HELP
Bird Identification
What are gulls?
Finding locations for your transects
City habitats
Finding different birds
Birds in the City methods
Practicing
Count each bird only once
Help with measuring distances
Learn how to measure by pacing
Why choose a method first?
Methods made easy
Collecting data
Why your data are important
What if I don't see any birds?
Total observation time (duration)
Conducting other Urban Bird Studies projects
BIRD BEHAVIOR
What are gulls?
Many people are familiar with "seagulls" and lump them into one group. In fact,
there are many different species. Gulls often are seen near water (oceans, lakes,
rivers, marshes).
FINDING STUDY SITES FOR "BIRDS IN THE 'HOOD"
City habitats
Think about
your city or neighborhood as a place for birds. Do you see tree-lined streets with
a canopy of leaves overhead? Maybe you'll find woodpeckers climbing the
trunks. Are there lawns where American Robins pause to look for worms or
shrubs for them to hide in? Maybe you've noticed bird feeders that provide year-round
food for jays, finches, and other birds. Some birds even build their nests or
perch on buildings, including pigeons, starlings, House Sparrows, some swallows,
Killdeer, and American Kestrels. Streets, lawns, yards, and buildings are all
examples of city habitats.
Finding different species or numbers of
birds
If you want to learn more about where different species of birds live in your
city, choose transect locations
in areas that look different from one another. If you want to see many birds
or many species of birds, look for trees, grass, shrubs, possible food sources,
or roosting and nesting spots.
"BIRDS IN THE 'HOOD" METHODS
Practice identifying birds
If you already know how to identify
birds, you can get started right away. If you don't know how, you can
still participate. Start by looking for one species. Add more species as you
become comfortable. For example, you could start by only counting pigeons and then add
new species each time you return to your transect.
Try to count each bird only once
As you walk along your transect,
birds may fly from one location to another. Record each bird only once, even
if you see it inside and outside of the transect. When you see a bird both inside
and outside of your transect, record it only as "in the transect."
Help with measuring distances
Use these approximate conversions for estimating distances. If you prefer, you
may use exact conversions.
50 feet is about 17 yards which is about 15 meters
A typical car is about 14-16 feet long. Your transect should extend about
three car lengths to each side of the center line. A city bus is about 32 feet
in length so 50 feet is about 1 1/2 city bus lengths.
If you are not comfortable estimating distances, learn how to measure by pacing.
Learn how to measure by pacing
Practice by walking next to a tape measure and counting your steps or paces. A
pace is a step with each foot (you can count your paces if this is easier than
counting steps). For example, you walk along a measuring tape and count each time
you step with your left foot and you determine that 50 feet is 9 paces (or you
could count the number of steps which would be 18 steps).
Knowing the length of your paces will help you to
learn to estimate distances. It will help you measure a distance if you don't
have a tape measure with you.
Why choose a method before proceeding?
It may seem silly to decide which method to use before count birds, but it is
important that you make this decision first. This helps your data to be unbiased.
For example, if you tried to record all species but
you saw only gulls along your transect, you may decide to enter your data for
the Selected Species Method. But you did record ALL of the birds you saw, and
the scientists who use your data will need to know that you were looking for
all species, but you saw only gulls. Don't forget, zeroes are important, too!
Scientists are interested in where birds are present and where they are absent.
Also, you are following a scientific
process. It is very important to use predetermined methods just as scientists
do.
Methods made easy
You can "step it up" by adding more birds to your list each time you count birds
along your transect. Begin by choosing only one or two familiar species and
then each time you return to your transect, look for another species that you
have learned in the meantime. When you feel that you are ready, you can use
the full ID method.
COLLECTING DATA
Why your data are important
Your data will provide estimates of bird densities in urban areas. Densities
are counts of birds in a specific area, such as a city block or an acre. Few
projects provide bird densities because they fail to report the size of the
observation area. Your data on bird density are valuable for scientific research
on birds.
What if I don't see any birds?
If you try to count but no birds show up, be sure to report the data anyway.
It's just as important for scientists to know when birds are not there as when
they are there. For example, you always count birds on your walk home from the
bus in the afternoon. On days when you don't see any birds, you should report
"no birds seen".
Total time spent observing birds (duration)
Scientists want to know the start and end times because birds are active at
different times of day. By knowing how much time you spent observing birds,
scientists can calculate the amount of effort used for counting the birds (a
very important statistic for population studies).
We also want to know how much time you spent observing
birds. Sometimes you may get interrupted while you are observing birds. For
example, if it starts to rain you may stop until it clears up enough to continue
your count.
OTHER URBAN BIRD STUDIES PROJECTS
Conducting other urban bird projects
By participating in Birds in the City, you will figure out what birds live
in your city and where to find them. This will improve your success with other
Urban Bird Studies projects that require you to find certain species of birds
before you can start.
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