I am researching the American Coot and I initially wasn’t too sure what the sampling strategy should be since I wasn’t 100% on the hypothesis. After collecting my data, I determined that a point count would be best since my test subjects are always on the move. I counted birds at 10-minute intervals over an hour and will be going back 4 more times over the next 4 weeks to expand the data pool, and I plan on using the same technique.
I chose to study the American Coot since its abundance was quite minimal compared to the other species observed at the park. I wanted to understand if their numbers were related to feeding or mating habits, or even weather conditions.
I do believe that there is at least 1 confounding variable that I am a bit worried about and this is the people that visit the park to feed the birds. The Coots are pretty shy around the people but I am wondering if their presence at the lake is really just due to this unnatural food source supplied by people.
good question about people
what are they feeding (hopefully not bread) and are the coots eating it?
note it is not breeding season yet ; )
Coots are cool ; )
I think they were feeding birdseed. Hopefully people know better by now 😉
I am now realizing that breeding season is not until May so I may pivot my hypothesis to discuss the Coots’s preferred nesting area. Is it in the brush (grassy area) near the waterway, or in the gravel area under the bushes
Coots are very cool 😉