User: | Open Learning Faculty Member:
While collecting my initial data I realized my hypothesis was not as specific as I wanted it to be. I had too many variables that would not be easy to measure within my question. I decided I was going to alter the wording of my hypothesis to make it more straight forward; ultimately so I could make my variables easily measurable. Instead of considering all the animal activity, I decided to focus specifically on the bird activity, and instead of how human activity affect the animals, which I found was a hard variable to measure, I chose to use how sheltered areas effected the bird’s activity. Since both of these new variables are measurable and more consistent, it will be a better way for me to get more reliable data.
Once I changed up my hypothesis and my response and predictor variables it was a lot easier for me to then set up how I would be going about this experiment. I decided since I was going to be working with mobile organisms that the point count station was the best sampling strategy to use. However, I did have a slight difficulty when it came to deciding if I should visit the same point count station at different times throughout 5 different days or if I should go to 5 different point count stations all within the same day. After a little trial and error, I decided it would be best if I combined the two options. I went through out 5 days and I had chosen 5 different point count stations. This way I could keep it consistent. I did go at approximately the same time every day so that the temperature would be roughly the same and I did go only in the morning, since bird activity is usually higher early on in the day.
Since I was so focused on consistency, I thought it would be a good idea to have my point stations spread out and this way I could incorporate some variety that would ultimately give me extra notes and potential observations.
After I had the strategy all figured out, I thought more about what I would be expecting. I predicted that with the more shelter and trees/shrubs around the more area for nests, perching and protection for the birds, therefore, more bird activity. Once I reviewed my data I found that this surprisingly wasn’t necessarily true. From what I had recorded, birds did in fact like the shelter but I found them most active at areas where there was shelter and open space (lawn area). I’m wondering if this has anything to do with the bird feeders nearby… Only more time and conducted studies will tell.
I think this was an efficient way to collect data. The point count stations worked very well and I do think I had enough variety within my station, since they were spread out but still were ultimately random. One thing I’m still unsure of is if I want to continue taking into account the bird calls. I like the idea of recording bird calls because I know there may be more birds in the area than are in sight, but I also don’t want to be over counting or even double counting the same bird call.
