Oregon Coast Seabird Colony Raw Counts from Aerial Surveys, 2012

Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex archives raw point counts of nesting seabirds derived from aerial photographs taken in 2012. The data represents a subsample of 45 colonies counted over multiple years, including 1988, 1994, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, and 2014, with a focus on common murre populations. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service collected this data to monitor population status and trends.

Use Cases

• Analyzing long-term population trends for common murre based on the multi-year subsample counts.
• Monitoring seabird colony distribution and size on the Oregon coast using aerial survey imagery.
• Conducting statistical power analysis for wildlife monitoring protocols based on the described subsampling design.
• Comparing raw photographic counts with authoritative census data from the Seabird Colony Count Catalog.

Strengths

• Data spans multiple survey years from 1988 to 2014, providing a long-term perspective.
• Subsample design was informed by bio-statistical experts, selecting 45 colonies for counting.
• Aerial photography serves as the primary monitoring method, offering visual evidence.

Limitations

• Raw counts are not georeferenced; they only align with the source image.
• The subsample was selected based on common murre populations, limiting inferences for other species like Brandt's cormorant.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.

Provenance

Source

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex.

Collection Method

Aerial photographic surveys using hand-held digital cameras, with counts derived from images.

Time Range

Subsample years include 1988, 1994, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, and 2014. Primary raw count data from 2012.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-04 08:05:12.130060; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Oregon Coast offshore islands and colonies.