Aerial photos from the Aug 19th, 2015 survey of the Western Hudson Bay beluga population

Aerial photos from the Aug 19th, 2015 survey of the Western Hudson Bay beluga population PURPOSE: An aerial survey of the Western Hudson Bay beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) population was conducted on August 19th, 2015 to provide a population estimate. Surveys were flown in a DeHavilland Twin Otter (DH-6) fitted with four bubble windows and an optical glass-covered camera hatch at the rear underbelly of the plane. A Global Positioning System (GPS) unit logged the position, altitude, speed, and heading of the aircraft each second. Surveys were initially flown at a target ground speed of 100 knots (185 km/h), and target altitudes of 1,000 ft (305 m) for visual surveys and 2,000 ft (610 m) for photographic surveys. After the second day of flying, the target ground speed was adjusted to 110 knots (204 km/h). Complete coverage of the two photographic strata was achieved using a Nikon D810 camera fitted with a 25 mm lens. The camera was mounted at the rear of the aircraft and directed straight down with the longest side perpendicular to the track line. The camera was connected to a GPS unit to geo-reference photographs, and to a laptop computer to control exposure settings and photo interval. At an altitude of 2,000 ft (610 m), the 25 mm lens captured a ground area of approximately 875 m x 585 m. The photograph interval was set to maintain an overlap of 20 to 40 % between consecutive photos, and with a transect spacing of 600 m, the lateral overlap between photos from adjacent transects was approximately 30 %. DESCRIPTION: Aerial surveys of summering Western Hudson Bay (WHB) beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) were conducted on August 19th, 2015 to update the previous population abundance. The survey area comprised five strata (three visual and two photographic) encompassing high use areas around three river estuaries where recurring aggregations of WHB beluga are found during the summer months. This metadata covers the photographic data related to the survey. The photographic surveys completely covered high density aggregations in the Churchill River and near the mouth of the Seal River. 2025-03-24 Fisheries and Oceans Canada steve.ferguson@dfo-mpo.gc.ca Nature and EnvironmentScience and Technologydelphinapterus leucasWestern Hudson Baybelugastock assessmentaerial surveyaerial photographyBiological ClassificationAnimals/VertebratesToothed WhalesAquatic EcosystemsOceansAerial photographyAquatic wildlifeBiological diversityFisheries resourcesHabitatsMarine biologyWhalesArctic OceanHudson Bay and James Bay Data_Dictionary_Dictionnaire_donnee.pdfPDF https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/d5501207-161a-41df-a426-237ed5df8c72/attachments/Data_Dictionary_Dictionnaire_donnee.pdf Beluga_detections_photos_2015_WHB_survey.csvCSV https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/d5501207-161a-41df-a426-237ed5df8c72/attachments/Beluga_detections_photos_2015_WHB_survey.csv 2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_000015-000089.zipJPG https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/d5501207-161a-41df-a426-237ed5df8c72/attachments/2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_000015-000089.zip 2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_000090-000164.zipJPG https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/d5501207-161a-41df-a426-237ed5df8c72/attachments/2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_000090-000164.zip 2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_000165-000239.zipJPG https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/d5501207-161a-41df-a426-237ed5df8c72/attachments/2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_000165-000239.zip 2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_000240-000314.zipJPG https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/d5501207-161a-41df-a426-237ed5df8c72/attachments/2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_000240-000314.zip 2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_000315-000389.zipJPG https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/d5501207-161a-41df-a426-237ed5df8c72/attachments/2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_000315-000389.zip 2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_000390-000464.zipJPG https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/d5501207-161a-41df-a426-237ed5df8c72/attachments/2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_000390-000464.zip 2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_000465-000539.zipJPG https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/d5501207-161a-41df-a426-237ed5df8c72/attachments/2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_000465-000539.zip 2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_000540-000612.zipJPG https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/d5501207-161a-41df-a426-237ed5df8c72/attachments/2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_000540-000612.zip 2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_000613-000686.zipJPG https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/d5501207-161a-41df-a426-237ed5df8c72/attachments/2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_000613-000686.zip 2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_000687-000759.zipJPG https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/d5501207-161a-41df-a426-237ed5df8c72/attachments/2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_000687-000759.zip 2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_000760-000831.zipJPG https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/d5501207-161a-41df-a426-237ed5df8c72/attachments/2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_000760-000831.zip 2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_000832-000903.zipJPG https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/d5501207-161a-41df-a426-237ed5df8c72/attachments/2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_000832-000903.zip 2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_000904-000975.zipJPG https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/d5501207-161a-41df-a426-237ed5df8c72/attachments/2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_000904-000975.zip 2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_000976-001047.zipJPG https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/d5501207-161a-41df-a426-237ed5df8c72/attachments/2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_000976-001047.zip 2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_001048-001123.zipJPG https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/d5501207-161a-41df-a426-237ed5df8c72/attachments/2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_001048-001123.zip 2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_001124-001196.zipJPG https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/d5501207-161a-41df-a426-237ed5df8c72/attachments/2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_001124-001196.zip 2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_001197-001274.zipJPG https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/d5501207-161a-41df-a426-237ed5df8c72/attachments/2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_001197-001274.zip 2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_001275-001350.zipJPG https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/d5501207-161a-41df-a426-237ed5df8c72/attachments/2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_001275-001350.zip 2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_001351-001429.zipJPG https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/d5501207-161a-41df-a426-237ed5df8c72/attachments/2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_001351-001429.zip 2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_001430-001502.zipJPG https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/d5501207-161a-41df-a426-237ed5df8c72/attachments/2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_001430-001502.zip 2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_001503-001576.zipJPG https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/d5501207-161a-41df-a426-237ed5df8c72/attachments/2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_001503-001576.zip 2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_001577-001649.zipJPG https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/d5501207-161a-41df-a426-237ed5df8c72/attachments/2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_001577-001649.zip 2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_001650-001724.zipJPG https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/d5501207-161a-41df-a426-237ed5df8c72/attachments/2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_001650-001724.zip 2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_001725-001795.zipJPG https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/d5501207-161a-41df-a426-237ed5df8c72/attachments/2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_001725-001795.zip 2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_001796-001866.zipJPG https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/d5501207-161a-41df-a426-237ed5df8c72/attachments/2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_001796-001866.zip 2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_001867-001941.zipJPG https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/d5501207-161a-41df-a426-237ed5df8c72/attachments/2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_001867-001941.zip 2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_001942-002012.zipJPG https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/d5501207-161a-41df-a426-237ed5df8c72/attachments/2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_001942-002012.zip 2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_002013-002085.zipJPG https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/d5501207-161a-41df-a426-237ed5df8c72/attachments/2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_002013-002085.zip 2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_002086-002159.zipJPG https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/d5501207-161a-41df-a426-237ed5df8c72/attachments/2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_002086-002159.zip 2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_002160-002231.zipJPG https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/d5501207-161a-41df-a426-237ed5df8c72/attachments/2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_002160-002231.zip 2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_002232-002305.zipJPG https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/d5501207-161a-41df-a426-237ed5df8c72/attachments/2015_WHB_19Aug_25mm_002232-002305.zip aerial_photos_western_hudson_bay_beluga_populationESRI REST https://egisp.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/arcgis/rest/services/open_data_donnees_ouvertes/aerial_photos_western_hudson_bay_beluga_population/MapServer

PURPOSE:

An aerial survey of the Western Hudson Bay beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) population was conducted on August 19th, 2015 to provide a population estimate. Surveys were flown in a DeHavilland Twin Otter (DH-6) fitted with four bubble windows and an optical glass-covered camera hatch at the rear underbelly of the plane. A Global Positioning System (GPS) unit logged the position, altitude, speed, and heading of the aircraft each second. Surveys were initially flown at a target ground speed of 100 knots (185 km/h), and target altitudes of 1,000 ft (305 m) for visual surveys and 2,000 ft (610 m) for photographic surveys. After the second day of flying, the target ground speed was adjusted to 110 knots (204 km/h).

Complete coverage of the two photographic strata was achieved using a Nikon D810 camera fitted with a 25 mm lens. The camera was mounted at the rear of the aircraft and directed straight down with the longest side perpendicular to the track line. The camera was connected to a GPS unit to geo-reference photographs, and to a laptop computer to control exposure settings and photo interval. At an altitude of 2,000 ft (610 m), the 25 mm lens captured a ground area of approximately 875 m x 585 m. The photograph interval was set to maintain an overlap of 20 to 40 % between consecutive photos, and with a transect spacing of 600 m, the lateral overlap between photos from adjacent transects was approximately 30 %.

DESCRIPTION:

Aerial surveys of summering Western Hudson Bay (WHB) beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) were conducted on August 19th, 2015 to update the previous population abundance. The survey area comprised five strata (three visual and two photographic) encompassing high use areas around three river estuaries where recurring aggregations of WHB beluga are found during the summer months. This metadata covers the photographic data related to the survey. The photographic surveys completely covered high density aggregations in the Churchill River and near the mouth of the Seal River.

Data and Resources

Contact Information

Delivery Point: 501 University Cres

City: Winnipeg

Administrative Area: Manitoba

Postal Code: R3T 2N6

Country: Canada

Electronic Mail Address: dfo.opaarddata-donneesdeladraaop.mpo@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Similar records