Accuracy assessment of a Jay Watch post-reproductive survey of Florida Scrub-Jays (Aphelocoma coerulescens)
Abstract
We assessed the accuracy of the Jay Watch survey methodology in conjunction with ongoing Florida Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens) research in the Ocala National Forest during 2012 and 2013. We compared the numbers of family groups, adults, and fledglings estimated during Jay Watch post-reproductive surveys with the same parameters obtained through demographic monitoring on the same study sites. We found close agreement between estimates derived from short-term Jay Watch surveys (conducted by teams of volunteers and trained staff) and the same parameters obtained through intensive demographic monitoring by a full-time field biologist. Intraclass correlation coefficients between data sources were high (0.83–0.95). We found some discrepancies in fledgling numbers between Jay Watch and demographic monitoring, but such discrepancies were uncommon and most likely to occur in densely vegetated forest stands that were populated by multiple family groups that each had fledglings. Some of our Jay Watch participants were skilled biologists with prior experience with Florida Scrub-Jays, which may have increased the accuracy of our results.
