Pacific Southwest Research Station

Publication Information

Title: Chapter 14: A Review of the Effects of Station Placement and Observer Bias in Detections of Marbled Murrelets in Forest Stands

Author: O’Donnel, Brian P.

Date: 1995

Source: In: Ralph, C. John; Hunt, George L., Jr.; Raphael, Martin G.; Piatt, John F., Technical Editors. 1995. Ecology and conservation of the Marbled Murrelet. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-152. Albany, CA: Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture; p. 139-140

Station ID: GTR-PSW-152

Description: A variety of factors influence the results of surveys conducted for Marbled Murrelets (Brachyramphus marmoratus) in the forest. In this paper we examine observer variability and survey station placement as factors influencing murrelet survey data. A training and evaluation protocol (Ralph and others 1993) was developed to insure high field abilities and comparability of data among and between observers. Site characteristics which may limit the hearing and sighting of murrelets (e.g., wind, road, or stream noise, visual obstructions) can largely be controlled through the sensible placement of survey stations.

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O’Donnel, Brian P.  1995.  Chapter 14: A Review of the Effects of Station Placement and Observer Bias in Detections of Marbled Murrelets in Forest Stands  In: Ralph, C. John; Hunt, George L., Jr.; Raphael, Martin G.; Piatt, John F., Technical Editors. 1995. Ecology and conservation of the Marbled Murrelet. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-152. Albany, CA: Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture; p. 139-140.