GIS FOR MAPPING WATERFOWL DENSITY AND DISTRIBUTION FROM AERIAL SURVEYS

We describe a CIS (geographic information system) that combines a pers onal computer, a color printer, a color plotter, aerial survey data, s oftware for programming, standard mapping, and 3-dimensional mapping. It allows us to display: (1) geographic locations of observations; (2) isopleths showing the distribution and relative density for each spec ies or group of species; (3) changes in distribution; (4) changes in b ird density; and (5) isopleth overlays on data layers such as land own ership. Our method of analyzing and graphically presenting waterfowl l ocation data has increased the use, effectiveness, and application of multi-species aerial surveys in Alaska. These techniques should be equ ally useful outside Alaska.