Quantifying detection probability of American woodcock (Scolopax minor) on transects sampled with thermal cameras
Abstract Developing effective monitoring techniques for sensitive wildlife populations is essential for improving conservation outcomes. The American woodcock (Scolopax minor; hereafter woodcock) is an upland migratory game bird traditionally surveyed by documenting displaying males in spring. Surve...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Wildlife Society Bulletin |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.1417 |
| _version_ | 1797739803969585152 |
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| author | Luke F. Gray Darin J. McNeil Jeffery T. Larkin Halie A. Parker Dakotah Shaffer Jeffery L. Larkin |
| author_facet | Luke F. Gray Darin J. McNeil Jeffery T. Larkin Halie A. Parker Dakotah Shaffer Jeffery L. Larkin |
| author_sort | Luke F. Gray |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Developing effective monitoring techniques for sensitive wildlife populations is essential for improving conservation outcomes. The American woodcock (Scolopax minor; hereafter woodcock) is an upland migratory game bird traditionally surveyed by documenting displaying males in spring. Surveys of displaying males are limiting in a variety of important ways such as brief detection window and male‐centric observations. Thermal technology may overcome limitations of traditional monitoring techniques by increasing detections of non‐singing woodcock, however, the efficacy of thermal imaging for detecting woodcock remains unknown. To quantify woodcock detection probability using thermal imaging, we deployed and searched for heat‐emitting woodcock mounts along transects within early‐successional habitats in central Pennsylvania during 2020. We deployed 110 woodcock mounts and successfully detected 63 (57.2%). Detection rate declined as a function of increasing vegetation density and distance from transect. Although detection probability of woodcock was imperfect, thermal cameras may provide a solution for researchers aiming to assess presence or density of woodcock when coupled with analytical methods that account for imperfect detection. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T14:02:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-204d31cfe27b4e4ea0d6b217c944746d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2328-5540 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T14:02:28Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Wildlife Society Bulletin |
| spelling | doaj.art-204d31cfe27b4e4ea0d6b217c944746d2023-08-21T21:45:19ZengWileyWildlife Society Bulletin2328-55402023-06-01472n/an/a10.1002/wsb.1417Quantifying detection probability of American woodcock (Scolopax minor) on transects sampled with thermal camerasLuke F. Gray0Darin J. McNeil1Jeffery T. Larkin2Halie A. Parker3Dakotah Shaffer4Jeffery L. Larkin5Department of Biology Indiana University of Pennsylvania Weyandt Hall, Room 114 Indiana PA 15701 USADepartment of Forestry and Natural Resources University of Kentucky Lexington KY 40508 USADepartment of Biology Indiana University of Pennsylvania Weyandt Hall, Room 114 Indiana PA 15701 USADepartment of Biology Indiana University of Pennsylvania Weyandt Hall, Room 114 Indiana PA 15701 USADepartment of Biology Indiana University of Pennsylvania Weyandt Hall, Room 114 Indiana PA 15701 USADepartment of Biology Indiana University of Pennsylvania Weyandt Hall, Room 114 Indiana PA 15701 USAAbstract Developing effective monitoring techniques for sensitive wildlife populations is essential for improving conservation outcomes. The American woodcock (Scolopax minor; hereafter woodcock) is an upland migratory game bird traditionally surveyed by documenting displaying males in spring. Surveys of displaying males are limiting in a variety of important ways such as brief detection window and male‐centric observations. Thermal technology may overcome limitations of traditional monitoring techniques by increasing detections of non‐singing woodcock, however, the efficacy of thermal imaging for detecting woodcock remains unknown. To quantify woodcock detection probability using thermal imaging, we deployed and searched for heat‐emitting woodcock mounts along transects within early‐successional habitats in central Pennsylvania during 2020. We deployed 110 woodcock mounts and successfully detected 63 (57.2%). Detection rate declined as a function of increasing vegetation density and distance from transect. Although detection probability of woodcock was imperfect, thermal cameras may provide a solution for researchers aiming to assess presence or density of woodcock when coupled with analytical methods that account for imperfect detection.https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.1417American woodcockdetection probabilityold fieldScolopax minorthermaltimber harvest |
| spellingShingle | Luke F. Gray Darin J. McNeil Jeffery T. Larkin Halie A. Parker Dakotah Shaffer Jeffery L. Larkin Quantifying detection probability of American woodcock (Scolopax minor) on transects sampled with thermal cameras Wildlife Society Bulletin American woodcock detection probability old field Scolopax minor thermal timber harvest |
| title | Quantifying detection probability of American woodcock (Scolopax minor) on transects sampled with thermal cameras |
| title_full | Quantifying detection probability of American woodcock (Scolopax minor) on transects sampled with thermal cameras |
| title_fullStr | Quantifying detection probability of American woodcock (Scolopax minor) on transects sampled with thermal cameras |
| title_full_unstemmed | Quantifying detection probability of American woodcock (Scolopax minor) on transects sampled with thermal cameras |
| title_short | Quantifying detection probability of American woodcock (Scolopax minor) on transects sampled with thermal cameras |
| title_sort | quantifying detection probability of american woodcock scolopax minor on transects sampled with thermal cameras |
| topic | American woodcock detection probability old field Scolopax minor thermal timber harvest |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.1417 |
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