Blog Post 3: Ongoing Field Observations
Organism of Study: I am studying how different areas in my backyard affect the density of bird species during the fall and winter months in rural Manitoba. These areas vary in vegetation, shelter, and natural food sources. Birds I commonly see in my backyard are: Crows, Black-capped Chickadees, barn swallows, House Sparrows and robins
Field Observations:
I selected three specific locations for observations:
- Bush area (dense bushes providing natural shelter).
- Open grass and field area (an exposed space with minimal vegetation, may have food source from leftover crops).
- Near the garden (moderate vegetation with potential food sources like seeds or plants).
Changes in Bird Density:
Bush area: I frequently observed Black-capped Chickadees, House Sparrows, and occasionally Robins in this area. The vegetation provides shelter from the wind and predators, making it a good spot for these birds during fall and winter. Crows have also been seen nearby, though they do not stay here for long periods.
Open grass and field area: Bird density was lower here, with occasional sightings of Black-capped Chickadees, Crows, and Robins. The open space and lack of shelter likely limits the number of birds that visit. However, Crows seem to scavenge leftover crops or food from the field.
Near the garden: Moderate bird activity was observed here, with Black-capped Chickadees, House Sparrows and robins foraging for seeds. Crows were also seen searching for food, possibly attracted to the plants and seeds left from the garden.
There was no barn swallows activity, however there were an abundance during the summer months
Hypothesis: Bird species density during winter is higher in the bush area and near the garden compared to the open grass and field area because these areas provide better shelter and natural food sources.
Prediction: If vegetation and available shelter influence bird species density during the winter, then the bush area will have a higher density of birds, compared to the open grass and field area, where fewer species may appear. The garden area will show moderate bird activity with some species looking for food.
Response and Explanatory Variables:
Response variable: Bird species density (continuous, measured by the number of species observed in each area).
Explanatory variable: Type of environment (categorical: bush area, open grass and field area, near the garden).
So, what is your gradient? Vegetation type? The bushes vs. grass seems pretty clear as there is variation in amount of cover and could also relate to food availability depending on what the bushes are. However, I’m not clear on ‘near the garden and what the vegetation is. Also, is each area a similar size?
Hi thanks for the feedback! My gradient is vegetation type. The garden area has some covered areas with trees, shrubs and some still standing garden plants. It also has an open dirt area where the plants were planted this summer. It is a fix of open/ covered area. All areas are relatively the same size.
As for the hypothesis would something like this be more simple and clear?
Hypothesis: The density of bird species is higher in areas with more vegetation because these areas provide more shelter and natural food sources during winter.
You need to make your hypothesis simpler, what is your piece and pattern, see examples in the Moodle tutorial