Overview
Overview: Your field journals entries can be from anywhere (on campus, outside your dorm, or wherever you live), but preferably in a quiet place where you can sit and record your observations of what is going on around you. I would like the focus to be on observing bird species, but you are encouraged to include other observations in your journal as well (for example, if you find scat or other signs of wildlife or notice an interesting plant species or habitat type). Most of you are new to birding so you may have trouble identifying birds, utilize the tools we discussed for your ID and narrow it down the best you can. If you cannot ID a species in the moment, then list the characteristics of that individual and go back and try to ID it later on. Each entry should be for at least 30 minutes (with ten-minute time intervals listed on the left column of the page).
*At the end of each entry, write out 3 reflections (and at least one scientific inquiry) about what you observed. Some examples of the types of reflection I would like to see:
- What are some scientific questions that you wish to determine about the bird behavior that you observed?
- Were some bird more abundant at one site than another? Why might this be? (think about habitat type, human activity, etc.)
- Ex. You saw more birds at the park near the river than you did on a popular hiking trail over the weekend. There was much more traffic and human activity at Site B than site A (cars, people walking/talking loudly, playing music, etc.). "I think the presence of people has reduced the presence of birds at site B. The birds may have felt threatened or disturbed by this human activity. Birds may have moved in order to optimize reproductive success by nesting in areas with less human disturbance. Human activity can lead to nest abandonment or lower fledgling survival rates."
*Other things to note:
- Following the Grinnell method, you do not want to flip to the back of a page and write on the back, always start on a new page. (See module 3, birding info document for specific instructions on following the Grinnell Method).
- I encourage everyone to use AOU bird codes, but I will not require it. Having a list of codes for common bird species somewhere in your notebook while you are out in the field is helpful.
- If you go on a walk or hike in a natural area, then record your start and end location.
- Birding happens best in the morning, because that is when birds are looking for food. By late morning most birds have finished their breakfast and will retire to the thickets to preen and digest their morning meal.
- Having the Merlin ID app on your phone will help you be more successful.
- You can include photos, drawings, maps, keys, etc. in your journal entries. Creativity is encouraged.
- If you use a code for anything other than AOU bird codes, please just make sure you go back later and specify what it means.
I will be grading for the following things:
- Formatting: did you follow the Grinnell method?
- Information included: did you include all relevant information? Date, time, weather, location (latitude and longitude), etc.
- Following instructions (length of entry, formatting, observations, etc.)
- Quality of your observations
- Grammar
- Reflection questions (three, including one scientific inquiry)
- A minimum of 5 bird species recorded per journal entry. "I just didn't see any birds" is not a valid excuse. You can see a lot even just on campus. You may have to walk around or put in more effort to find them, but that is the point!
I understand that not everyone has a pair of binoculars. Here are the following options for getting a pair of binoculars to use for this assignment:
- I have asked at the library about binocular rentals and they are actually going to have 6 available "birding kits" that can be loaned out by next week! (how's that for great timing?!?!)
- I am going to look into trying to add even more binoculars to the library's collection.
- Other options:
- Buy a new or used pair of binoculars.
- Facebook marketplace, pawn shops, thrift stores, etc.
- The cheapest pair I found was between $10 - $40 at Walmart. These may not be the best quality, but they will likely work fine.
- Find 3-4 friends in the class to split the costs of purchasing a pair binoculars together.
- Buy a new or used pair of binoculars.
- Borrow binoculars from a friend, relative, or classmate.
**You have a month to submit this assignment so plan ahead and don't wait until the last minute!!
Submission Instructions:
- To submit, take photos of your field journal pages and upload them digitally to Canvas.
- Only submit THREE journal entries
- each entry should be approximately 30 minutes in length (one journal entry may be multiple pages long, that is OK).
- If it is slightly over 30 minutes, that is fine. If it is under 30 minutes, that is not fine.
- Make sure I can read your handwriting!
- Do not forget to put your name at the top of each page! If you are following the Grinnell method, that should be the first thing you include. For a single entry with multiple pages you do not have to re-write all of the info from the first page, but I do want you to write your name on every page.
- Upload as a SINGLE PDF FILE with entries in chronological order (here's a helpful resource on converting JPG's into PDF: https://www.adobe.com/acrobat/hub/how-to-convert-jpg-to-pdf-windows-10.html) I also added the birds below