User: | Open Learning Faculty Member:
I returned to Edgewater Bar, located in Derby Reach Regional Park in Langley, BC (10 N 527496 5450356). As mentioned previously, the site includes walking trails, a dog park, a picnic area, and fishing along the Fraser River. I arrived to the site at 10:39 am on Sunday, May 2nd, 2021. The weather was a mix of sun and clouds, and the temperature was 13°C. The study area was approximately 400m2 and consisted of the Fraser River (Location 1), the meadow adjacent to the picnic area (Location 2), and the dog park (Location 3). My interest in birds drew my attention back to the American Robins (Turdus migratorius) previously seen foraging for earthworms. I began by observing if the Robins were present or absent in locations 1 through 3.
Location 1 – Fraser River: As I approached the river, I could see that the river level was significantly higher than the previous week. Grasses were growing amongst the rocks of the riverbank, which backed onto Western Sword Ferns (Polystichum munitum), Creeping Snowberries (Symphoricarpos mollis), and Himalayan Blackberry (Rubus armeniacus) as the ground changed from rock to soil. No Robins were observed foraging in location 1, likely due to the lack of suitable habitat for earthworms along the rocky riverbank.
Location 2 – Meadow: As I entered the picnic area, I observed two Robins foraging for earthworms in the meadow. The area consisting of grasses, flowering plants, and trees provided suitable habitat for earthworms due to increased soil moisture. People and their dogs could be seen walking along the trail approximately 15 meters from the foraging Robins. The Robins fledged either when they had enough worms, a loud group walked by, or when a dog entered the meadow. When the Robins had enough worms, they would retreat to the trees, likely where their nest was.
Location 3 – Dog Park: As I proceeded near the edge of the dog park, I observed two Robins foraging. A dog was seen playing fetch with its owner approximately 10 meters away. As the dog ran closer, the Robins fledged to a nearby tree. The Robins would return after the dog left. Shortly after, the gate opened with new dogs entering the park and the Robins fledged. Please note that dogs are only allowed to be off-leash within location 3.
I hypothesize that the length of time a Robin spends foraging in the meadow location will differ from the dog park location. I predict that the length of time a Robin spends foraging in the meadow location will be greater than in the dog park location. I predict this outcome due to the greater number of dogs present within the dog park than the meadow. The response variable for this study is the amount of time a Robin spends foraging at locations 2 or 3, which is continuous, and the explanatory variable for the study will be the presence or absence of dogs which is categorical.
Link to images: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Tg35VPkbahNrzxLXt0PSwr3rMmArTGYU?usp=sharing
That sounds like a good start to your study design. You may need to think for how you will account for how many dogs are in the dog park area and how close they are to the Robins? Or perhaps choose a time to do your study and be consistent about that time so you may account for dog activity that way (dog park is a consistent busyness at a certain time). Do dogs ever go through the meadow? What about differences in vegetation between the two, do you think you will have enough Robins foraging in the dog park?