Data from: Assessing Catharus bicknelli (Bicknell’s Thrush) habitat dynamics: A high-resolution model based on LiDAR metrics

Assessing species occurrences can be challenging due to issues such as
species detectability and difficulties in accessing habitats for surveys.
These limitations hinder the ability to adequately inform conservation or
management decisions, particularly for cryptic species, which can be
partially addressed with high-resolution, spatially explicit models.
However, high-resolution, spatially explicit models projecting species can
help resolve these challenges. We modeled the probability of occurrence of
Catharus bicknelli (Bicknell’s Thrush), a globally vulnerable species, in
southern Québec (Canada) using LiDAR-derived metrics. The model was
calibrated with 139 occurrences (with 10-m spatial accuracy), each paired
with 10 random locations within a 523-1,569 m buffer, and validated with
an independent dataset of 3,928 point counts. Based on model output, we
applied two statistical thresholds to guide decision-making. The
probability of occurrence of the species was highest in dense, low-canopy
balsam fir stands at high elevation. The top-ranked model also included
forest succession, with an adjustment to canopy height to account for tree
growth since the LiDAR data were acquired. This modelling approach
provides a valuable tool for tracking the spatio-temporal dynamics of
Catharus bicknelli (Bicknell’s Thrush) habitat and informing more
effective conservation strategies for this species at risk in Canada.