Effects of resighting errors on capture-resight estimates for neck-banded Canada geese

Nondor T. Weiss; M.D. Samuel; D. H. Rusch; F. Dale Caswell

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USGS · 70006638

Effects of resighting errors on capture-resight estimates for neck-banded Canada geese

Nondor T. Weiss·M.D. Samuel·D. H. Rusch·F. Dale Caswell

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Abstract

Biologists who study neck-banded Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) have used capture and resighting histories to estimate annual resighting rates, survival rates and the number of marked birds in the population. Resighting errors were associated with 9.4% ( n = 155) of the birds from a sample of Canada Geese neckbanded in the Mississippi flyway, 1974-1987, and constituted 3.0% ( n = 208) of the resightings. Resighting errors significantly reduced estimated resighting rates and significantly increased estimated numbers of marked geese in the sample. Estimates of survival rates were not significantly affected by resighting errors. Recommendations are offered for using neck-band characters that may reduce resighting errors.

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Nondor T. Weiss, M.D. Samuel, D. H. Rusch, F. Dale Caswell. 1991. Effects of resighting errors on capture-resight estimates for neck-banded Canada geese. https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/70006638

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