In this section of the Field Form, you will describe general study site characteristics within the the 500-foot (150-meter) radius circular plot around the survey point. The following are explanations of each characteristic you are required to describe in this section. Use the quick reference links below to skip forward to a section.

Note: Make sure to only describe the forested portion of your study site when completing this portion of the form. This means that if your point is located near a forest/non-forest edge (as in Figure 1 ), only use the forested portion. For example, for a point on the edge of a woodlot adjoining a corn field, the canopy height only refers to the trees in the woodlot, not the average height of the trees and the corn.

Hydrology during the breeding season
Note whether any of the following are found on part or all of your study site (within 500 feet or 150 meters of the survey point) during the breeding season:

• Stream or flowing water -- Flowing water present
• Pond or standing water/marsh -- Standing water occurring in open areas with no trees
• Forested wetland/swamp -- Standing water with trees
• Riparian forest strip -- A linear (narrow) forested area along the edge of a river, stream, or lake
• No water -- No surface water on the study site

Forest cover type
Mark one category that best describes the trees in the forest canopy at your study site:

• Coniferous (natural) -- Predominately cone-bearing, needle-leaf trees such as pine, spruce, fir, or larch
• Coniferous plantation -- Cone-bearing, needle-leaf trees planted by humans, usually indicated by even-aged trees in rows
• Deciduous -- Predominately deciduous trees such as oak, maple, beech, or magnolia. If your study site is predominantly evergreen broadleaf, such as live oak, please note in the Comments section.
• Mixed coniferous/deciduous -- A mix of mature trees of each type within the study site

Slope
Select the one category that best describes the terrain within the study site:

• Sloped
• Level
• Undulating (up and down)

Land use
Mark as many as apply to your study site:

• Undisturbed -- No obvious human-caused disturbance within the past 30 years; forest appears to be in a natural state
• Light recreation -- Occasional use of hiking trails or roads in the area; little disturbance or noise noticeable
• Heavy recreation -- Frequent use of trails or roads; noise from recreational vehicles or people often heard
• Partially cut -- Some trees have been removed from the site but enough remain to consider it a forest
• Commercial forest -- A forest primarily managed for commercial timber products (lumber, pulp, etc.)
• Grazed -- Evidence of grazing by domestic animals
• Recently burned -- Obvious evidence that fire occurred (in understory or overstory) within past 10 years
• Suburban woodlot -- Remnant forest surrounded by human habitations; includes city parks
• Other -- List or describe type of significant disturbance in Comments section.

Ownership
Determine who owns the study site:

• Private -- Owned by individuals, corporations, or private organizations such as The Nature Conservancy, National Audubon Society, or a nature center
• Private timber company -- Owned by a private forest products company
• State -- Owned by state or provincial government; includes state or provincial parks, state forests, etc.
• County or town -- Owned by municipal government
• Federal -- Owned by the United States or Canadian government; includes federally managed lands such as National Forests, National Parks, National Wildlife Refuges, etc. Mark the agency, if listed, or write the agency name on the line beside Other or in Comments section.
• Tribal lands -- Owned by Native Americans; includes Indian Reservations or tribally owned lands
• Other ownership -- If ownership is other than those mentioned here, mark "other" and fill in comment line or describe in Comments section.

Canopy Characteristics
For the purposes of BFL, we define canopy as all vegetation that is higher than 20 feet (6 meters). The canopy variables in this section pertain to the entire 500-foot-radius (150-meter) circular study site. We suggest that you wander through your entire site before estimating canopy height and percentage cover so that these values are representative of the entire study site and not just for your survey point.

Canopy height -- Estimate the height of the majority of mature trees in the canopy of the study site. Do not average tall and short trees; instead give a typical height of canopy trees. Remember to indicate units.

Here is one good way to estimate canopy height:
1. Find a tree that represents the typical height of the canopy.
2. Mark your height on the tree or a nearby shrub.
3. Stand back from the tree and visually estimate how many humans high the tree is. Multiply this number times the human height to get an estimate of canopy height.

Percentage of canopy cover -- First, estimate the percentage of sky hidden from view by canopy vegetation throughout your study site. Use the figures on the Quick-Reference Sheet for Field Use  for assistance. Next, separate this value into two figures -- the percentage of deciduous canopy cover and percentage of coniferous canopy cover. These two numbers should add up to the number for overall percentage of cover. For example, If you estimate total canopy cover to be 80%, and find three-quarters of it to be deciduous trees and one-quarter coniferous trees, you would record 60% deciduous and 20% coniferous canopy cover on your Field Form.

Most common trees in canopy -- Record up to three of the most common canopy trees in the study site. Use a field guide to trees or consult a checklist of trees found in your area. If none of the trees listed are appropriate, mark "other" and write the names on the line or in the Comments section. If only one or two species dominate the canopy, only mark or write in those. If you know a more specific name for your canopy trees (such as White Oak for Oak, or Pinus ponderosa for Pine) please list the names in the Comments section.

Low vegetation Characteristics
For the purpose of BFL, we define low vegetation as all vegetation below 20 feet (6 meters). This includes branches of trees that are lower than this height as well.

Percentage of low vegetation cover -- First, estimate the percentage of the ground that would be covered by living or dead vegetation if you could look down at your entire study site from just below the canopy (rocks, pavement, water, bare soil, etc. should not be included in your total number). Use the reference figures on the Field Form for assistance. Next, separate this value into the percentage of saplings (small trees), percentage of deciduous shrubs, percentage of coniferous shrubs, percentage of ground cover (all non-woody plants such as grasses, ferns, flowers, mosses, etc.), and the percentage of dead vegetation (fallen trees, stumps, snags, leaf litter, etc.). These numbers should add up to the overall percentage of cover, as above in canopy cover.

Most common low-vegetation plants -- List up to three of the most common low-vegetation plants within the study site. These may be small regenerating trees of the same species that occupy the canopy or they may be shrubs that remain beneath the forest canopy. Use a plant field guide or consult a checklist of plants found in your area.