Tetraonid line transect surveys from Norway: Data from Fjellstyrene

Study Extent

Surveys are carried out annually in August, mainly in the period of 5th - 20th August. Specific locations of surveys have changed over the time period. A study site consist of a collection of two or more transect lines.

Sampling

In August each year, field work is carried out by volunteer personnel instructed to follow standardized field protocols. A team of two persons follow pre-defined transect lines, using trained pointing dogs to search both sides of the transect line. When birds are observed, species, cluster size (separated into age- and sex classes), perpendicular distances from the transect line to the observed cluster of birds, GPS coordinates and time of day is recorded. In addition, length (and position) of the transect line is recorded, as well as some other auxillary data.

Quality Control

Since the establishment of the common e-infrastrucure Hønsefuglportalen in 2013, quality control has been included at several stages of the process. First, the data entry forms are designed such that impossible or unlikely values are not allowed, and all data fields must be completed. Second, for each study site, a local administrator is responsible for quality control just after the annual field work period in August. Last, participating research institutions conduct additional quality control when analyzing data for management or scientific purposes.

Method steps

1. Additional information could be found at “http://honsefugl.nina.no” or in Eriksen, L. F., P. F. Moa, and E. B. Nilsen. 2018. Quantifying risk of overharvest when implementation is uncertain. Journal of Applied Ecology 55:482-493. doi 10.1111/1365-2664.12992. Contacts

This line transect program focus on tetraonid gamebirds (subfamiliy: Tetraoninae - family: Phasianidae), which in Norway include willow ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus), rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta), black grouse (Tetrao tetrix), capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) and hazel grouse (Bonasa bonasia). Not all species are found all of the areas where the line transect surveys in this program are performed. Most of the surveys target willow ptarmigan monitoring, which is also reflected in the spatial distribution of survey lines.

1. Lagopus lagopus
   common name: Willow Ptarmigan
2. Lagopus muta
   common name: Rock ptarmigan
3. Tetrao tetrix
   common name: Black grouse
4. Tetrao urogallus
   common name: Capercaillie
5. Bonasa bonasia
   common name: Hazel Grouse

Cover land managed by Fjellstyrene (https://www.fjellstyrene.no/finn-fjellstyre) in Norway south of Nordland county.