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My field data collection activities consisted of sampling three sites for the presence of seven different bird species over five consecutive days. Point counts were taken at the same time (10:30am) for each of the consecutive sampling days. Species abundance was determined from the resulting data.
Overall, my sampling strategy was quite easy to implement. I was able to borrow a set of binoculars from the Thompson Rivers University science faculty. This aided in my point counts as I was better suited to see and identify the birds present. The most challenging thing for me was identifying the bird species. For the most part I was able to identify the species present, however, there were other times when I had to use a species identification sheet. This could lead to inaccurate data if incorrect identifications occurred.
Through the sample collections, I was able to notice that there were trends in which bird species were present at the various sites. It became obvious early on in the study that certain bird species favoured one of the three sites. Each site had a different dominant bird species. This demonstrates how differing landscapes alters bird species abundance. This follows my prediction in that the different sites will have different bird species that are associated.
