Honors Biology

Honors Biology Service Learning Project: eBird

All freshmen at Lane Tech will complete a Service Learning Project in Biology class. A passing grade of this project is required to fulfill one of the CPS Service Learning Project requirements, which you can read more about by visiting the CPS Service Learning site. For this project, you will be observing birds in your community and recording your observations in a field journal. Then, you will submit this data into eBird for further analysis.

Overview: You will be observing birds in your community and documenting the number and species you observe in our field journal. You will then submit your data to eBird for further analysis, and evaluate conservation plans for birds in your area.

About eBird

In 2002, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society launched eBird, an interactive database that enables bird watchers to record observations from their expeditions and build personalized lists of the species they have encountered. These observations, in turn, become part of an aggregated dataset that researchers can use to: estimate the abundance of a bird species in a given region, track migration patterns, document long-term changes in bird numbers, build hypotheses about how human impacts affect species populations, and much more. The results have been used to create management guidelines for birds, investigate the effects of acid rain and climate change, and advocate for the protection of declining species. Students will also use the Merlin Bird ID app to help with species identification.

Materials:

· Field Journal (Task 1 only- on Google Classroom)

· Merlin Bird ID app (free on Android/Apple phones) to identify birds during your observations - Task 1 only

· eBird.org (for Tasks 2)

Check if completed	Tasks (must be done in this order)	Due Date Subject to Change	How to turn in	Additional Information
·	1. Collecting Data and Reflections - Birding Field Journal	April 26, 2021	Google Classroom	*10 Field Journal Entries (species ID and reflection) *10 observation periods that are a minimum of 10 minutes each (100 minutes total) *Grading emphasis will be placed on reflections (bottom half of each journal page)
·	2. Entering and Submitting Data into eBird	May 12, 2021	eBird, Google Classroom	*We will walk through this process in class together so that you know how to complete it You will need to reference Task 1 for this assignment**

The “Read-Before-You-Ask-Ms. Coonley” Frequently Asked Questions Help Section

For any eBird questions that are not addressed in this document, please visit eBird HELP site .

My friend also has Ms. Coonley for class. Can we collect data together?

NO. You may accompany each other during an observation period- but you cannot collect and submit the same data! The birds you see in a 10 minute window can only be used for one of you. So, you cannot input the same data for the same observation period into both of your eBird accounts - this is duplicate data and eBirders will assume that you saw 4 birds instead of 2!! Instead, split up the observation periods so that you are only collecting data for one student at a time. Your friend can help you spot and ID birds, but only ONE of you can use that data as your own.

I lost all of my field note observations and journal entries.

I cannot grade something that is not there. Without the required tasks completed and submitted as evidence, you will not receive a passing grade for the Service Learning Project. If you are likely to lose your field notes, it may be a good idea to take a picture of your field notes after completing them just in case you happen to lose them. If all else fails and you have to start over, remember that you only need 100 minutes of observations.

Will I get graded for this?

Yes.

I am allergic to birds.

Don’t worry. You do not need to get that close to them. In fact, you can safely observe from a window!

I don’t have binoculars.

You don’t need them.

My parents/siblings/aunts/uncles/grandparents are “birders”...can I go with them!? Absolutely!

I’m having trouble using the Merlin Bird ID App.

Visit the HELP section on their website > http://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/help-and-faqs/

Are you grading for “accuracy” or just “completion”?

Both. Any sign of fake data, plagiarism, cheating, etc. will result in an automatic zero on all components of the project that are part of your Biology class grade and an F for the Service Learning Project grade on your transcript (this means you will not get credit for this service learning project and will have to find another way of receiving credit before you graduate HS).

Where can I learn more information about birds? AllAboutBirds.org or CelebrateUrbanBirds.org