Comparison of acoustic recorders and field observers for monitoring tundra bird communities
ABSTRACT Acoustic recorders can be useful for studying bird populations but their efficiency and accuracy should be assessed in pertinent ecological settings before use. We investigated the utility of an acoustic recorder for monitoring abundance of tundra‐breeding birds relative to point‐count surv...
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| Format: | Article |
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Wiley
2017-09-01
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| Series: | Wildlife Society Bulletin |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.785 |
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| author | Skyler T. Vold Colleen M. Handel Lance B. McNew |
| author_facet | Skyler T. Vold Colleen M. Handel Lance B. McNew |
| author_sort | Skyler T. Vold |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT Acoustic recorders can be useful for studying bird populations but their efficiency and accuracy should be assessed in pertinent ecological settings before use. We investigated the utility of an acoustic recorder for monitoring abundance of tundra‐breeding birds relative to point‐count surveys in northwestern Alaska, USA, during 2014. Our objectives were to 1) compare numbers of birds and species detected by a field observer with those detected simultaneously by an acoustic recorder; 2) evaluate how detection probabilities for the observer and acoustic recorder varied with distance of birds from the survey point; and 3) evaluate whether avian guild‐specific detection rates differed between field observers and acoustic recorders relative to habitat. Compared with the observer, the acoustic recorder detected fewer species (βMethod = −0.39 ± 0.07) and fewer individuals (βMethod = −0.56 ± 0.05) in total and for 6 avian guilds. Discrepancies were attributed primarily to differences in effective area surveyed (91% missed by device were >100 m), but also to nonvocal birds being missed by the recorder (55% missed <100 m were silent). The observer missed a few individuals and one species detected by the device. Models indicated that relative abundance of various avian guilds was associated primarily with maximum shrub height and less so with shrub cover and visual obstruction. The absence of a significant interaction between survey method (observer vs. acoustic recorder) and any habitat characteristic suggests that traditional point counts and acoustic recorders would yield similar inferences about ecological relationships in tundra ecosystems. Pairing of the 2 methods could increase survey efficiency and allow for validation and archival of survey results. Published 2017. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e1da09f62c874b1b8e656f413aa1edef |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2328-5540 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2017-09-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Wildlife Society Bulletin |
| spelling | doaj-art-e1da09f62c874b1b8e656f413aa1edef2025-08-20T02:36:12ZengWileyWildlife Society Bulletin2328-55402017-09-0141356657610.1002/wsb.785Comparison of acoustic recorders and field observers for monitoring tundra bird communitiesSkyler T. Vold0Colleen M. Handel1Lance B. McNew2U.S. Geological SurveyAlaska Science Center4210 University DriveAnchorageAK 99508USAU.S. Geological SurveyAlaska Science Center4210 University DriveAnchorageAK 99508USAU.S. Geological SurveyAlaska Science Center4210 University DriveAnchorageAK 99508USAABSTRACT Acoustic recorders can be useful for studying bird populations but their efficiency and accuracy should be assessed in pertinent ecological settings before use. We investigated the utility of an acoustic recorder for monitoring abundance of tundra‐breeding birds relative to point‐count surveys in northwestern Alaska, USA, during 2014. Our objectives were to 1) compare numbers of birds and species detected by a field observer with those detected simultaneously by an acoustic recorder; 2) evaluate how detection probabilities for the observer and acoustic recorder varied with distance of birds from the survey point; and 3) evaluate whether avian guild‐specific detection rates differed between field observers and acoustic recorders relative to habitat. Compared with the observer, the acoustic recorder detected fewer species (βMethod = −0.39 ± 0.07) and fewer individuals (βMethod = −0.56 ± 0.05) in total and for 6 avian guilds. Discrepancies were attributed primarily to differences in effective area surveyed (91% missed by device were >100 m), but also to nonvocal birds being missed by the recorder (55% missed <100 m were silent). The observer missed a few individuals and one species detected by the device. Models indicated that relative abundance of various avian guilds was associated primarily with maximum shrub height and less so with shrub cover and visual obstruction. The absence of a significant interaction between survey method (observer vs. acoustic recorder) and any habitat characteristic suggests that traditional point counts and acoustic recorders would yield similar inferences about ecological relationships in tundra ecosystems. Pairing of the 2 methods could increase survey efficiency and allow for validation and archival of survey results. Published 2017. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.785acoustic recorderdetection probabilityhabitatpasserinespoint countspopulation monitoring |
| spellingShingle | Skyler T. Vold Colleen M. Handel Lance B. McNew Comparison of acoustic recorders and field observers for monitoring tundra bird communities Wildlife Society Bulletin acoustic recorder detection probability habitat passerines point counts population monitoring |
| title | Comparison of acoustic recorders and field observers for monitoring tundra bird communities |
| title_full | Comparison of acoustic recorders and field observers for monitoring tundra bird communities |
| title_fullStr | Comparison of acoustic recorders and field observers for monitoring tundra bird communities |
| title_full_unstemmed | Comparison of acoustic recorders and field observers for monitoring tundra bird communities |
| title_short | Comparison of acoustic recorders and field observers for monitoring tundra bird communities |
| title_sort | comparison of acoustic recorders and field observers for monitoring tundra bird communities |
| topic | acoustic recorder detection probability habitat passerines point counts population monitoring |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.785 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT skylertvold comparisonofacousticrecordersandfieldobserversformonitoringtundrabirdcommunities AT colleenmhandel comparisonofacousticrecordersandfieldobserversformonitoringtundrabirdcommunities AT lancebmcnew comparisonofacousticrecordersandfieldobserversformonitoringtundrabirdcommunities |