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Aerial Survey
Using the low-level aerial survey method to identify Marbled Murrelet nesting habitat
F.L. Waterhouse, A.E. Burger, D.B. Lank, P.K. Ott, E.A. Krebs, and N. Parker. 2009. BC Journal of Ecosystems and Management.Read the Extension Note [PDF - 490 KB] Summary of Marbled Murrelet habitat low-level aerial survey and mapping techniques
Sue McDonald, RPBio and Sally Leigh-Spencer, RPBio. 2009. Unpublished Report.Read the summary report [PDF - 70 KB] Short summary on current use for Wildlife Habitat Area planning
Monica Mather, March 2009.Aerial survey habitat ratings are often used in combination with other characteristics that reflect habitat quality, and with other Marbled Murrelet habitat assessment techniques to identify candidate areas for Marbled Murrelet WHAs. These other characteristics include the size of patch, shape (how much edge), resistance to windthrow, connectivity to other patches, interior forest condition, distance from ocean foraging areas, and the overall landscape-level distribution of suitable nesting habitat. Often WHAs include a mixture of several habitat classes, but 1, 2, and 3 are preferred. They may have patches of class 4 or non-habitat to provide a suitable configuration to ensure interior forest conditions, especially adjacent to harvested or future harvested blocks. Minimum size recommended is 20 hectares but this can vary if the WHA candidate is adjacent to other protected areas or is a naturally isolated patch. Having a balanced range of patch sizes (i.e. <50 ha, 50–200 ha, and >200 ha) is also desirable. The distance from the ocean is also an important consideration. Areas farther inland may be considered less valuable, especially if >30 km inland. Habitats very close to the outer ocean (<100 m), especially on the exposed west coast of Vancouver Island, may be less suitable or candidates for WHAs because of high corvid (e.g., raven and crows) predation rates. Any data on audio-visual detections, radar surveys, ground-habitat transects, and air photo interpretation is reviewed and included in the overall assessment of WHA candidate potential. Potential WHAs must also be checked to confirm that portions of the habitat have not blown down or been harvested since the aerial survey was done. Each WHA candidate must be negotiated and discussed with forest license holders in the area the WHA is proposed. Therefore, additional considerations for WHA candidates include current cutblock plans, future operability, road development plans, the potential for isolating timber, First Nations interests, and stakeholder interests such as Mineral and Placer Tenure holders. Consequently, where possible, we attempt to maximize the co-location of WHAs with other constraints on the landbase (UWRs, OGMAs, NCLB, other species WHAs). Combined Application for Marbled Murrelet and Northern Goshawk
Managing For Goshawks on the North CoastFrank Doyle. Report to the BCMinistry of Water, Land and Air Protection. Smithers, BC. February, 2006. Read the Report [PDF - 102 KB] Information on verification projects
Testing models of habitat suitability for nesting Marbled Murrelets, using low-level aerial surveys on the North Coast, British Columbia.Burger, A. E., J. Hobbs, and A. Hetherington. 2005. Report to the BC Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection. Smithers, BC. February, 2005. Read the Report [PDF - 247 KB] Testing a Marbled Murrelet predictability model using low level aerial assessment in the Zeballos Landscape Unit, Vancouver Island. Donald, D.S. 2005. Province of BC. August, 2005. Read the Report [PDF - 2050 KB] Marbled Murrelet nesting habitat in the mid coast forest district: An assessment of the mid coast model. Hobbs, J. 2003. Unpublished report, prepared for the BC Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection, Habitat Branch. Victoria, BC. Read the Report [PDF - 648 KB] Clips demonstrating aerial survey method
Video #1 [9,764 KB]Video #2 [4,108 KB] Video #3 [15,742 KB] Video #4 [18,894 KB] Video #5 [12,512 KB] Note: Video playback will vary depending on your computer setup and Internet connection. Aerial survey pictures illustrating classes
Southern Mainland Heli Samples [PDF - 2126 KB]W&N Vancouver Island Heli Samples Part 1 [PDF - 1355 KB] Haida Gwaii Heli Samples [PDF - 2163 KB] North Coast Heli Samples [PDF - 1761 KB] Sim Landscape Unit (Mid Coast): 
* Hover over the images above - plot number is in the filename. |
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