Developing an interactive application to analyze detections of nanotagged birds using R Shiny

NOTE: This is an interactive visualization. The first offshore wind turbines in the USA have been in operation since early 2017, near Block Island, Rhode Island. Nanotag detection data was analyzed from before and after turbine construction for two species of seabirds, Common (Sterna hirundo) and federally endangered Roseate Terns (Sterna dougalli), from a nearby breeding population in Long Island Sound. Our objective was to develop an interactive online application that visualizes summer 2016 (pre-turbine construction) weather data and corresponding detections from the Block Island automated radiotelemetry tower. The conditions during the 2017 boat surveys supported our analysis of the 2016 Block Island tower tern detections that terns were more likely to be active during high visibility, low precipitation, and average wind speeds of 11 mph. This analysis is displayed with the R Shiny platform. This provides a dynamic capacity to alter the time scale and filter categorical variables of the visual display so that researchers can more clearly and quickly understand data trends. This information is of use to study partners, including the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in assessing the activity patterns of terns in the vicinity of Block Island, with respect to wind energy development. (Acknowledgements) This R Shiny app was created by Rachel Tham and Tyler Sym. We would like to thank Dr. Holly Goyert, Dr. Pamela Loring, Mr. Kevin Rogers, Professor Curt Griffin, and Professor Paul Sievert for their guidance. Summer 2017 University of Massachusetts-Amherst Wind Energy Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) This study was funded in part by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management through Interagency Agreement M13PG00012 with the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. The findings and conclusions in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.Ope