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Migratory Waterfowl

Frequently-asked questions:


What does this data set describe?

Title:
Migratory Waterfowl

Abstract:
Migratory Waterfowl is a 1:24,000-scale, polygon feature-based layer that depicts the concentration areas of migratory waterfowl at specific locations within Connecticut. Paul Merola, former DEP Wildlife Biologist, and Greg Chasko, DEP Wildlife Biologist, identified the migratory waterfowl concentration areas based on the Northeast Coastal Areas Study, Joseph Dowhan, 1991 (see Supplemental Information) as well as by using midwinter surveys, breeding surveys and personal observations.  The concentration areas are primarily found along the shoreline and the lower tributaries and wetlands of major Connecticut rivers. In addition to depicting the concentration areas, the potential waterfowl species associated with each polygon have been identified and are listed in the attribute table as boolean values indicating their presence or absence.  The intent of this datalayer is to assist in the identification of migratory waterfowl resource areas in the event of an oil spill or other condition that might be a threat to waterfowl species.  This layer identifies conditions at a particular point in time.  It is not updated and it is not a complete representation of all areas of migratory waterfowl in Connecticut.

Supplemental information:
This layer was produced in conjunction with a study prepared for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  The results of the study are detailed in the final report entitled  "Final Report  Northeast Coastal Areas Study:  Significant Coastal Habitats of Southern New England and Portions of Long Island, New York", dated August 1991, authored by Joseph Dowhan, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Northeast Estuary Office, Charlestown, Rhode Island.  The report can be accessed online at http://training.fws.gov/library/pubs5/necas/begin.htm.  

  1. How should this data set be cited?

    State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection (data compiler, editor and publisher), 1999, Migratory Waterfowl: State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection, Hartford, Connecticut, USA.

    Online links:
    Other citation details:
    The State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection is the collector of the data (compiler), the creator and maintainer of the data layer (editor), and producer (publisher) of this information for use. Data was compiled at 1:24,000 scale. This layer does not depict current conditions. This layer is not updated.

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

    Bounding coordinates:
    West: -73.667144
    East: -71.819746
    North: 41.974100
    South: 40.988390

  3. What does it look like?

    http://www.cteco.uconn.edu/metadata/dep/browsegraphic/migratorywaterfowlfullview.gif (GIF)
    Full view of Migratory Waterfowl

    http://www.cteco.uconn.edu/metadata/dep/browsegraphic/migratorywaterfowldetailview.gif (GIF)
    Detail view of migratory waterfowl.

  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?

    Calendar date: 1999
    Currentness reference:
    publication date

  5. What is the general form of this data set?

    Geospatial data presentation form: vector digital data

  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?

    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?

      This is a Vector data set. It contains the following vector data types (SDTS terminology):
      • G-polygon (165)

    2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?

      The map projection used is Lambert Conformal Conic.

      Projection parameters:
      Lambert Conformal Conic
      Standard parallel: 41.200000
      Standard parallel: 41.866667
      Longitude of central meridian: -72.750000
      Latitude of projection origin: 40.833333
      False easting: 999999.999996
      False northing: 499999.999998

      Planar coordinates are encoded using coordinate pair.
      Abscissae (x-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 0.000328.
      Ordinates (y-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 0.000328.
      Planar coordinates are specified in survey feet.

      The horizontal datum used is North American Datum of 1983.
      The ellipsoid used is Geodetic Reference System 80.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.000000.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.257222.

      Vertical coordinate system definition:
      Altitude system definition:
      Altitude resolution: 1.000000
      Altitude encoding method: Explicit elevation coordinate included with horizontal coordinates

  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

    Migratory Waterfowl
    Migratory waterfowl areas represented as polygon features (Source: State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection)

    OBJECTID
    Internal feature number. (Source: ESRI)
                      

    Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.

    Shape
    Feature geometry. (Source: ESRI)
                      

    Coordinates defining the features.

    SITE_ID
    WATERFOWL
    Names of all waterfowl species located within feature area. (Source: State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection)
                      

    Descriptive text.

    AM_WIGEON
    American Wigeon (Source: State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection)
                      

    ValueDefinition
    0
    Absent
    1
    Present

    BLACKDUCK
    Black Duck (Source: State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection)
                      

    ValueDefinition
    0
    Absent
    1
    Present

    BRANT
    American Brant (Source: State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection)
                      

    ValueDefinition
    0
    Absent
    1
    Present

    BUFFLEHD
    Bufflehead (Source: State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection)
                      

    ValueDefinition
    0
    Absent
    1
    Present

    CAGO
    Canada Goose (Source: State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection)
                      

    ValueDefinition
    0
    Absent
    1
    Present

    CANVASBK
    Canvasback (Source: State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection)
                      

    ValueDefinition
    0
    Absent
    1
    Present

    GADWALL
    Gadwall (Source: State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection)
                      

    ValueDefinition
    0
    Absent
    1
    Present

    GOLDEYE
    Common goldeneye (Source: State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection)
                      

    ValueDefinition
    0
    Absent
    1
    Present

    MALLARD
    Mallard (Source: State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection)
                      

    ValueDefinition
    0
    Absent
    1
    Present

    HOOD_MERG
    Hooded merganser (Source: State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection)
                      

    ValueDefinition
    0
    Absent
    1
    Present

    MERG_COM
    Common merganser (Source: State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection)
                      

    ValueDefinition
    0
    Absent
    1
    Present

    RB_MERG
    Red-breasted merganser (Source: State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection)
                      

    ValueDefinition
    0
    Absent
    1
    Present

    OLDSQUAW
    Oldsquaw (Source: State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection)
                      

    ValueDefinition
    0
    Absent
    1
    Present

    SCAUP
    Scaup (Source: State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection)
                      

    ValueDefinition
    0
    Absent
    1
    Present

    SCOTER_CM
    Common scoter (Source: State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection)
                      

    ValueDefinition
    0
    Absent
    1
    Present

    SCOTER_SF
    Surf scoter (Source: State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection)
                      

    ValueDefinition
    0
    Absent
    1
    Present

    SOCTER_WW
    White winged scoter (Source: State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection)
                      

    ValueDefinition
    0
    Absent
    1
    Present

    BW_TEAL
    Blue winged teal (Source: State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection)
                      

    ValueDefinition
    0
    Absent
    1
    Present

    GW_TEAL
    Green winged teal (Source: State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection)
                      

    ValueDefinition
    0
    Absent
    1
    Present

    WOODDUCK
    Wood duck (Source: State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection)
                      

    ValueDefinition
    0
    Absent
    1
    Present

    MIGRATION
    Indicates an area's migration status. (Source: State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection)
                      

    ValueDefinition
    Y
    Yes, this is a migration area. 
    Null
    Not a migration area.

    SITE
    COMMENTS
    Describes how and when an area is used.   (Source: State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection)
                      

    Descriptive text.

    Shape.area
    Shape.len
    Entity and attribute overview:
    Includes Migratory Waterfowl Concentration Area features such as a narrative identification of birds located within each polygon area, migration status of the area, whether an area is occupied, general comments, and individual attribute fields for each waterfowl species, containing boolean values of 0 (species does not exist) or 1 (species exists).
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Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)


  2. Who also contributed to the data set?

  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?

    State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection
    79 Elm Street
    Hartford, Connecticut 06106-5127
    USA

    860-424-3011 (voice)
    860-424-4078 (FAX)
    dep.gisdata@ct.gov
    Hours of Service: Monday to Friday, 08:30 to 16:30 Eastern Standard Time
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Why was the data set created?

Migratory Waterfowl is 1:24,000-scale data. It depicts concentration areas of migratory waterfowl in Connecticut.  The intent of this datalayer is to assist in the identification of migratory waterfowl resource areas in the event of an oil spill or other condition that might be a threat to waterfowl species.  This layer is not intended for maps printed at map scales greater or more detailed than 1:24,000 scale (1 inch = 2,000 feet.)

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How was the data set created?

  1. Where did the data come from?

    Source 1 - Northeast Coastal Areas Study (source 1 of 4)

    U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1991, Northeast Coastal Areas Study: United States Fish and Wildlife Service, .

    Online links:
    Type of source media: paper
    Source scale denominator: 24000
    Source contribution:
    Data from the Northeast Coastal Areas Study* was used in part to identify the migratory concentration areas.  This study was prepared in order to assess the need for protection for fish and wildlife habitat and the preservation of natural diversity in northeastern United States.  The identification of fish and wildlife concentration areas was a part of this study's focus.  Results of the study were used to determine waterfowl concentration areas in this layer, along with field inspections and breeding survey information (Source 2) prepared by Department of Environmental Protection Wildlife Biologists. 
    
    *"Final Report  Northeast Coastal Areas Study:  Significant Coastal Habitats of Southern New England and Portions of Long Island, New York", dated August 1991, authored by Joseph Dowhan, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Northeast Estuary Office, Charlestown, Rhode Island.  The report can be accessed online at http://training.fws.gov/library/pubs5/necas/begin.htm.

    Source 2 - Field Inspection Reports and Breeding Surveys (source 2 of 4)

    State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection, Unknown, Field Inspection Reports and Breeding Surveys.

    Type of source media: paper
    Source scale denominator: 24000
    Source contribution:
    Data from onsite inspections as well as breeding survey information was used in part to determine migratory waterfowl concentration areas, along with the Northeast Coastal Areas Study (Source 1).  The onsite data was gathered by Paul Merola and Greg Chasko, Wildlife Biologists for the Department of Environmental Protection.

    Source 3 - DEP Hydrography Coverage (source 3 of 4)

    State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection, 1995, DEP Hydrography Coverage.

    Type of source media: transparency
    Source scale denominator: 24000
    Source contribution:
    Used to clip out hydrographic features to identify waterfowl concentration areas.

    Source 4 - Migratory Waterfowl Areas Shapefile (source 4 of 4)

    State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection, Migratory Waterfowl Areas Shapefile.

    Type of source media: disc
    Source scale denominator: 24000
    Source contribution:
    This source represents the final form of Migratory Waterfowl Areas and was produced from Sources 1 through 3.

  2. What changes have been made?

    Date: 1999 (change 1 of 1)
    Paul Merola, former DEP Wildlife Biologist, and Greg Chasko, DEP Wildlife Biologist, identified the migratory waterfowl concentration areas based on the Northeast Coastal Areas Study (Source 1) as well as by using midwinter surveys, breeding surveys and personal observations (Source 2). Once the field work was completed, USGS 1:24,000 scale topographic maps were used as a base map and the field-identified areas were created by clipping the hydrographic features - open water, wetlands, etc. - from the DEP hydrographic coverage (Source 3) using ArcView 3. The resulting data were then edited to reflect the concentration extents.  In addition to depicting the concentration areas, the potential waterfowl species associated with each polygon have been identified and are listed in the attribute table as boolean values indicating their presence or absence.

    Person responsible for change:
    State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection

    Data sources used in this process:
    • Source 1 - Northeast Coastal Areas Study
    • Source 2 - Field Inspection Reports and Breeding Surveys
    • Source 3 - DEP Hydrography Coverage

    Data sources produced in this process:
    • Source 4 - Migratory Waterfowl Areas Shapefile

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How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

  1. How well have the observations been checked?

    The Migratory Waterfowl layer retains the feature types and information identified by the State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection and obtained from the Northeast Coastal Areas Study, Joseph Dowhan, 1991, midwinter surveys, breeding surveys and personal observations by DEP Wildlife Biologists Paul Merola and Greg Chasko.  The accuracy of attributes is not known.  Values are within defined domains. 

  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?

    The horizontal positional accuracy of this data is unknown.

  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?

    The completeness of the data reflects the feature content of the data sources, which include the Northeast Coastal Areas Study, Joseph Dowhan, 1991 (see Supplemental Information), midwinter surveys, breeding surveys and personal observations by DEP Wildlife Biologists Paul Merola and Greg Chasko.  The Migratory Waterfowl layer is complete in the sense that it accurately reflects the contents of the above source information available at the time the State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection created the layer. However, this layer is not meant to represent all migratory waterfowl areas in Connecticut.  This layer is not updated.

  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?

    Logical consistency for this layer is unknown.  

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How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?

Access constraints: None. The data is in the public domain and may be redistributed.
Use constraints:
No restrictions or legal prerequisites for using the data. The data is suitable for use at appropriate scale, and is not intended for maps printed at scales greater or more detailed than 1:24,000 scale (1 inch = 2,000 feet). Although this data set  has been used by the State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection, no warranty, expressed or implied, is made by the State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection as to the accuracy of the data and or related materials.  The act of distribution shall not constitute any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed by the State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection in the use of these data or related materials. The user assumes the entire risk related to the use of these data. Once the data is distributed to the user, modifications made to the data by the user should be noted in the metadata. When printing this data on a map or using it in a software application, analysis, or report, please acknowledge the State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection as the source for this information.

Distributor 1 of 1

  1. Who distributes the data set?

    State of Connecticut, Department of Enviromental Protection
    79 Elm Street
    Hartford, Connecticut 06106-5127
    USA

    860-424-3540 (voice)
    860-424-4058 (FAX)
    dep.gisdata@ct.gov
    Hours of Service: Monday to Friday, 08:30 to 16:30 Eastern Standard Time

  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?

    Migratory Waterfowl

  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

  4. How can I download or order the data?

    • Availability in digital form:


    • Data format:
      in format Shapefile, Feature Class (version ArcGIS)
      Network links:http://www.ct.gov/deep

    • Cost to order the data: An online copy of the data may be accessed without charge.


  5. Is there some other way to get the data?

    The data distributor does not provide custom GIS analysis or mapping services. Data is available in a standard format and may be converted to other formats, projections, coordinate systems, or selected for specific geographic regions by the party receiving the data.

  6. What hardware or software do I need in order to use the data set?

    Geographic information sytem (GIS), computer-aided drawing or other mapping software is necessary to display, view and access the information.

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Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 20111208

Metadata author:
Jacqueline Mickiewicz
State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection
79 Elm Street
Hartford, Connecticut 06106-5127
USA

860-424-3540 (voice)
860-424-4058 (FAX)
dep.gisdata@ct.gov
Hours of Service: Monday to Friday, 08:30 to 16:30 Eastern Standard Time

Metadata standard:
FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata(FGDC-STD-001-1998)

Metadata extensions used:
  • http://www.esri.com/metadata/esriprof80.html

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