Implications of surveyor accuracy in bird flight height estimation for wind farm collision risk assessment

The increasing anthropogenic use and modification of the airspace, particularly through the expansion of wind energy, has led to an increase in collision-related mortality of aerial wildlife. Environmental impact assessments rely on accurate bird flight height estimates to predict collision risk, yet these estimates are typically made by surveyors visually estimating flight height, with limited validation of their accuracy.
This study evaluates the accuracy of surveyor flight height estimates against measurements from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and investigates whether accuracy can be improved by the use of annotated maps (spatial cues) and/or prior survey experience.
Results indicate that there was generally a discrepancy between surveyor flight height estimates and the UAV measurements, particularly for inexperienced surveyors. Annotated maps reduced variability in estimates and improved accuracy, with the greatest benefit observed for inexperienced surveyors.
There was a discre..., , # Implications of surveyor accuracy in bird flight height estimation for wind farm collision risk assessment

Dataset DOI: [10.5061/dryad.t76hdr8fn](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.t76hdr8fn)

## Description of the data and file structure

This study evaluates the accuracy of surveyor flight height estimates against measurements from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and investigates whether accuracy can be improved by the use of annotated maps (spatial cues) and/or prior survey experience.

### Files and variables

* Surveyor_accuracy_in_bird_flight_height_estimation_dataset_2026.02.11.xlsx

| <br /> | <br /> |
| :----------------- | :--------------------------------------------------------..., ,