Table 1. Comparison of total Common tern nest counts performed on the ground to tern counts performed in aerial imagery collected by a small unmanned aircraft system (UAS) in 5-m-radius plots as well as throughout the entire breeding colony on Tern Islands, Kouchibouguac National Park, New Brunswick, 2012.
| Survey | Total ground count | Total aerial count | Aerial/ ground ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comparison plots | |||
| 17 June (n = 40) | 772 | 703 | 91.1% |
| 21–22 June (n = 43) | 845 | 802 | 94.9% |
| 25 June (n = 45) | 806 | 782 | 97.0% |
| Full colony census * | |||
| 21–22 June | 6,329 | 5,924 | 93.6% |
| 5,952 | 94.0% |
*Two full colony counts were performed in aerial imagery from back-to-back UAS flights on 22 June.