Published: 2012
Total Pages: 32
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"Air photo interpretation (API) is widely used in British Columbia for assessing and mapping forest nesting habitat of the Marbled Murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus). For strategic land use planning in Haida Gwaii, the entire land base (approximately 1 million ha) has been mapped based on polygons assessed with API. The API method does not, however, detect microsite features in the forest canopy, especially the presence of mossy mats and other potential nest platforms, which are essential for murrelets to nest. This study was therefore undertaken to compare the API habitat quality classifications with those made by low-level helicopter surveys (aerial surveys), which focus on the canopy structure and the presence of potential nest platforms."--Document.