CMMN Daily Estimated Totals: Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory

Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory
http://www.peptbo.ca/

Project name: Canadian Migration Monitoring Network

Goals : To generate counts of migrating birds for use in long-term population monitoring, especially landbird species not monitored by current breeding or winter surveys; To carry out cooperative research projects on the ecology of migrating birds. The goals of Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory are to increase the appreciation, knowledge and understanding of birds to contribute to informed decision-making in areas of environmental conservation, county development, natural history and geography, and individual quality of life.

Dataset summary : This dataset contains daily estimated totals (DET) from the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory. DET is a standard protocol used by Canadian Migration Monitoring Network stations to estimate the total number of individuals of each species occurring at a site during migration.

Status : Active

Year started : 1995

Years (comments) : CMMN was launched in 1998 as an ongoing monitoring program. The first migration monitoring station in North America was LPBO, started in 1960. Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory started monitoring in 1995.

Season(s) and frequency : Spring coverage is from April 10th to May 31st. Fall coverage is from August 15 to October 31st.

Geographic area covered : Located on Prince Edward Point, near Picton, Ontario (43.939579, -76.861173). Count area is approximately 40 hectares.

Type(s) of habitat : Count area consists of Woodland, Shrubland, Standing water (pond, lake), Rock, Beach or dunes and Human sites (agriculture, maintained lawns, etc.).

Primary species covered : Primary focus is landbirds (104 priority species), Prince Edward Point also maintains a Bobolink monitoring program and an owl banding program.

Sampling Design : Standardized captures and observations used to derive daily estimated total throughout migration window.

Field methods : Combination of standardized daily captures, census, visible migration counts and other observations resulting in a daily estimated total for each species. Monitoring Period is 6 hours in duration, census is 0.5hours. In spring Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory runs 19 songbird mist nests. In the fall the station runs 19 songbird mistnests, 8 hawk nets and 10 owl nets.

Data format : Data-entry program produces .dbf files. Archival copy of data for most stations is maintained at BSC.

Sample size : 16 full member station operating 21 migration stations. Several pilot stations.

Results : Most stations produce some form of annual report for members.

Trends and time series availability : Time series varied (1960-present for LPBO). Trend graphs updated annually for all stations with at least 5 years of data. Available on BSC web site

Publications : Hussell, DJT and CJ Ralph. 1998. Recommended methods for monitoring bird populations by counting and capture of migrants. (available on BSC website) Dunn, EH and DJT Hussell. 1995. Using migration counts to monitor landbird populations: review and evaluation of current status. Pp 43-58 in D.M. Power (ed.), Current Ornithology vol 12. Plenum Press, NY.

Funding sources : Varied.

Applications for the data : Trend information feeds into integrated population approach and is also used for planning and environmental assessment purposes.

Users of the information : BSC, research biologists