Clifton Court Forebay Predation Study - Avian Behavior

This dataset is part of the Clifton Court Forebay Predation Study, a multi-year effort led by the California Department of Water Resources to understand the behavior and movement of predatory fishes and fish-eating birds within Clifton Court Forebay. The broader study supported requirements outlined in the 2009 National Marine Fisheries Service Biological Opinion and aims to evaluate conditions that contribute to fish predation risk. The avian component of the study documented the presence, behavior, and activity patterns of fish eating bird species observed in the Forebay from 2013 to 2018. Data include observation times, locations, survey crews, environmental conditions, and behavioral notes collected using standardized visual and auditory survey methods. These observations helped characterize avian predator dynamics and supported analyses of potential interactions with fish species migrating through the facility.