Aerial videography for estimating goose populations staging in Izembek Lagoon, Alaska

We conducted experimental photographic surveys of black brant and Canada geese in a pre-migration staging area on the Alaska Peninsula to compare precision and efficiency of this technique to currently employed ocular estimates. Video and digital cameras sensitive to near infrared and visible radiation were tested at various altitudes and with lenses of different focal length. Using information from these tests, we constructed an artificial population of geese to determine sampling effort and efficiency of the technique.