La Tour du Valat

Institut de recherche pour la conservation des zones humides méditerranéennes

Titre :	Effect of moonlight on detection of Whip-poor-wills: implications for long-term monitoring strategies
Auteurs :	Michael D. Wilson, Auteur ; Bryan D. Watts, Auteur
Type de document :	Article
Dans :	Journal of Field Ornithology (77(2) SPR 2006)
Article en page(s) :	207-211
Langues:	Anglais
Résumé :	Understanding variation in the detectability of birds is fundamental to determining the reliability of survey methods. We examined the influence of lunar light conditions on the detection probability of Whip-poor-wills through repeated sampling of 78 point count stations over two lunar cycles. The probability of detection was positively related to moonlight intensity measured as the percentage of moon-face illuminated and moon height above the horizon. These results were used to show how the reliability of long-term monitoring strategies can be improved by sampling design. Surveys conducted on nights when the moon-face was > 50% illuminated were less variable and provided more statistical power to long-term monitoring results compared to surveys that were conducted across all nights. Stratifying surveys for Whip-poor-wills during bright moonlight provides greater statistical power for monitoring programs, which inevitably allows better scientific conclusions to be drawn from collected data.

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