Assessment of Avian Populations in Kansas Tallgrass Prairie Landscape: Two Survey Methods Compared

Abstract

Avian populations in the Flint Hills region of Kansas were assessed during summer and winter using point counts and line-transect surveys. Total numbers of birds counted with both methods were 2,264 in summer and 2,422 during winter. The two techniques characterized the avian populations similarly in terms of (1) species richness, (2) bird abundance, and (3) species composition. Point counts are less time-consuming than line-transect surveys and, therefore, are advantageous for assessing avian populations in grassland habitats if time is limited.