Data Management Plan (Deprecated)

This data set contains sensitive biological resource data for wading birds, shorebirds, waterfowl, raptors, diving birds, seabirds, passerine birds, and gulls and terns for East Florida. Vector polygons in this data set represent bird nesting, migratory staging, and wintering sites and other spatial/temporal concentration areas. Species specific abundance, seasonality, status, life history, and source information are stored in relational data tables (described below) designed to be used in conjunction with this spatial data layer. This data set comprises a portion of the ESI data for Florida. ESI data characterize the marine and coastal environments and wildlife by their sensitivity to spilled oil. The ESI data include information for three main components: shoreline habitats, sensitive biological resources, and human-use resources. See also the BIRDSPT data layer, part of the larger East Florida ESI database, for additional bird information. Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) is more properly known as 'Sensitivity of Coastal Habitats and Wildlife to Spilled Oil' Atlases. The term 'ESI' is often used in reference to the whole dataset, but the term 'ESI' is really a reference to the classification system of shoreline types known as Environmental Sensitivity Index, that classifies a shoreline on a scale from 1 to 10 based upon overall sensitivity to spilled oil. FWRI contracted out updates for the East Florida ESI area of interest, with the exception of Human Use data, in 2019. These datasets were delivered as feature classes in overlapping-polygon format following the NOAA ESI Data Standard. The East Florida ESI data format is consistent with the previously delivered ESI data.

Process Steps:

• 2020-03-01 00:00:00 - Three main sources of data were used to depict bird distribution and seasonality for this data layer: 1) personal interviews with resource experts from the National Park Service (NPS), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP); 2) numerous digital data sets and maps; and 3) numerous published and unpublished reports. Shorebirds – Piping plover (FT, ST) and Wilson’s plover wintering distributions were mapped based on USGS Piping Plover Winter Census data for 2011 and 2016. A 50 m onshore/offshore buffer was used to map these species along coastal areas. Species counts are listed as the maximum number that was observed across the two survey years (2011 and 2016). Data from 2016 was shared before being fully QA/QC’ed and should be considered preliminary. Shorebirds were also mapped using data from the nesting and roving chick datasets from the Florida Shorebird Database. Additional shorebird information, particularly for wintering shorebirds, was acquired from eBird. Diving birds, gulls and terns – Survey data on locations of diving birds, gulls, and terns were provided by various agencies via shapefiles, spreadsheets, primary literature, and expert local knowledge, and was supplemented with information from eBird. In general, data from the various data sources were compiled and either mapped to habitat, park or refuge, or specific locations, per expert recommendations. (Citation: FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION - FISH AND WILDLIFE RESEARCH INSTITUTE)
• 2020-03-01 00:00:00 - Waterfowl – Waterfowl data for East Florida were mapped from FWC 1999-2003 mid-winter waterfowl surveys, the most recent comprehensive surveys that have been conducted in the state. For reporting species and concentrations, counts were binned into 1s, 10s, 100s, 1,000s, or 10,000s. Species were assigned to wetland and water areas within the scope of the survey route descriptions. Numbers from wintering surveys are likely underestimates, since surveys do not necessarily occur during each species’ months of peak abundance. FWC waterfowl data was supplemented with data from eBird, particularly in areas that contained eBird bird hotspots. Atlantic Ocean seabirds – Species lists and seasonalities of nearshore and offshore seabirds in the Atlantic Ocean were compiled from studies and reports from the USGS, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, and primary literature. Raptors – Osprey are ubiquitous throughout the area; therefore, they were mapped only where specific expert knowledge or survey data were available, although they can occur in appropriate habitats (coastal wetlands) throughout the study area. Crested caracara (FT, ST), Florida burrowing owl (ST), Everglade snail kite (FE, SE), and southeastern American kestrel (ST) were mapped from FNAI element occurrence data. Secretive marsh birds – Distributions of black rail, clapper rail, king rail, and least bittern, marsh wren, and seaside sparrow were provided by FWC as a compilation of three separate FWC surveys: a saltmarsh songbird survey in 2014-2015, a black rail survey in 2016-2017, and a marsh bird survey from 2010-2011. All surveys were conducted during breeding months, except for marsh wren which were documented as wintering. Species locations were assigned by buffering survey points and restricting the resulting polygons to ESI wetland areas. Concentration areas for marsh wren, Nelson’s sparrow, saltmarsh sparrow, and seaside sparrow were provided by FWC, and they were mapped as polygons. Rare birds – Florida scrub-jay (FT, ST) was mapped to the boundaries of Canaveral National Seashore and Hobe Sound NWR, based on expert knowledge. Additional Florida scrub-jay occurrences were mapped as polygons from the FNAI Element Occurrence dataset. (Citation: FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION - FISH AND WILDLIFE RESEARCH INSTITUTE)
• 2020-03-01 00:00:00 - The above digital and/or hardcopy sources were compiled by the project biologist to create the BIRDS data layer. Depending on the type of source data, three general approaches are used for compiling the data layer: 1) information gathered during initial interviews and from hardcopy sources are compiled onto U.S. Geological Survey 1:24,000 topographic quadrangles and digitized; 2) hardcopy maps are digitized at their source scale; 3) digital data layers are evaluated and used "as is" or integrated with the hardcopy data sources. See the Lineage section for additional information on the type of source data for this data layer. The ESI, biology, and human-use data are compiled into the standard ESI digital data format. A second set of interviews with participating resource experts are conducted to review the compiled data. If necessary, edits to the BIRDS data layer are made based on the recommendations of the resource experts, and final hardcopy maps and digital data are created. (Citation: FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION - FISH AND WILDLIFE RESEARCH INSTITUTE)

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Data can be accessed by downloading the zipped ArcGIS geodatabase from the Download URL (see Distribution Information). Questions can be directed to the ESI Program Manager (Point Of Contact).