QUANTITATIVE EVALUATION OF DISTRIBUTION CHARACTERISTICS OF BIRDS AT ARTIFICIAL TIDAL FLAT CREATED IN AN URBAN CANAL

Abstract

 The purpose of this study was to quantitatively evaluate the relationship between the distribution characteristics of birds and tidal levels on a small artificial tidal flat in the Hyogo Canal. We used a time-lapse camera to capture images of the artificial tidal flat and analyzed the images using machine learning to detect the number and location of birds. As the tide level increased, birds were detected in the upper part of the intertidal zone, and especially birds were located near the shoreline. The number of birds detected staying on inter tidal flat areas was about twice that of birds resting the masonry. No correlation was observed between tidal level change and the number of birds, and birds changed their distribution position depending on the tidal level between low and high tides, which allowed quantitative evaluation of bird use and distribution characteristics.