Using autonomous recording units to detect individual marsh birds in the Northern Gulf of Mexico
Holiman, Haley; Kitaif, J Carson; Fournier, Auriel M.V.; Iglay, Raymond B; Woodrey, Mark S.
Loading…
Permalink
https://hdl.handle.net/2142/117333
Description
Title
Using autonomous recording units to detect individual marsh birds in the Northern Gulf of Mexico
Author(s)
Holiman, Haley
Kitaif, J Carson
Fournier, Auriel M.V.
Iglay, Raymond B
Woodrey, Mark S.
Issue Date
2022-12-31
Keyword(s)
ARUs
Clapper Rail
Seaside Sparrow
Least Bittern
Detection Probability
Abstract
Marsh birds are highly elusive and select wetland habitats that are difficult to navigate, as well as easily damaged by human observers. Autonomous recording units (ARUs) have been used to determine presence or absence of marsh bird species, but little is known about distance effects on detection probability. Therefore, our objectives were to 1.) evaluate if ARUs can be used to accurately count three marsh bird species (e.g., Clapper Rail, Least Bittern, Seaside Sparrow), 2.) estimate detection probability curves based on ARU recordings, and 3.) determine the area surveyed by the ARU for the three species. We arranged ARUs to record calls from our marsh bird species broadcasted from Bluetooth speakers at fixed distances. We replicated natural calling scenarios by playing calls in different number combinations of individuals, ranging from 1 to 10 birds. To reduce interference from real bird vocalizations, we conducted our experiment in a recently burned pine savanna habitat that had similar herbaceous vegetation structure to the coastal emergent wetland habitats preferred by these species in southern Mississippi. We used Raven Pro bioacoustics software to produce sonogram images of the broadcasted calls to count individuals in each recording. Detection probability of each species by distance was calculated in program R. Results showed that ARUs may be useful for counting individuals at close distances for some species (< 100m), but most counts biased low. In Clapper Rails and Least Bitterns, count accuracy decreased between 100 and 125 meters from the ARU but closer (50-100 meters) for Seaside Sparrows. There was also a significant decline in count accuracy with increasing chorus size. With further study and advancing technology, ARUs may be able to supplement marsh bird surveys and limit logistical issues.
Publisher
Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Series/Report Name or Number
Illinois Natural History Survey Bulletin, vol. 43
ISSN
2644-0687
Type of Resource
text
Genre of Resource
article
Language
en
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21900/j.inhs.v43.866
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2022 Haley Holiman, J Carson Kitaif, Auriel M.V. Fournier, Raymond B Iglay, Mark S. Woodrey
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Use this login method if you
don't
have an
@illinois.edu
email address.
(Oops, I do have one)
IDEALS migrated to a new platform on June 23, 2022. If you created
your account prior to this date, you will have to reset your password
using the forgot-password link below.