Abstract:

This report contains nest tracking observation data for colonial nesting water and wading birds collected by observers working from boats located near nesting grounds, and provides additional context for the posted dataset, including information about the collection, analysis, and organization of the data. Characteristics of this dataset include the following: • This dataset contains nest observation data for colonial nesting water birds (pelicans) and colonial nesting wading birds (egrets) in Louisiana in 2011. • This dataset was collected independently by BP contractors as part of the NRDA process. • Before posting, extensive work was done independently by BP contractors to verify some aspects of the posted data (e.g., positional coordinates and field data). These observations were made at 31 Louisiana colonies from April 2011 into August 2011 under a work plan titled Productivity Estimates for Colonial Nesting Water and Wading Birds in the Northern Gulf of Mexico. This work was conducted independently by BP to support and inform the NRDA. This dataset includes nest observation data for colonial nesting water birds (pelicans) and colonial nesting wading birds (egrets) in Louisiana in 2011. The following types of data are included in the dataset: nest location and identification, observation date, species, adult activity, and nest content descriptions. Because the methods used to record data varied across observers, the dataset includes columns “as recorded in the field” and “as standardized” during database construction. In addition to the cross-observer variation noted above, sampling variations may exist across methods, locations, and times.

Suggested Citation:

BP Gulf Science Data. 2016. Observation data for colonial nesting water birds (pelicans) and colonial nesting wading birds (egrets) in Louisiana in 2011. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/N7377743

Purpose:

This work was conducted independently by BP to support and inform the NRDA. These data were collected by BP to help guide cleanup operations under the direction of the U.S. Coast Guard and to support the Natural Resource Damage Assessment efforts by federal and state agencies and BP to evaluate potential injury to natural resources in the Gulf. The data and supplemental information are being made available to the public in a format that will facilitate the use of the data for research and other studies. GRIIDC is making these data available following the shutdown of the Gulf Science Data Portal. This will ensure that the data are available and searchable through GRIIDC data discovery.

Data Parameters and Units:

Data Publication Date = Date associated with the current data posting date. (M/DD/YYYY); data type = Date; Data Publication Reference = A general description of data provided in the data posting and a version control number; data type = Text; Study Reference No. = Number assigned by BP to provide a link between the data provided in the data file and the associated work plans and study descriptions; data type = Numeric; Study Name = Title of colonial nesting water and wading bird nest tracking study; data type = Text; Record ID = Unique record identifier in the dataset; data type = Numeric; Survey ID = Number that uniquely identifies each survey record.; data type = Text; Date = The date on which the survey was conducted. (M/DD/YYYY); data type = Date; Colony ID = Unique colony identification code; data type = Text; Obs Pt# = One or more observation points were established at each colony site. This variable identifies the colony-specific point from which an observation was made.; data type = Numeric; Team = Team name assigned for safety tracking purposes.; data type = Text; Sample Area = Indicates wither the survey was of an entire colony or a portion of the colony; data type = Text; Start Time24 = Survey start time (24-hour clock - M/DD/YYYY H:MM); data type = Military Time (local); End Time24 = Survey end time (24-hour clock - M/DD/YYYY H:MM); data type = Military Time (local); Colony County Location = County in which colony is located; data type = Text; Colony State Location = State in which colony is located; data type = Text; Survey Mode = Platform from which observations were made (boat or ladder); data type = Text; Nest ID = Nest identification number as recorded in the field; data type = Text; Standardized Nest ID = Standardized nest identification includes colony ID, observation point, and nest number; data type = Text; Raw Species = Four letter alpha code for species attending the nest; data type = Text; Active/Inactive = Information describing nest activity as recorded in field; data type = Text; Standardized Active/Inactive = Standardized description of nest activity; data type = Text; Incubating = Information describing incubation activity as recorded in the field; data type = Text; Standardized Incubating = Standardized description of incubation activity (Yes/No); data type = Text; Nestlings = Information describing nestlings associated with a nest as recorded in the field; data type = Text; Standardized Nestling = Standardized description of nestlings associated with nest; data type = Text; Size = Information describing size of nestlings relative to adults as recorded in the field; data type = Text; Standardized Size = Standardized description of nestling size; data type = Text; Fledged = Information describing the number of fledglings associated with the nest as recorded in the field; data type = Text; Standardized Fledged = Standardized description of fledglings associated with nest (count); data type = Text; Comments = Observer comments recorded in field form comment box. Notes often identify the reason monitoring of a specific nest ended; data type = Text; Other Notes = Observer comments recorded outside field form comment box. Notes often identify the reason monitoring of a specific nest ended; data type = Text; Field Data Verification Status = Summary of the data verification process status described in Appendix B. Valid entries - Not started, Underway, and Complete.; data type = Text;

Individual Files: