Presence and absence of some species can be easily assessed using freely available satellite imagery

The use of Google Earth(TM) satellite imagery to detect the nests of masked boobies Sula dactylatra

B. John Hughes & Graham R. Martin

Volumes / 2011 - Volume 17 / 2 /

In this paper the researchers show that freely available   satellite imageries like Google Earth can be put to use to establish Presence and absence of some species.

Masked boobies ( Sula dactylatra) like many species of Sulidae do not construct elaborate nests. But they do produce characteristic ‘nest signature’. The researchers found that this signature can be very easily seen in “Google Earth”. Nest signature found from satellite imagery was verified with field reports of occupied nests. Data from satellite imageries closely agreed with field coordinates. The researchers used the information to obtain data on previously unrecorded booby colony.

The researchers have established that if suitable signature in satellite imageries  can be found, presence and absence of some species can be established with freely available satellite imagery.