Braided River Bird Data - Web App

Braided River Bird Data Web App Description The purpose of this application is to provide the full extent of all Canterbury braided river survey layers including the Department of Conservation managed datasets and relevant braided river habitat layers. The Department of Conservation collates data using the ‘River section’ methodology for collecting bird observation data. Braided rivers are broken up into specific section lengths along a river and bird observations are pooled into each section. River sections widely differ in length and may overlap with sections of different lengths completed for the same river over multiple years. This dataset displays all sections, illustrating these sections assists our understanding of the spatial context in which any survey data was collected. Layers displaying the Braided River Count Survey Data include a full export of the braided river survey data and grouped views of data by decade. The specific grouping by decades allows for easier visualization of the most up to date data. Background Canterbury is a braided river hotspot with over 60% of braided rivers located in the Canterbury region. Biologically rich with plants and animals that evolved with strategies to live in the ever-changing and volatile braided river environments, they form a vital link between the mountains and lowland areas of Canterbury. Braided river birds can be negatively affected by both human and environmental activities with several species at risk of extinction. To monitor any decline and inform trends in bird abundance, all braided rivers that have surveys have been collated into a national database by the Department of Conservation. This database has survey data for the Canterbury regions ranging back to the 1960’s. Methodology Braided river bird surveys follow the methodology Department of Conservation's protocols for best practice in monitoring braided river birds (Mischler and Maloney, 2009). These ground surveys have been carried out by the Department of Conservation, Environment Canterbury and other agencies interested in braided river conservation. River Section Names and River Section IDs River section names have been standardised to reflect the survey effort that was involved. The name of the river section will include an approximate start point description and end point description (e.g. Buiks Bridge to Blowing Point Bridge). River Section IDs are numbers that reflect the current total section number of a particular river survey (e.g. there are a total of 15 current sections for the Waiau Uwha Lower survey and each section is assigned a number from 1-15). Section ID numbering starts at 1 upstream and then consecutively adds for each new section downstream. Historic sections that overlap current section locations will have an ID defined by the section ID areas that are overlapping (e.g. a Waiau Uwha section called Emu Plains overlaps current sections 4 through to 8, so the section ID is 4,5,6,7,8). Data owner Data was by compiled by Environment Canterbury using the source data from the Department of Conservation Braided River Bird Survey Database, which is a collation of surveys by multiple stakeholder groups (DOC, ECan, river care groups). Contact the Environment Canterbury Land Ecology team for more information about this layer. Layers included in the application Braided River Bird Survey Layers 1. Braided River Bird Section Decade Counts – Other Braided River Birds 2. Braided River Bird Section Decade Counts – Terns 3. Braided River Bird Section Decade Counts – Gulls 4. Braided River Bird Section Counts - All Data 5. Braided River Colony and Nest Counts 6. Braided River Bird Sections Additional Layers 7. Native Bird River and Open Water Habitat 8. Braided River Biodiversity Regional Strategic Areas 9. Braided River Bird Habitat 10. Canterbury Braided Rivers Data interpretation and limitations Braided River Bird Count Survey Data The numbers shown in the count survey layers are indices of relative abundance and are not a comprehensive population estimate of birds along braided rivers. Birds are highly mobile species that may breed on different rivers across seasons. This layer is best considered a ‘snapshot’ of the average bird numbers surveyed during a single day over the summer month across several years depending on the number of surveys done. Species that have not been observed at a specific location may still use that location for foraging or breeding purposes. Braided River Bird Colony and Nest Count Data The breeding locations and numbers shown in the breeding survey layer is not a comprehensive breeding location dataset of birds along braided rivers. Birds are highly mobile species that may breed from on different rivers across seasons. This layer is best considered a ‘snapshot’ of the bird breeding locations encountered when completing braided river count surveys during a single day over the summer month. A lack of breeding observations on a specific river may be due to a lack of survey effort rather than the river being unsuitable for breeding birds. Braided River Sections Polygons are indicative only and may not reflect current braidplain extent of surveyed areas. Database completeness Data is compiled together from multiple sources and stakeholders interested in braided river conservation. An effort is made to keep this layer as up to date as possible, but some recent or historical information may be missing or not entirely complete. The database is not ‘locked in’ and can potentially be changed or updated with more information. Update schedule Updates to this layer are scheduled to be completed annually. Attribute Information Click on the relevant layer link above for more details about the attributes of each dataset. References Mischler C, Maloney R. 2009. Protocol for best practice in monitoring braided river birds. Department of Conservation.