canada during migratory stopover in 2008, 2009, and 2010. We describe estimation procedures designed to calculate size of the total stopover population of phalaropes, adjusting for length of stay. A total of 29 aerial surveys were flown in two nonoverlapping survey regions situated off Brier Island, Nova Scotia and Grand Manan, New Brunswick. Line transect distance sampling methods were used to obtain abundance estimates at discrete time steps from aerial surveys. Estimated number of phalaropes by date ranged between 6000-88,000 in 2009 and 31,000-127,000 in 2010. To quantify the cumulative number of phalaropes in the study area, the temporal dimension of stopover passage was incorporated by an analysis of radiotelemetry data to estimate length of stay. A total of 27 phalaropes were captured and fitted with radio transmitters between 2008 and 2010. Estimated length of stay in days was 15.2 ± 1.91 for a time-integrated stopover population of 103,496 phalaropes in 2009 and 287,558 in 2010. This is particularly relevant to the conservation status of P. lobatus in North America, which has been uncertain since the disappearance of that species from an important stopover site in 1990. Our findings emphasize the need for studies that monitor phalaropes at sea, where they spend the majority of their time, as a means to inform effective management and conservation.

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“…The Hughes 500D can carry one front-seat and two rear-seat observers (although these were not used in our study) whereas the Robinson R22 can carry one frontseat observer. Our protocol involved the observer and pilot searching for animals, and the experience/skills of these two people would likely be an important determinant of the number of animals observed (Beard 1999;Fleming & Tracey 2008;Griffin et al 2013). Factors other than the underlying 'true' ungulate density, amount of cover and observer experience could also contribute to variation in helicopter counts of ungulates.…”

Section: Helicopter Count Protocolmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…standing or bedded), amount of snow cover, topography, and time of day could all influence helicopter counts (e.g. Tracey et al 2005;Fleming & Tracey 2008;Rice et al 2009). Further work is required to quantify the importance of factors other than the underlying true ungulate density on helicopter counts in New Zealand.…”

Section: Helicopter Count Protocolmentioning

confidence: 99%

Monitoring ungulates in steep non-forest habitat: a comparison of faecal pellet and helicopter counts

Forsyth¹,

MacKenzie²,

Wright³

2014

New Zealand Journal of Zoology

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Faecal pellet counts have been widely used to monitor the abundances of introduced ungulates in New Zealand, but ground-based sampling cannot be conducted safely in the steep non-forest habitats that are common in New Zealand's Southern Alps. Helicopter counts may be an effective technique for monitoring ungulates in steep non-forest habitat. We evaluated the relationship between faecal pellet and helicopter counts of ungulates (primarily feral goat Capra hircus) at 12 non-forest sites in the Southern Alps. Within each site we counted the numbers of ungulates from a helicopter on three occasions and the number of intact faecal pellets along 30 transects. Mean observed densities of feral goats derived from helicopter counts ranged from 0.0 to 20.2 km −2 . There was a positive curvilinear (concave down) relationship between faecal pellet and helicopter counts. Compared with faecal pellet counts, helicopter counts were cheaper, could identify ungulate species and provided estimates of absolute density. Helicopter counts are a cost-effective method for monitoring ungulates in the steep non-forest habitats of New Zealand's Southern Alps.

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Some human, aircraft and animal factors affecting aerial surveys: how to enumerate animals from the air

Cited by 44 publications

References 62 publications

Can Reliable Sage-Grouse Lek Counts Be Obtained Using Aerial Infrared Technology?

Can Reliable Sage-Grouse Lek Counts Be Obtained Using Aerial Infrared Technology?

Estimating the migratory stopover abundance of phalaropes in the outer Bay of Fundy, Canada

Monitoring ungulates in steep non-forest habitat: a comparison of faecal pellet and helicopter counts

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