Date visited: October 18th, 2022
Time: 1400hrs
Location coordinates: 53. 4980532, -113.3972375
Weather: 19 degrees Celsius, sunny with thin sparce clouds with a light 4km/h northeast wind.
Observation:
For my field project, I will be observing an ecological conservation urban wetland (marshland) area in the southeast corner of Edmonton AB. Initially designated and designed as a storm water reservoir, this kilometer long body of water is surrounded by farmland to the west and north, natural wetland to the south, thick wooded areas to the north and east, and open grass covered fields to the south. The topography is mainly flat with a few small rolling hills to the south. Since it’s construction in 2006, much of nature has reclaimed this area and has become home to hundreds of species of plants and animals; over 100 bird species alone.
Some of the species I observed:
In water:
– Green frogs
– Tad poles
– Gardner snakes
– Tiny fish
– Water Strider insects
– Muskrat
Out of the water:
– Signs of deer bedding (no deer present)
– Brown squirrels
– Field mice
– Ducks
– Mallards
– Canadian Goose
– Swallow
– Chick-a-dee
– Yellow butterfly (could not get close enough for ID)
Question 1:
What effect will the change of fall to winter have on the avian population present in this area?
Question 2:
What different species types are more active during the morning hours vs. later afternoon hours?
Question 3:
Despite being mid fall, certain plant types appear to be thriving and green, despite not being closest to the water, while most other plants and trees are turning yellow. What adaptive features or qualities do these plants possess that the others lack?
