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Mapping wintering waterfowl distributions using weather surveillance radar
Jeffrey J Buler1, Lori A Randall, Joseph P Fleskes
1Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, United States of America. jbuler@udel.edu
Plos One
|August 23, 2012
Summary
Weather surveillance radar effectively maps wintering waterfowl distribution. This remote-sensing tool uses radar reflectivity to estimate bird density, aiding conservation efforts by tracking populations over large areas.
Area of Science:
- Ornithology
- Remote Sensing
- Wildlife Ecology
Background:
- Weather surveillance radar is a valuable tool for detecting flying birds and studying ornithological patterns.
- Previous research utilized radar reflectivity to map landbird distributions during nocturnal migratory stopovers.
- Mapping wintering waterfowl distribution using radar technology requires specific validation and optimization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a method for mapping wintering waterfowl distributions using weather surveillance radar data.
- To determine the optimal sampling time for radar observations during evening waterfowl flights.
- To assess the accuracy and precision of radar reflectivity as an index for waterfowl density.
Main Methods:
- Evaluated data from Sacramento, CA radar (KDAX) during winters 1998-1999 and 1999-2000.
- Determined optimal sampling time by correlating radar observations with ground-based distributions of radio-marked birds.
- Validated the approach using KDAX and Beale Air Force Base, CA (KBBX) radar data from winter 1998-1999.
Main Results:
- Evening flight initiation occurred approximately 23 minutes after sunset.
- Strongest correlations between radar reflectivity and waterfowl density were observed shortly after flight initiation.
- Optimal sampling time identified as a sun elevation angle of -5° (28 minutes after sunset).
- Radar effectively detected birds up to a mean maximum range of 83 km within the first 20 minutes of evening flight.
- Bias-adjusted radar reflectivity positively correlated with observed diurnal waterfowl density.
Conclusions:
- Weather surveillance radar provides accurate relative measures of wintering waterfowl density.
- This remote-sensing approach enables comprehensive mapping of waterfowl distributions across large spatial extents.
- Radar technology offers a powerful tool for wildlife management and conservation of wintering waterfowl populations.
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