March 10th, 2024
Elahe Jahankhah
T00672405
Blog post 6 : Data Collection
As I continue to investigate the bird life in Riverside Park, I am now more concerned with gathering data, which is an essential step in deciphering the intricate relationships between bird diversity and migration patterns. This blog post summarizes my experience putting my experimental design into practice, the difficulties I ran into gathering data, and the emergence of ancillary patterns that make me think more deeply about my hypothesis.
Replicates :
I carefully thought through my sample design before starting this phase to make sure I collected all the necessary data. I conducted duplicates at three key locations in Riverside Park using systematic sampling: the Thompson Riverbank, the Riverside Park Entry Area, and the Grassland and Flowerbed Area. The variety of environmental gradients that each site provided enhanced the volume of data that was gathered. I carried out several replicates along the way to record temporal fluctuations and strengthen the validity of my conclusions.
Challenges :
I had trouble carrying out my sampling design even with careful planning. The unpredictability of Kamloops’ winter weather created logistical challenges that impacted data collection as well as bird activity. In response to these conditions, I adjusted my observation times to align with the times of greatest bird activity, which is mostly in the morning. Temperature variations also required modifications in order to maintain the accuracy of temperature-related data. In spite of these difficulties, every roadblock offered a chance for improvement and modification, which eventually raised the calibre of the information gathered.
Supplementary Patterns and Thoughts:
As the data collection process went on, I noticed supporting patterns that encouraged more in-depth thought about my theory. Instead of the migration that was expected, the main focus turned to the survival tactics used by species of birds that overwintered. The dynamic interaction between avian life and environmental conditions is highlighted by behavioural adaptations, such as alterations in foraging habits and vocalizations. These subtle observations highlight the significance of looking beyond simple interpretations of migratory patterns to take into account larger ecological contexts that shape bird behaviours.
Data collection in Riverside Park has been a journey filled with obstacles, adjustments, and insightful discoveries. Every observation I make as I proceed through this scientific investigation adds to our understanding of the ecology of birds in urban settings. I’m still dedicated to improving my approaches, accepting surprising discoveries, and piecing together the complex web of bird diversity and migration patterns in the future.
My fieldwork was made more efficient by incorporating eBird, Merlin Bird ID, Animal tracker, Avibase and checking the Birdcast. These apps improved the speed and accuracy of my observations by making it easier to identify different species of birds. The smooth integration with my field journal made sure that no information was missed.