Waterfowl Breeding Population Survey of the Central Interior Plateau of B.C.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Canadian Wildlife Service
http://www.ec.gc.ca/

https://www.ducks.ca/

Project name: The State of Canada's Birds

Goals : Breeding waterfowl population and habitat monitoring

Dataset summary : Since 2006, British Columbia has monitored waterfowl populations using the Waterfowl Breeding Population Survey of the Central Interior Plateau of British Columbia (BCCPWBS). The objective of the survey is to generate population estimates and trends for migratory game bird species in the study area. This annual survey is run cooperatively by CWS and the USFWS, with support from Ducks Unlimited Canada. The survey is conducted by helicopter using a technique similar to that of the continental WBPHS, except that each sighting is geo-referenced and associated with a unique habitat type (i.e., stream, wetland, river, lake, agricultural field) to subsequently support the development of species distribution and habitat-use models.

Year started : 2006

Years (comments) : Ongoing

Season(s) and frequency : Annually during the breeding season

Frequency : Annually

Geographic area covered : 11 million hectares in the British Columbia Central Interior, covering eight ecosections: Babine Upland, Nechako Lowland, Nazko Upland, Bulkley Basin, Chilcotin Plateau, Cariboo Basin, Quesnel Lowland and Western Chilcotin Upland.

Primary species covered : Waterfowl

Sampling Design : Transect lines with 200m buffer on either side are spaced 10 miles apart within the study area. Survey timing is planned to best reflect mallard breeding phenology; surveys begin the first week of May and take 2-3 weeks to complete.

Field methods : This survey uses a Bell 206 Jet Ranger helicopter equipped with rear-seat bubble windows. An experienced pilot and two to three observers are aboard the helicopter, seated in the front left and rear left seats (rear right seat used when 3 observers are aboard). Since 2022, a modified dependent double-observer method has been used to estimate detection (Roy et al. 2022). The helicopter is maneuvered through the transect buffer areas so that the flight path covers all available wetland habitat. Survey altitude and flight speed vary depending on habitat type, but is generally between 20m and 100m above ground level and ranges between 30 and 100 km/h. The front seat observer is tasked with navigation and recording data from all crew members using a GPS-voice recording software (PC-Mapper Airborne Inventory 4.0, Corvallis, OR, USA) installed on a Panasonic Toughbook. Observations from crew are relayed to the data recorder including count and species for each flock, and sex information for dimorphic species. Data recording follows standard operating procedures for the Aerial Waterfowl Breeding Ground Population and Habitat Survey (U. S. Department of Interior, Wildlife Service, and Environment Canada 1987).

Data validation : An established QA/QC workflow is performed annually by CWS staff following transcription and prior to distribution to USFWS.