My small study was looking at identification and diversity of bird species found within my yard. Diversity in any system increases resilience and vigour. Throughout my study I observed both native and non-native species, however it was nice to see that the native species were much more abundant than non-natives. I feel that even though my study might simple and confined to my yard, it gives me the appreciation of bird identification skills, time spent outdoors, an overall curiosity of the natural world and wanting to know more about the ecology of the species I observed. I also feel that having to apply the scientific method in a study such as this course, offers a reminder of the thoughts and questions that a person in the biological sciences continually needs to think about.
Keywords: point count surveys, diversity, identification skills