COWRIE is pleased to announce the release of the above report, prepared by the Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Monitoring, University of St Andrews (CREEM). 

The development of the photographic method of aerial bird surveying (using either still or video imagery) has raised the question of the comparability of estimates of seabird abundance derived from differing survey methods. A further question to be addressed is whether the visual and photographic methods provide estimates with similar levels of precision. 

The report examines data collected during March 2009 in the Carmarthen Bay Special Protection Area (SPA), using both design- and model-based methods of analysis on two different groups of birds, scoters and gulls. 

The full report can be dowloaded here.