Aerial surveys flown at low altitudes allow detection, identification, and enumeration of waterfowl and other waterbirds, but few studies have assessed disturbance to these guilds during the nonbreeding period. Excessive disturbance can potentially increase energy expenditure and exposure to hunting mortality contrary to objectives of many waterfowl sanctuaries where surveys are conducted. We used concurrent ground and aerial surveys to estimate the proportion of waterfowl and other waterbirds that exhibited a noticeable reaction (i.e., disturbance) or left the survey area entirely (i.e., abandonment) during low‐altitude (i.e., 60–90 m above ground level) aerial surveys during September through January 2014–2017 in Illinois, USA. Overall, disturbance and abandonment probabilities of waterfowl (x̄ = 14 ± 2% [SE] and x̄ = 3 ± 1%, respectively) during aerial surveys were low. However, disturbance and abandonment probabilities varied considerably among taxa (e.g., American coot [Fulica americana] x̄ = 2 ± 1% and x̄ = 0 ± 0%, respectively; killdeer [Charadrius vociferus] x̄ = 92 ± 8% and x̄ = 17 ± 17%, respectively). Additionally, disturbance and abandonment probabilities of light geese (i.e., snow goose [Chen caerulescens] and Ross's goose [C. rossii]) and greater white‐fronted geese (Anser albifrons) were relatively high, and nearly all light geese abandoned a survey location as a result of the aerial survey. Among waterfowl taxa, the odds of disturbance from the survey aircraft were 2.2–6.2 times greater at locations closed to waterfowl hunting than locations open to waterfowl hunting. Temperature, wind speed, and cloud cover were not important predictors of disturbance for most guilds, except for a negative influence of temperature on disturbance of geese. Low‐altitude aerial surveys were not a significant source of disturbance for many taxa and abandonment events were rare, except events involving light geese. Periodic low‐altitude aerial surveys appear to be compatible with objectives of providing sanctuary conditions for most waterfowl and other waterbirds. © 2020 The Wildlife Society.

中文翻译：

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非繁殖季节空中水​​禽调查造成的干扰

低空飞行可以进行水禽和其他水鸟的检测，识别和枚举，但是很少有研究评估在非繁殖期间对这些公会的干扰。与许多进行调查的水禽保护区的目标相反，过度的干扰可能潜在地增加能量消耗并增加狩猎死亡率。我们使用同时​​进行的地面和空中调查来估计在低海拔（即地面以上60-90 m）表现出明显反应（即干扰）或完全离开调查区域（即放弃）的水禽和其他水鸟的比例级）在美国伊利诺伊州2014年9月至2014年1月期间进行航空测量。总体而言，水禽的干扰和遗弃概率（x̄= 14±2％[SE]和x̄= 3±1％，分别）在航测期间很低。但是，在分类群中，干扰和遗弃的概率差异很大（例如，美国老兄[墨西哥栗] x] = 2±1％，x̄= 0±0％；双杀[（Charadrius vociferus）分别为x̄ = 92±8％和x̄= 17±17％。此外，轻鹅（即雪雁[ Chen caerulescens ]和罗斯鹅[ C. rossii ]）和更大的白额雁（大雁）的扰动和放弃概率）相对较高，并且由于进行空中调查，几乎所有的雁都放弃了调查地点。在水禽类群中，调查飞机受到干扰的几率是在不进行水禽狩猎的地方比进行水禽狩猎的地方高2.2-6.2倍。对于大多数行会来说，温度，风速和云量并不是干扰的重要指标，除了温度对鹅干扰有负面影响外。对于许多类群来说，低空航空勘测并不是造成干扰的重要原因，除了涉及轻雁的事件外，很少发生遗弃事件。定期的低空航空勘测似乎与为大多数水禽和其他水鸟提供庇护条件的目标兼容。©2020野生动物协会。