DOI: 10.5061/dryad.m0cfxppgc
title: Data from: Assessing Catharus bicknelli (Bicknell’s Thrush) habitat dynamics: A high-resolution model based on LiDAR metrics

description: Assessing species occurrences can be challenging due to issues such as
 species detectability and difficulties in accessing habitats for surveys.
 These limitations hinder the ability to adequately inform conservation or
 management decisions, particularly for cryptic species, which can be
 partially addressed with high-resolution, spatially explicit models.
 However, high-resolution, spatially explicit models projecting species can
 help resolve these challenges. We modeled the probability of occurrence of
 Catharus bicknelli (Bicknell’s Thrush), a globally vulnerable species, in
 southern Québec (Canada) using LiDAR-derived metrics. The model was
 calibrated with 139 occurrences (with 10-m spatial accuracy), each paired
 with 10 random locations within a 523-1,569 m buffer, and validated with
 an independent dataset of 3,928 point counts. Based on model output, we
 applied two statistical thresholds to guide decision-making. The
 probability of occurrence of the species was highest in dense, low-canopy
 balsam fir stands at high elevation. The top-ranked model also included
 forest succession, with an adjustment to canopy height to account for tree
 growth since the LiDAR data were acquired. This modelling approach
 provides a valuable tool for tracking the spatio-temporal dynamics of
 Catharus bicknelli (Bicknell’s Thrush) habitat and informing more
 effective conservation strategies for this species at risk in Canada.
description: # Assessing Catharus bicknelli (Bicknell’s Thrush) habitat dynamics: A
 high-resolution model based on LiDAR metrics Dataset DOI:
 [10.5061/dryad.m0cfxppgc](10.5061/dryad.m0cfxppgc) ## Description of the
 data and file structure #### File: BITH\_Threshold\_2025.zip
 **Description:** Shapefile of the statistical thresholds from the LiDAR
 model on the probability of habitat occupancy of the Bicknell's
 Thrush We provide the shapefile of the model (BITH_Threshold_2024.shp) on
 the probability of occurrence of Bicknell’s Thrush (*Catharus bicknelli*)
 in the massif de la Jacques-Cartier in southern Québec (Canada) using
 LiDAR-derived metrics and the R script (R_script_Tremblay-et-al-2025.R for
 for bird habitat modeling). This model was calibrated with 139 occurrences
 (with 10-m spatial accuracy), each paired with 10 random locations within
 a 523-1,569 m buffer, and validated with an independent dataset of 3,928
 point counts. Based on model output, we applied two statistical thresholds
 to guide decision making, included in this shapefile. The probability of
 occurrence of the species was highest in dense, low-canopy balsam fir
 stands at high elevation. The shapefile included an adjustment for the
 year 2024, to the canopy height to account for tree growth since the LiDAR
 data were acquired. The field "Threshold" provides the two
 statistical thresholds: * "Protection" where specificity was set
 to 0.95 -"Mitigation" which balanced specificity and sensibility
 at 0.80. **Note:** The shapefile of the model output poses no risks to the
 Bicknell’s Thrush as only the probability of occurrence of the species is
 provided, no real locations. Refer to Tremblay et al. (2025) for further
 details
 ([https://doi.org/10.1093/ornithapp/duaf040)](https://doi.org/10.1093/ornithapp/duaf040).