Honors Biology

Task 1 GUIDE: Collecting Data - Birding Observation Field Notes and Journal

DISCLAIMER: You will be visiting various locations to collect your data. Please choose locations wisely, and make sure they are safe and accessible. You can choose to do all of your observation periods at the same location, or choose a different location for each observation period - it is up to you! However, for each observation period, you must stay in the same location. This means that if you are on a walk or hike on a trail, take 10 minutes to observe in place (stationary). Your field notes will be taken using the “Birding Observation Field Notes and Journal” sheets. A sample of this document is shown below.

Location Ideas to choose from:

· Lane Tech campus

· Richard Clark Park (“Clark Park”)

· Montrose Point Beach - BIRDING HOT SPOT!!!

· Other Chicago Birding “Hot Spots”: Horner Park, Ronan Park, Gompers Park, River Park, Legion Park, Oz Park, Lincoln Park, Chicago-Diversey Harbor, Humboldt Park, Grant Park, Olive Park, Garfield Park, Douglas Park, Millenium park

· Your yard or any area around your house (you can even watch from a window!)

Materials:

· Birding Observation Field Journal or paper for notes

· Pen/Pencil

· Clock/timer (Remember - each observation period must be minimum 10 minutes long!)

· Merlin Bird ID App (on smartphone) OR Bird Field Guide Book (visit Merlin Bird ID app or website for more help on how to use)

· Binoculars (optional)

Safety Concerns:

· Be cautious with sun and heat (or cold) exposure - be sure to drink lots of water

· Do not observe at night, or outside during a storm involving lightning or strong winds

· It is recommended that you be accompanied by an adult, sibling, responsible friend, etc. - tell someone where you are going!

Observation Tips and Guidelines:

· Be as quiet as possible to avoid discouraging birds from flying near your location

· Look up into trees (dead trees make it easy to spot birds easily) or follow sounds to quickly spot birds

· Binoculars are optional - you can find a good pair on Amazon for as little as $25

· If you and a friend have the same field site, do not record the same data - it will not count!

· If you were unable to observe a bird during a 10 minute observation period, it is important to document that data in eBird. However, you cannot include this within your 10 observations. If you run into this issue, you may have to choose another location or day.

Tips for Identifying Tricky Birds: https://celebrateurbanbirds.org/learn/birds/tricky-bird-identification-tips/

Procedure (for each observation period)

1. Once you arrive at your location, it’s a good idea to sit still and quiet for a few minutes before starting your timed observation period. During this time, make note of the following on your field notes form: date, location, starting time. Have your Merlin Bird ID app or Field Guide book ready!

2. Set your timer for 10 minutes and start observing! Within this 10 minute observation period, identify and record any bird that you see in your field notes. it’s okay if you don’t get all of them - but don’t purposely exclude any birds either!

a. Once you see a bird(s), spend some time observing it before jumping straight to the app or field guide to identify it. Looking away too soon may make it more difficult to remember what it looks like when you are trying to ID it. You may even have time to take a photo or record the sounds that it is making!

b. Use the Merlin Bird ID app or field guide to identify the bird species you observed. Record the species name in your field notes along with the number of individual birds of that species you saw. Notes can include characteristics of the bird, it’s behavior, and/or its surroundings. This is especially helpful if you are still unsure of the bird species and want to revisit the ID later to make sure it is as accurate as possible.

3. When you are done birding, record the END TIME in your field notes (remember - 10 minutes MINIMUM!!!) and complete the journal entry. Keep your field notes in a safe place - you will need them for the next task!