I am looking for research and methodology for mapping roof-nesting seabirds in urban environments. This is for a pilot project. Any tips and articles are appreciated! Thanks.
Dear Sari Christine,
Classic ways to map birds in urban environment are the uses of remote sensing and photographs but you now can (if allowed) use drones to map roof-resting birds and transfer your data into QGIS.
Best regards,
Guy
You should perhaps look at Urban Breeding Gull Surveys: A Review of Methods and Options for Survey Design by Ross et al (2016) published as a report by the BTO (report number 680). Amongst many techniques it also reviews the use of drones by other researchers, like Guy has suggested, but this is a fast developing area and there may be newer developments using these devices for bird surveys. In many countries the use of drones in urban areas is restricted but there are plenty of companies with the required certificates who could be hired to do drone work if it wasn't feasible to do it yourself.
Also have a look at some of John Coulson's work, a starting point might be : The accuracy of urban nesting gull censuses. Coulson & Coulson (2015) Bird Study 62 pp170–176.
You could also have a look at work conducted by Peter Rock, the follow article might useful as it has references relating to a number of urban gull surveys: Urban gulls: problems and solutions Rock (2005) British Birds 98 pp338-355.
Good luck
Steve
Thank you all for your constructive suggestions and links to relevant literature! I appreciate it very much. I understand that drones definitely have their advantages, provided you use ones capable of high resolution imaging. I will need to investigate what regulations are in place here in Norway.
Do any of you have personal experience using drones, and if so do you have a make and model that you recommend for this purpose?
Cheers!
Sari
Maybe this article can help you:
Article Can drones count gulls? Minimal disturbance and semiautomate...
Hi.
As pointed out by Geison Mesquita, drones are used to count gulls in several countries, e.g. in their breeding colonies. But it is necessary to avoid disturbance to endangered or rare species, like raptors breeding close to the gull concentrations. Drones can be a threat to them, as confirmed with several species of falcons (Falco spp.)...
Best regards.
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