Abstract:

The dataset includes all field data collected on wintering waterfowl use of marsh terraces and accompanying non-terraced sites (e.g., coastal marsh). Wintering waterfowl data was collected via aerial surveys from a fixed-winged aircraft in partnership with Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Cruise-style aerial surveys were flown approximately twice monthly in the fall/winter seasons of 2018-2019 and 2019-2020. A total of 21 paired sites were surveyed using a two-observer protocol to avoid duplicating waterfowl counts. All sites were surveyed at the same spatial scale to avoid sampling bias due to unequal study area sizes.

Suggested Citation:

McFarland, Madelyn. 2023. Survey dataset of wintering waterfowl use of marsh terraces and non-terraced sites in the northern Gulf of Mexico from 2018-10-11 to 2020-03-05. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/x9bcqkmm

Purpose:

To collect data on wintering waterfowl species utilizing marsh terraces and non-terraced sites across coastal Louisiana.

Data Parameters and Units:

The headers are waterfowl species, individual counts, unique site identifier, and date of data collection (mm/dd/yyyy) for marsh terrace sites, non-terraced sites, and before-after-control-impact sites across coastal Louisiana. The following abbreviations were used: BWTE: Blue-winged teal GADW: Gadwall AGWT: American Green-winged teal MALL: Mallard MODU: Mottled duck AMWI: American widgeon RNDU: Ring-necked duck HOME: Hooded merganser BUFF: Bufflehead SCAUP: Scaup sp. NOSH: Northern shoveler RUDU: Ruddy duck NOPI: Northern pintail COGO: Common goldeneye RBME: Red-breasted merganser CANV: Canvasback CAGO: Canada goose BBWD: Black-bellied whistling duck BLSC: Black scoter

Methods:

Cruise-style aerial surveys were flown approximately twice monthly in the fall/winter seasons of 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 at 21 paired sites.

Individual Files: