A review of the effects of station placement and observer bias in detections of marbled murrelets in forest stands

Brian P. O’Donnel

Treesearch

A review of the effects of station placement and observer bias in detections of marbled murrelets in forest stands

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Brian P. O’Donnel

Year:

1995

Type:

General Technical Report

Station:

Pacific Southwest Research Station

Source:

In: Ralph, C. John; Hunt, George L., Jr.; Raphael, Martin G.; Piatt, John F., Technical Editors. 1995. Ecology and conservation of the Marbled Murrelet. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-152. Albany, CA: Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture: 139-140

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Abstract

A variety of factors influence the results of surveys conducted for Marbled Murrelets (Brachyramphus marmoratus) in the forest. In this paper we examine observer variability and survey station placement as factors influencing murrelet survey data. A training and evaluation protocol (Ralph and others 1993) was developed to insure high field abilities and comparability of data among and between observers. Site characteristics which may limit the hearing and sighting of murrelets (e.g., wind, road, or stream noise, visual obstructions) can largely be controlled through the sensible placement of survey stations.

Parent Publication

Ecology and conservation of the Marbled Murrelet

Citation

O’Donnel, Brian P. 1995. A review of the effects of station placement and observer bias in detections of marbled murrelets in forest stands. In: Ralph, C. John; Hunt, George L., Jr.; Raphael, Martin G.; Piatt, John F., technical editors. Ecology and conservation of the Marbled Murrelet. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-152. Albany, CA: Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture: 139-140.