Standard breeding bird censuses with 100 m radius counting circles. Observing periods divided into 0-3 min, 3-5 min, and 5-10 minutes for comparison with other censuses. For 3-5 min period, only additional birds not recorded in the 0-3 period are recorded. For 5-10 min period, only additional birds not recorded in the 0-5 min period are recorded. Birds recorded either visually or by sound. Counting circle boundaries set a minimum of 200 m from each other. Observer distinguished between birds within 50 m of the center point, birds from 50-100 m, and those beyond 100 m. Counts carried out from late May through August over a three-year period. Placement of circles within vegetated salt marsh habitat.
NOTES AND COMMENTS:
Temperature inconsistently recorded
Variable description clarification-
Beaufort scale: whole numbers from 1-12 with increasing wind based on observations of trees, waves, etc. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaufort_scale)
AlphaCode- Four-letter codes, based on English names, broadly following the rules and strategies adopted by the U.S. Bird Banding Laboratory (BBL), http://www.birdpop.org/AlphaCodes.htm.