Procedures for collection, analysis, and display of data collected at several geographic scales: Migratory Bird Research at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center

Bird Monitoring on the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center:Methods


United States Department of the Interior
Laurel, MD, USA

The survey was designed as a series of point counts taken systematically throughout the center. The counts were 5 minutes long, and information was collected on the number of individuals of each species noted by song or visual observation during the count. The Patuxent grid system, a series of permanent markers located on a 330 ft grid throughout the Center, were used as sample sites. Danny Bystrak organized the observers, conducted many of the counts, and handled all aspects of entering and proofing the data. Observations were then entered into our Geographic Information System (GIS), and mapped to allow analysis of bird distributions.