Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Weiser, Emily L. (ORCID: 0000-0003-1598-659X)
Originator: Flint, Paul L. (ORCID: 0000-0002-8758-6993)
Originator: Marks, Dennis K.
Originator: Shults, Brad S.
Originator: Wilson, Heather M.
Originator: Thompson, Sarah J.
Originator: Fischer, Julian B.
Publication_Date: 20220621
Title:
Aerial Photo Imagery from Fall Waterfowl Surveys, Izembek Lagoon, Alaska, 2017-2019
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: digital aerial imagery
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Anchorage, Alaska
Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center
Other_Citation_Details:
Suggested Citation: Weiser, E.L., Flint, P.L., Marks, D.K., Shults, B.S., Wilson, H.M., Thompson, S.J., Fischer, J.B., 2022, Aerial photo imagery from fall waterfowl surveys, Izembek Lagoon, Alaska, 2017-2019: U.S. Geological Survey data release,
https://doi.org/10.5066/P9UHP1LE
Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.5066/P9UHP1LE
Larger_Work_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center
Publication_Date: 2020
Title:
USGS and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Science Support (SSP) and Quick Response Program (QRP)
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: website
Series_Information:
Series_Name: Alaska Science Portal
Issue_Identification: 421
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Anchorage, Alaska
Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center
Other_Citation_Details:
This is a link to the broader USGS Alaska Science Center research project supported by these data. Users will find a description of the research project and links to associated reports, publications, and data products.
Online_Linkage: https://alaska.usgs.gov/portal/project.php?project_id=421
Description:
Abstract:
The imagery and annotations presented here were generated while testing an aerial photographic survey design to improve repeatability, transparency, and estimation of variance for annual population estimates of geese staging at Izembek Lagoon, Alaska. This dataset includes 1) 131,031 .JPG images captured from a small fixed-wing occupied aircraft, usually at an altitude of about 457 m, over Izembek Lagoon; 2) annotations of objects (geese, ducks, and gulls) assigned by an automated algorithm, and 3) manually corrected annotations that were edited by project staff for only those photos automatically identified as containing geese of any species. The photos were captured at predetermined points to systematically sample the waterfowl present on the open water of the lagoon. The systematic sample included photo points over land around the periphery of the lagoon (at the beginning and end of each transect), but only photos that were triggered over open water were evaluated for the presence of waterfowl. The overland photos are included here for completeness, but were not processed and do not have associated annotations or count data. The photos and annotations are organized by year (2017-2019), date (one replicate of the survey [usually complete, but sometimes partial] was conducted on each date, with a total of three surveys in September/October of each year), and camera (two full-frame cameras were used on each replicate, providing non-overlapping images). The full dataset totals 1.82 TB. The EXIF data for each .JPG include the camera parameters and latitude, longitude, and altitude at which the image was captured. Most photos were captured at standard parameters (approximately 457 m altitude and 200 mm focal length, producing an average photo footprint of 4555 sq m [83.1 m × 54.8 m]), but some were captured at other altitudes or shorter focal lengths to evaluate the effect on identifying objects in photos. Photo locations were spaced 62 m apart along each transect; the footprints of photos taken at standard parameters rarely overlapped by approximately 1–2 m when the camera triggering system experienced a brief delay, but photos at lower altitudes or shorter focal lengths sometimes overlapped extensively. Annotations are provided as the coordinates (with pixels as the unit) of each object detected in the photo, with the automatically or manually assigned identification of each object (i.e., bird taxon), in one file per photo (.csv and .json versions). Summary data from the images, including all pertinent metadata and the automated and manual waterbird counts for each image, are available as an accompanying USGS data release (Weiser et al. 2022).
Purpose:
These data were collected to test a photographic survey design for monitoring the number of brant staging at Izembek Lagoon, Alaska, each fall. The photographic survey was tested as an option to potentially replace the traditional ocular aerial surveys that involve uncertainty around observer estimates of numbers of geese present. The photographic survey was designed to be flown high enough to avoid disturbing geese while allowing brant to be distinguished from other species in the photos. Photos were captured through a systematic sample design that covered appropriately 15% of the open water of the lagoon. Landscape features, objects, or animals other than the waterbirds annotated here may also be identifiable in the photos, but the dataset has not been evaluated for uses other than identifying and counting geese.
Time_Period_of_Content:
Time_Period_Information:
Range_of_Dates/Times:
Beginning_Date: 20170930
Ending_Date: 20191011
Currentness_Reference: Observed
Status:
Progress: Complete
Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: None planned
Spatial_Domain:
Description_of_Geographic_Extent: Izembek Lagoon, Alaska
Bounding_Coordinates:
West_Bounding_Coordinate: -163.1250
East_Bounding_Coordinate: -162.4658
North_Bounding_Coordinate: 55.4913
South_Bounding_Coordinate: 55.1381
Keywords:
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: USGS Metadata Identifier
Theme_Keyword: USGS:ASC449
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Category
Theme_Keyword: Biota
Theme_Keyword: Environment
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: NASA GCMD Earth Science Keyword Thesaurus
Theme_Keyword: Animals/Vertebrates
Theme_Keyword: Birds
Theme_Keyword: Ducks/Geese/Swans
Theme_Keyword: Waders/Gulls/Auks and Allies
Theme_Keyword: Estuarine habitat
Theme_Keyword: Photography
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: USGS CSA Biocomplexity Thesaurus
Theme_Keyword: Waterfowl
Theme_Keyword: Migratory birds
Theme_Keyword: Aerial surveys
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: USGS Thesaurus
Theme_Keyword: Wildlife
Theme_Keyword: Migratory species
Theme_Keyword: Tundra ecosystems
Theme_Keyword: Coastal ecosystems
Theme_Keyword: Wetland ecosystems
Theme_Keyword: Aquatic ecosystems
Theme_Keyword: Aerial photography
Theme_Keyword: Relative abundance analysis
Theme_Keyword: Image collections
Theme_Keyword: Population dynamics
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Theme_Keyword: Branta bernicla
Theme_Keyword: Branta hutchinsii
Theme_Keyword: Anser canagicus
Theme_Keyword: Izembek National Wildlife Refuge
Place:
Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)
Place_Keyword: Alaska
Place_Keyword: Alaska Peninsula
Place_Keyword: Izembek Lagoon
Taxonomy:
Keywords/Taxon:
Taxonomic_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Taxonomic_Keywords: Branta bernicla nigricans
Taxonomic_Keywords: Branta hutchinsii
Taxonomic_Keywords: Branta
Taxonomic_Keywords: Anser canagicus
Taxonomic_Keywords: Anatidae
Taxonomic_Keywords: Laridae
Taxonomic_System:
Classification_System/Authority:
Classification_System_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: ITIS Integrated Taxonomic Information System
Publication_Date: Unknown
Title: ITIS Integrated Taxonomic Information System
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: online database
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: online
Publisher: ITIS-North America
Other_Citation_Details:
Taxonomic details retrieved January 24, 2022 from the Integrated Taxonomic Information System online database:
https://www.itis.gov
Online_Linkage: https://www.itis.gov
Classification_System_Modifications:
ITIS currently lists emperor geese in the genus Chen. However, the most current taxonomic designation by the American Ornithological Society's (AOU) Check-list of North American Birds considers emperor geese in the genus Anser
http://checklist.aou.org/taxa
Here, we follow the current AOU designation as described in: Chesser, R.T., Burns, K.J., Cicero, C., Dunn, J.L., Kratter, A.W., Lovette, I.J., Rasmussen, P.C., Remsen, J.V., Jr., Rising, J.D., Stotz, D.F., Winker, K. 2017. Fifty-eighth supplement to the American Ornithological Society's Check-list of North American Birds. The Auk:134(3)751-773
https://doi.org/10.1642/AUK-17-72.1
Taxonomic_Procedures:
Species were identified by skilled observers based on general appearance.
Taxonomic_Completeness:
Taxonomy is complete for all samples. No vouchers were collected.
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Kingdom
Taxon_Rank_Value: Animalia
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Subkingdom
Taxon_Rank_Value: Bilateria
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Infrakingdom
Taxon_Rank_Value: Deuterostomia
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Phylum
Taxon_Rank_Value: Chordata
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Subphylum
Taxon_Rank_Value: Vertebrata
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Infraphylum
Taxon_Rank_Value: Gnathostomata
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Superclass
Taxon_Rank_Value: Tetrapoda
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Class
Taxon_Rank_Value: Aves
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Order
Taxon_Rank_Value: Anseriformes
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Family
Taxon_Rank_Value: Anatidae
Applicable_Common_Name: TSN: 174983
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Subfamily
Taxon_Rank_Value: Anserinae
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Genus
Taxon_Rank_Value: Branta
Applicable_Common_Name: TSN: 174998
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Species
Taxon_Rank_Value: Branta bernicla
Applicable_Common_Name: Brant
Applicable_Common_Name: TSN: 175011
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Subspecies
Taxon_Rank_Value: Branta bernicla nigricans
Applicable_Common_Name: TSN: 714723
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Species
Taxon_Rank_Value: Branta hutchinsii
Applicable_Common_Name: TSN: 714068
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Genus
Taxon_Rank_Value: Anser
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Species
Taxon_Rank_Value: Anser canagicus
Applicable_Common_Name: Emperor goose
Applicable_Common_Name: TSN: 175031
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Order
Taxon_Rank_Value: Charadriiformes
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Family
Taxon_Rank_Value: Laridae
Applicable_Common_Name: TSN: 176802
Access_Constraints: None
Use_Constraints:
It is requested that the authors and the USGS Alaska Science Center be cited for any subsequent publications that reference this dataset.
Point_of_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Organization_Primary:
Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: Mailing and Physical
Address: 4210 University Drive
City: Anchorage
State_or_Province: Alaska
Postal_Code: 99508
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 907-786-7000
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: ascweb@usgs.gov
Data_Set_Credit:
These data were collected by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in collaboration with the U.S. Geological Survey. We thank M. Laker, J. Wittkop, W. Larned, T. Zeller, D. Safine, C. Dau, P. Anderson, E. Mallek, K. Bollinger, D. Ward, C. Sowl, C. Monette, A. Ellsworth, A. Williams, T. Zeller, the staff at Dynamic Ventures, and Izembek National Wildlife Refuge for their contributions. Funding was provided by the USGS Science Support Program and USFWS Migratory Bird Management.
Cross_Reference:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Weiser, E.L.
Originator: Flint, P.L.
Originator: Marks, D.K.
Originator: Shults, B.S.
Originator: Wilson, H.M.
Originator: Thompson, S.J.
Originator: Fischer, J.B.
Publication_Date: 2023
Title:
Optimizing Surveys of Fall-Staging Geese Using Aerial Imagery and Automated Counting
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: journal article
Series_Information:
Series_Name: Wildlife Society Bulletin
Issue_Identification: 47(1):e1407
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: online
Publisher: The Wildlife Society
Other_Citation_Details:
Weiser, E.L., Flint, P.L., Marks, D.K., Shults, B.S., Wilson, H.M., Thompson, S.J., Fischer, J.B. 2023. Optimizing surveys of fall-staging geese using aerial imagery and automated counting. Wildlife Society Bulletin 47(1):e1407 doi:10.1002/wsb.1407
Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.1407