Monitoring low density avian populations: an example using Mountain Plovers

Product Type: Journal Article

Year: 2006

Author(s): Dreitz, V.J., P.M. Lukacs, and F.L. Knopf

Suggested Citation:
Dreitz, V.J., P.M. Lukacs, and F.L. Knopf. 2006. Monitoring low density avian populations: an example using Mountain Plovers. The Condor 108(3): 700-706.

Abstract

Declines in avian populations highlight a need for rigorous, broad-scale monitoring programs to document trends in avian populations that occur In low densities across expansive landscapes. Accounting for the spatial variation and variation in detection probability inherent to monitoring programs is thought to be effort-intensive and time consuming. We determined the feasibility of the analytical method developed by Royle and Nichols (2003), which uses presence-absence (detection-nondetection) field data, to estimate abundance of Mountain Plovers (Charadrius montanus) per sampling unit in agricultural fields, grassland, and prairie dog habitat in eastern Colorado...