Comparison Of Airplane, Air-Boat And Helicopter For Censusing Florida Ducks, Anas Platyrhynchos Fulvigula

A study comparing various waterfowl census techniques was conducted to determine which is most suitable for use with the Florida Duck population. Counts made from an airplane, air-boat and helicopter, covering identical transects in the Kissimmee River Valley of Florida, were compared. Surveys made from the air-boat were the most accurate, but were found to be impractical for regular census work. Airplane surveys proved to be practical if their inherent inaccuracy was compensated for by multiplying actual counts by a conversion factor. A conversion factor of 2.5 was obtained by comparing airplane and air-boat counts of Florida Ducks on the study area.