This file provides data collected during rapid surveys, with each record pertaining to a unique sighting of a given shorebird or waterfowl species within a survey plot including information on species, number of individuals, and breeding status. Therefore, each survey plot may have multiple records when more than one sighting occurred. Each record also contains information pertaining to the survey plot including date and time of survey, survey conditions, survey location, and ecological and biological conditions of the survey plot.
These data do not represent all locations within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge where specific avian species may be present, as surveys only occurred in discrete survey plots. Additionally, individual birds may have went undetected within survey plots, as detectability was likely less than 100%, and is a function of many variables, including differences in species, habitat, time-of-year, weather conditions, survey effort, and individual surveyor. The data providers have invested considerable effort in QA/QC, but it is possible that undetected errors remain. It is strongly recommended that careful attention be paid to the contents of the metadata file associated with these data to evaluate data set limitations, restrictions or intended use. The originators of this dataset shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect use of the data described and/or contained herein.
Potential users of these data should first contact the data authors listed below, as potential biases may occur within the data depending on the intended use. Therefore, potential users should contact the data authors to discuss intended use and how these data may or may not be applicable.
see 1) Saalfeld, S. T., H. R. Gates, S. C. Brown, K. M. Sowl, B. A. Andres, J. A. Johnson, J. E. Lyons, B. J. McCaffery, and R. B. Lanctot. 2022. Survey Protocol for the Arctic Program for Regional and International Shorebird Monitoring (PRISM). Version 1.0. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Migratory Bird Management, Anchorage, AK and 2) annual field protocol documents for specific methodologies.
