I have chosen to study a portion of my yard, located in Kamloops, BC. Kamloops is located in the Southern Interior of Bc, and has a diverse array of ecosystems that include both grasslands and wetlands, and boasts a beautiful, desert climate. The summers are hot and dry, with temperatures consistently reaching 30-40 degrees celsius, and the winters can be frigidly cold with varying amounts of snow. The general topography of Kamloops includes low rolling hills, tall mountains and the convergence of two major rivers (North and South Thompson).
My home is located steps from the shores of the North Thompson river, in the community of Westsyde. I have chosen to use the specific location of my front yard for this project, as there are a variety of areas surrounding the home, dedicated to specific things. The front yard is a mix of flower gardens, vegetable garden beds, fruit trees, and grass.
Location: Kamloops, BC
Date: Dec.8, 2023
Time: 7pm
Observations: No wildlife present at the time, no other persons in the immediate area. Mild wind, temperature of -2 degrees celsius.
Weather: mild, cold, above historical average for the day/ time
Season: Winter
Questions:
1- What wildlife does the yard currently attract? how could this change?
2- What does the yard currently provide for wildlife?
3- Do weather/ seasonal changes affect wildlife accessibility?
Kamloops, BC
photo sourced from Radio NL news, https://www.radionl.com/2020/03/06/53593/
Hi, welcome to the field part of the course. You can use your backyard, you have to think about how to design a study to have enough replicates given the limited area. But this is something you will think more about in the next few modules. Your questions are all focused on wildlife. You need to think if you normally see wildlife in your yard and are wildlife abundant enough in your yard to get enough data? Birds are a group that works well for backyard studies if you have a gradient of different habitats. Keep in mind that you can’t use bird feeders though, it has to be a natural study.