The area I have selected to observe is my backyard, in Kamloops, British Columbia. I live in the neighbourhood of Brocklehurst, which is the flat valley bottom of the semi-arid desert that follows the Thompson River. My house is located on the northern most side of the neighbourhood closest to the mountain side. As a horticulturalist my backyard is filled with ornamental trees, shrubs, and perennial flowers. The centre of the yard is turf, surrounded by raised garden beds, a free range chicken coop and an in ground perennial garden. My yard is approximately 2400 sq. ft.
Date visited: November 13th/2023
Weather: Sunny & Cloudy 1:00pm approximately 10 degrees celsius
Seasonality: Late fall, nearing winter
Coordinates: 50°42’36.8″N 120°24’35.5″W
Three questions to form my research project:
- What kind of ornamental plants are best supporting the bird populations in my yard by creating habitats?
- What is the effect of seasonal temperature change on bird counts?
- What specific bird species is my backyard ecosystem supporting?
Hi, backyards can work for sure and birds are a good study group for this time of year. Remember, your questions will be focused on resident bird populations as migratory birds have left. As you move through the next few modules and narrow down your research question and hypothesis you will think about what you can measure and how you can get replicates using your backyard. Also, do you have a gradient in your yard you could use with different types of vegetation…