Statistical models that have been commonly applied to mark-recapturehesighting data, such as the Jolly-Seber estimate, assume that capture and recapturehesighting probabilities are constant for all birds. This assumption is likely false. An alternative approach that is based on the betabinomial distribution that allows for heterogeneous capturehecapture is presented. Use of the approach is illustrated with data obtained in a field study of NEMACURa 15G applications. A total of 24,000 simulations indicated that the power of the beta-binomial in detecting a 10% reduction in survival varies from 56.2 to 99% in resighting data and is more than 84% in recapture data. Population estimates were obtained using the maximum likelihood method. Under conditions of heterogeneous probabilities, more precise estimates of population size were produced with this approach than with the Jolly-Seber method.
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