Detectability and visibility biases associated with using a consumer-grade unmanned aircraft to survey nesting colonial waterbirds

• Published in: Journal of field ornithology Vol. 89; no. 3; pp. 242 - 257
• Main Authors: Barr, Jared R., Green, M. Clay, DeMaso, Stephen J., Hardy, Thomas B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.09.2018
• Subjects: aerial system; bird count; detection probability; drone; GLMM; Ornithological Methods; UAS; UAV

Surveys of colonial-nesting waterbirds are needed to assess population trends and gain insight into the health of wetland ecosystems. Use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for such surveys has increased over the past decade, but possible sources of bias in surveys conducted with UAS have not been exa...