User: | Open Learning Faculty Member:
I have selected three areas of observation for my Field Research project. One large area consists of a bird sanctuary located at the edge of the Okanagan Lake. There is an abundance of various bushes, shrubs, and trees, as well as tall and short grasses. There are areas of the lake here that are protected by constructed rock barriers, forming areas of water that resemble ponds. There is a boardwalk path that leads around the sanctuary, through which pedestrians and cyclists can move. On one side of the sanctuary, there is a public beach, and on the other side, there is a field. Here, it can be seen that there are many species of birds and other small animals occupying the space. There are both predatory and passive bird species here. At the time I visited the bird sanctuary the temperature was hot, at about 25 ℃, there were very few clouds in the sky, and it was quiet except for a number of birds chirping in their differing ways.
The second location is a small meadow with large willow trees and grassy areas. It is beside a park, and is located inland. There are some soccer and baseball fields, leaving lots of green space. There is no open water source here, but the sprinklers from the irrigation system on the soccer field turn on frequently. The meadow and park are situated between a pedestrian path and a road, although it is quite quiet. There are birds and small animals, such as squirrels throughout the park.
The third location is across the street from the park, and is a condo complex with artificial turf and virtually no water sources aside from tap or hose water from the residences. It is louder here with the sound of moderate traffic but is still fairly quiet. Not much wildlife is observable here, although some birds do land on and fly between the buildings from time to time.
After observing the locations, I came up with some questions I had about them;
- How many species of land birds are there in the sanctuary when compared to water birds?
- Does the human activity surrounding the location affect the activity of certain animals in that area?
- How does the species composition of insects differ between the two sites?
Below are some digital pictures of the area I have chosen to observe:
Above are pictures of the meadow and park located inland.
Pictured above are pictures of the bird sanctuary and pedestrian boardwalk.
My Journal observations are attached:
