A comparison of mist-net and checklist survey methods of avifauna in Northern Michigan.

Abstract

We compared the results of mist-net and checklist surveys carried out on 6 days in the months of June and July 2006, in the north-western part of the lower peninsula of Michigan. Species data collected from 3 days of continuous-effort mist-netting was compared to data from 3 days of checklists recorded during birding sessions. We found checklist surveys detected both higher species richness and gross abundance, but still did not account for some inconspicuous and less vocal species. As similar articles concluded, our results show the need for both mist-netting and a form of checklist or point-count surveying to be done together for best assessing avian species richness and abundance.