CMMN Daily Estimated Totals: Tatlayoko Lake Bird Observatory

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 Goal of Tatlayoko Lake Bird Banding Station is to monitor the health of migratory birds moving through NCC properties.

Dataset summary : This dataset contains daily estimated totals (DET) from the Tatlayoko Lake 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.

Year started : 2006

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. Tatlayoko Lake Bird Observatory began opperations in 2006 and joined CMMN in 2014.

Season(s) and frequency : Fall Monitoring occurs in August and September.

Frequency : Annually

Geographic area covered : Williams Lake, British Columbia (51.653331, -124.404565)

Type(s) of habitat : The count area consists of Woodland, Open wetlands (marsh, bogs, etc.), Standing water (pond, lake), Moving water (brook, stream, river) and Human sites (agriculture, maintained lawns, etc.).

Primary species covered : Primary focus is landbirds (104 priority species) with some Northern Saw-whet Owl banding.

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 length and census is 1.25hours. The station runs 12 standard mistnets, 3 non-standard nets and 3 hawk nets.

Data format : Data-entry program produces .xls 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