User: | Open Learning Faculty Member:
Site Visit #2
Date: February 24, 2019
Weather: -16 degrees Celsius, partly cloudy
Time: 14:45
Initial thoughts/Observations:
Over the last number of weeks since my first visit to Gold Bar Park, I have been doing some review of the literature on methods for point count surveys to determine presence/abundance of individual birds based on habitat cover. During my review and discussion with Nancy, I decided to change my study area to a larger park that would allow my point count locations to be further separate and allow me to have more replicate sites.
I was finally able to visit my new study area today to review the topography and vegetation types to determine the two habitat areas. The new study area I chose is an urban park within Edmonton, called Terwillegar Park. It is a large city park along a large meander of the North Saskatchewan River with a large forested riparian area and an open area with a few man-made water bodies and scattered trees. When I was walking through the park, I saw the same activity of birds within the forested area compared to the open area.
During my site visit today I had a chance to review the locations of my four-point count locations sites within both the forested riparian area and the open area.
Forest Point Count 4Organism/Biological Attribute of Choice
I have decided to study the relationship between percent cover and abundance/density of overwintering bird species.
Hypothesis:
The abundance and density of overwintering birds is determined by the amount of cover.
Prediction:
The greater cover will have greater abundance/density of overwintering bird species.
Response Variable:
Bird density/abundance
Predictor Variable:
Forest cover
Data Sheet:
I love birds and also enjoy bird projects!
Some background literature can discuss things like the potential impact of edges, and what different levels of cover could mean for presence/absence