Yukon Boreal Bird Point Counts Across 16 Ecoregions

Environment and Climate Change Canada's Boreal Bird Monitoring Program provides human-conducted avian point count data for Yukon. Observers recorded species and individuals heard or seen during ten-minute dawn chorus sessions from 2017 to 2023 across 16 Yukon ecoregions. The data supports baseline understanding of species distribution and abundance in remote northern boreal regions.

Use Cases

• Model species distribution across 16 Yukon ecoregions using recorded location and species identification data.
• Analyze time to first detection metrics to study avian detectability and survey efficiency.
• Assess species abundance trends from 2017 to 2023 using point count records of individuals per species.
• Compare incidental observation records with formal point count data to evaluate survey completeness.

Strengths

• Data collected using a statistically rigorous, hierarchical sampling design (Boreal Optimal Sampling Strategy) tested across Canada.
• Surveys conducted across 16 distinct Yukon ecoregions, providing broad spatial coverage within the territory.
• Temporal coverage spans seven years from 2017 to 2023, enabling trend analysis.
• Standardized methodology with ten-minute point counts during the dawn chorus ensures consistent data collection.

Limitations

• Avian monitoring is noted as limited both spatially and temporally within Canada's boreal regions, especially the north.
• Some location names were changed during the study period, requiring cross-referencing for consistent spatial analysis.

Provenance

Source

Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service, migratory birds unit in Whitehorse, Yukon.

Collection Method

Human-conducted point counts where observers identified every bird heard and seen in ten minutes at specific locations.

Time Range

2017 to 2023.

Freshness

Data last updated in March 2026.

Geography

16 Yukon ecoregions including Klondike Plateau, Yukon Plateau Central, Mackenzie Mountains, Old Crow Flats, and others.