Carrying out this field project was one of the more extensive projects I have had in university. As a mature student, I work full time and juggle classes and family. This project required me to be hyper organized in summertime to ensure I had the time to get out to my survey area to collect enough data. Throughout this time, I grew a large appreciation for all the ecological interactions I was observing. Even though I am sure my project is flawed, I learnt a lot regarding survey methods and species ID. There are so many interactions that it helps me understand why the development of ecological theory is so difficult and always improving/evolving.
I did not have to make any adjustments to my survey techniques because I was conducting a simple point count. The main issues implementing this project was my species ID, but with different apps, I was able to identify most individuals I came across. The Inglewood Bird Sanctuary is home to so many species that it takes someone very well-versed in bird ID to know them all. This project has encouraged me to get out to the sanctuary more and appreciate all the nature.
If you ever find yourself in Calgary, I highly suggest stopping in at the sanctuary and slowly walking around to see how many species you can spot!