These data represent surveys of phalaropes (Red-necked and Red: Phalaropus lobatus, Phalaropus fulicarius) that were completed in the outer Bay of Fundy, Canada during migratory stopover of July through October in 2009 and 2010. Aerial surveys were flown from an altitude of approximately 125m over an area comprising 1,600 square kilometers of marine habitat between Brier Island, Nova Scotia and Grand Manan, New Brunswick. A total of 28 transect lines, averaging 16km in length, were placed within two study areas near Grand Manan Island and Brier Island.
Observations of both phalarope species were obtained using line-transect distance-sampling methods. During surveys, observers recorded estimated flock size and downward viewing angle to the flock, which was used to calculate the flock distance from the track line. A total of 28 aerial surveys were completed across two years which were used to obtain abundance estimates for each study area on each survey day. Combined with information on length of stay derived from radio transmitter studies, these data were used to provide estimates of time-integrated stopover population of phalaropes for each study year. More detailed methods and results can be found in the publication: Hunnewell, R. W., A. W. Diamond, and S. C. Brown. 2016. Estimating the migratory stopover abundance of phalaropes in the outer Bay of Fundy, Canada. Avian Conservation and Ecology 11(2):11.
http://dx.doi.org/10.5751/ACE-00926-110211
Appended data includes line features representing the study area and survey transect lines, and points representing phalarope observations. Data were provided by researchers at the University of New Brunswick to ECCC for long-term use in emergency response, species distribution modeling, and other applications related to ECCC mandate for conservation and management.