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Establishing Study Plots
Finding New Nests
Monitoring Nests
Summarizing Nest Fate
Describing Nests' Locations
Measuring Vegetation
Point Counts
Measuring Weather
References
Appendix of BBIRD Variables
General Protocol (PDF)
Grassland Protocol (PDF)
APPENDIX A
The following is a list of BBIRD variable names that should be used in data files contributed to the national database. Everyone should use these EXACT variable names and order to facilitate merging data from all BBIRD sites. Further explanation of each variable is outlined in the BBIRD Field Protocols. Capitalize all text variables. We would like to have BBIRD data submitted in 4 separate units: 1) nesting success, productivity, and nest site vegetation variables, including vegetation data from non-use sites plots; 2) point count response data; 3) vegetation data from random/point count; and 4) daily weather data.
A computer program is now available to facilitate entry and formatting of BBIRD data. For information about this computer program please see the BBIRD software web page, or contact BBIRD staff. PLEASE NOTE that the format and variable names described below do not completely conform to the variables names used in the data entry program. The reason for this deviation is that the data entry program stores information in a format that, although very efficient with respect to space used, is composed of a series of nested and inter-linked tables in a relational database. The format described below has had to translate these nested tables into a single, "flat field" table format.
If you are having trouble interpreting any of the variables, please contact BBIRD staff.
NAMES USED NEST SITE AND NEST VEGETATION DATA
Each data record represents all data on one nest or one non-nest site, so every line of data should have an entry for each of the following variables:
Variable Name Description Nst_ID
unique number or code to identify each individual nest within each year (e.g. in AZ we use the observer's 3 initials followed by a number (TEM28) - the number represents the order in which that observer found that nest in that year) Species 4 letter AOU species identification code (check in the Bird Banding manual for these codes). Plot your plot designation code Site location within state. A unique name that will distinguish each site (individual study) within each state. State 2 letter code used by postal service (e.g. AZ) Yr 2 digit number for year (e.g. 94) Trtmt treatment by plot code, e.g. fragmented, unfragmented, grazed, ungrazed. Please use short verbal descriptions and not number codes. Obs person who found the nest (first 2 initials + last name, e.g. TEMARTIN) Nsttype nest plot (1), nonuse plot (2), systematic plot vegetation (3) Attempt nesting attempt number (1-5). If unknown, record as 1. Stn location code within plots Dirstn_d direction from station to nest in degrees (corrected for declination). Dststn_m distance from station to nest in meters. Lat_m latitude location of nest in Universal Transverse Mercator format (optional, for those who use GPS units). Use either UTM format locations or latitudes and longitudes, not both. Lat_d latitude in whole degrees (optional, for studies using GPS units). Supply locations in either latitude and longitude, or UTM (see below), not both. Lat_min minutes of latitude (optional, for studies using GPS units) Lat_sec seconds of latitude (optional, for studies using GPS units) Long_m longitude location of nest in Universal Transverse Mercator format (optional, for those who use GPS units). Use either UTM format locations or latitudes and longitudes, not both. Long_d longitude in whole degrees (optional, for studies using GPS units) Long_min minutes of longitude (optional, for studies using GPS units) Long_sec seconds of longitude (optional, for studies using GPS units) Elev_m elevation of nest above sea level, in meters (optional, for studies using GPS units) Nstsubs1 substrate type/plant species that nest is in or, for ground nests, that provides most cover for the nest (INOPEN, ROCK, LOG, or alphanumeric PLANT code from PLANTS database) Nstsubs2 the second substrate/plant species that a nest is placed in. Leave this field blank unless there are actually 2 separate substrates for a nest Nstcncl1 type of substrate or plant species that is primarily responsible for concealing the nest (use same types as used for Nstsubs1) Nstcncl2 type of substrate or plant species that is second most important in concealing the nest (use only when applicable) Nstht_m nest height in meters (to the nearest 0.1 meters) Nsbsht_m height of Nstsubs1, the primary nest substrate, in meters (to the nearest 0.1 meters) Dcedg_cm distance of the nest from nearest foliage edge Health tree health and location of nest within dying trees (L = live; PD = partly dead; PDNL = partly dead, nest in live portion; PDND = partly dead, nest in dead portion; D = dead) Orient_d nest orientation in degrees (corrected for declination) Nspbrnch number of supporting branches for nest, excluding trunk Dspbr_cm average diameter of supporting branches in cm Dstem_cm distance of nest from central stem in cm Ntries number of previous tries to find nest Cs confirmed final clutch size, leave blank if unknown. Mutually exclusive with Nfcsonly Cs or Nfcs should be non-blank for a given nest. Nfcs non-final clutch size: final number of eggs in nest could not be confirmed due to failure prior to clutch size being completed. Mutually exclusive with Cs. Nfldg number of young fledged (if nest successful). Exnfldg code as 1 when Nfldg represents an exact number, not an estimate. Otherwise, leave blank. Elusive parental elusiveness (code 1 -- 4, 1 = most elusive, 4 = most conspicuous) Init nest initiation date: date when first egg was laid (first digit = month, next two digits = day of month; e.g. 5/07/95 = 507) Precinit precision with which nest initiation date is known (coded 1 -- 4). See BBIRD field protocol for description of these codes NSucegg new (in 1997) decimal format code for whether a nest successfully survived to end of egg laying (see codes in BBIRD Field Protocol) NSucinc new (in 1997) decimal format code for whether a nest successfully survived to end of the incubation stage. Leave blank if nest failed during egg laying. NSucnstl new (in 1997) decimal format code for whether a nest successfully survived to end of the nestling stage (success at this stage means a nest fledged at least one young). Leave blank if nest failed during laying or incubation. NFinalsuc new (in 1997) decimal format code for final success code for the nest. This should match the success code for the last active stage (egg, inc, or nstl). Nobegg Number of days the nest was observed being active during egg-laying (to the nearest 0.5 days) Nobinc Number of days the nest was observed being active during incubation (to the nearest 0.5 days) Nobnstl Number of days the nest was observed being active during the nestling stage (to the nearest 0.5 days) Nobtot Number of days the nest was observed but stage was unknown. Use this only when Nobegg, Nobinc, and Nobnstl cannot account for all days of observation; otherwise leave blank Preclay precision in laying period: coded as 1, 2, or left blank. See page 25 for explanations of codes. Precinc precision in incubation period: code as for Preclay. Precnstl precision in nestling period: code as for Preclay. Cegglay number of cowbird eggs laid Preceggl precision code for Cegglay Cegghtch number of cowbirds hatched Preceggh precision code for Cegghtch Cfldg number of cowbirds fledged Precfldg precision code for Cfldg Cobs number of days cowbirds (eggs and nestlings) were under observation (may be longer than for host nestlings if these die due to parasitism of the nest) CNfate new (1997) decimal format code for overall success for cowbird nestlings in parasitized nests Cfatetim the timing of cowbird fate relative to the fate of genetic young (1=before genetic young, 2=same time, 3=after genetic young) Ceggdate date of first cowbird egg appearance (month and day, 5/07/95 = 507) PreCeggd precision code for Ceggdate Dbh_cm diameter of primary nest substrate (Nstsubs1) at breast height in cm Ovrcov overhead nest cover in percent (concealment of the nest by foliage above the nest looking down on it from a distance of 1 m) SC1 side cover 1 - % concealment of the nest from the side from each of four cardinal directions standing 1m from the nest and looking at the nest from nest level. SC2 side cover 2 SC3 side cover 3 SC4 side cover 4 Littr_mm avg organic litter depth from 12 sample points within 5m plot (in mm) Gcgrn percent green cover - percent of ground within 5m plot covered by green vegetation below 50 cm Gcgrass percent grass/sedge cover below 50 cm. If sedges are included in this category, leave Gcsedge blank Gcsedge percent sedge cover below 50 cm Gcforb percent forb cover below 50 cm Gcshrub percent shrub cover below 50 cm Gcfern percent fern cover below 50 cm Gcmoss percent moss cover below Gccactus percent cactus shorter than 50 cm in ground cover Gclog percent of ground covered by downed logs (logs > 12 cm diameter) Gcwater percent of ground covered by standing water Gcbare percent of open ground not covered by leaf litter (gravel or smaller sized) Gcrock percent rocks (larger than grapefruit sized) in ground cover Gcleaf percent of ground covered by leaf litter Gcbrush percent brush (dead shrub and bramble) cover below 50 cm in height Gcmarsh percent of ground covered by marshvegetation (vegetation, not differentiated by species or growth form, with its roots submerged under water, but stems and leaves above the water surface; note that sedge cover should be determined separately in Gcsedge. Aspect_d direction (in degrees) that the 5m radius plot faces Slope_d in degrees Topcan_m average top canopy height in meters Hcanopy percent high (above 5m) canopy cover (based on 4 densiometer readings) Cancov percent total canopy cover (based on 4 densiometer readings) Cdomsp1 alphanumeric code (from PLANTS database) of plant species that dominates the high canopy Cdomsp1p percent of high canopy occupied by Cdomsp1 Cdomsp2 alphanumeric code (from PLANTS database) of second plant species that co-dominates the high canopy Cdomsp2p percent of high canopy occupied by Cdomsp2 M11snag1 total number of snags within the 11.3m radius vegetation plot with dbh < 12 cm (all species pooled) M11snag2 total number of snags within the 11.3 meter radius vegetation plot with dbh > 12 cm (all species pooled) Fmeth1 method initially used to find nest (PB, F, SS, NBC, or L) Stime1 search time under Fmeth1 (in min) Nparvis1 number of parental visits observed under Fmeth1 Srad1_m radius of area searched under Fmeth1 (in m) Fmeth2 second method used to find nest, leave blank if you used only 1 Stime2 search time under Fmeth2 (in min) Nparvis2 number of parental visits observed under Fmeth2 Srad2_m radius of area searched under Fmeth2 (in m) Fmeth3 third method used to find nest, leave blank if <3 Stime3 search time under Fmeth3 (in min) Nparvis3 number of parental visits observed under Fmeth3 Srad3_m radius of area searched under Fmeth3 (in m) Fmeth4 fourth method used to find nest, leave blank if <4 Stime4 search time under Fmeth4 (in min) Nparvis4 number of parental visits observed under Fmeth4 Srad4_m radius of area searched under Fmeth4 (in m) Fmeth5 fifth method used to find nest, leave blank if <5 Stime5 search time under Fmeth5 (in min) Nparvis5 number of parental visits observed under Fmeth5 Srad5_m radius of area searched under Fmeth5 (in m) VgSRadm radius of small vegetation plot in meters (5 m for most BBIRD sites) Vgsp1 alphanumeric code (from PLANTS database) for first plant species within the 5m radius vegetation plot VStm1Cl1 number of stems of Vgsp1within the small radius plot with dbh <2.5 cm VStm1Cl2 number of stems of Vgsp1within the small radius plot with dbh 2.5-8 cm Vgsp2 alphanumeric code (from PLANTS database) for second plant species within the 5m radius vegetation plot VStm2Cl1 number of stems of Vgsp2within the small radius plot with dbh <2.5 cm VStm2Cl2 number of stems of Vgsp2within the small radius plot with dbh 2.5-8 cm Vgsp#
VStm#Cl1
VStm#Cl2
use as many sets of Vgsp#, VStm#Cl1, and VStm#Cl2 variables as you have plant species in the 5m radius vegetation plot, pooling rare or uncommon species into "OTHER")
TSRadM radius of large vegetation plot in meters (11.3 m for most BBIRD sites) TreeSp1 alphanumeric code (from PLANTS database) for first tree species within the 11.3m radius vegetation plot (tree species can be ordered arbitrarily) TStm1Cl1 number of live stems of TreeSp1 within the large radius plot with dbh 8-- 23cm TStm1Cl2 number of live stems of TreeSp1 within the large radius plot with dbh 23-- 38cm TStm1Cl3 number of live stems of TreeSp1 within the large radius plot with dbh >38cm TreeSp2 alphanumeric code (from PLANTS database) for second tree species encountered within the larger radius vegetation plot TStm2Cl1 number of live stems of TreeSp2 within the large radius plot with dbh 8--23cm TStm2Cl2 number of live stems of TreeSp2 within the large radius plot with dbh 23--38cm TStm2Cl3 number of live stems of TreeSp2 within the large radius plot with dbh >38cm TreeSp#
TStm#Cl1
TStm#Cl2
TStm#Cl3
Use as many sets of TreeSp#,TStm#Cl1,TStm#Cl2, and TStm#Cl3 variables as you have tree species in the larger radius vegetation plot, but pooling rare or uncommon species into OTHER)
NAMES USED FOR POINT COUNT RESPONSE DATA
Variable Name Description State
Site
Plot
Point census point number (e.g. 1-12 for each plot) Repno replicate number (e.g. 1-3 depending on whether data is from the first survey of the season, second, or third) Obs person conducting point count (2 initials + last name, e.g. TEMARTIN) Date date point count was conducted (first digit = month, next two digits = day of month: 5/07/94 = 507) Time 4 number military time (e.g. 7:08am = 0708) Yr year (2 digit number, e.g. 94) Sky sky code (0-8) Wind wind code (0-5) Temp_C temperature (degrees C) at time of point count Radius_m radius of point count circle used Spp1 4 letter AOU species identification code for bird species detected M1NumI number of males of Spp1found within the count circle M1NumO number of males of Spp1 found outside the count circle F1NumI number of females of Spp1found within the count circle F1NumO number of females of Spp1found outside the count circle U1NumI number of birds of unknown sex of Spp1 found within the count circle U1NumO number of birds of unknown sex of Spp1 found outside the count circle Spp#
M#NumI
M#NumO
F#NumI
F#NumO
U#NumI
U#NumO
Use as many sets of Spp#, M#NumI, M#NumO,F#NumI, F#NumO, U#NumI, and U#NumO as are needed for all species counted at a given point)
NAMES USED FOR PLOT/POINT COUNT VEGETATION DATA
Variable Name Description Plot your plot designation code Site location within state. A unique name that will distinguish each site (individual study) within each state. State 2 letter code used by postal service (e.g. AZ) Yr 2 digit number for year (e.g. 94) Trtmt treatment by plot code, e.g. fragmented, unfragmented, grazed, ungrazed. Please use short verbal descriptions and not number codes. Obs person who found the nest (first 2 initials + last name, e.g. TEMARTIN) Nsttype nest plot (1), nonuse plot (2), systematic plot vegetation (3) Stn location code within plots Littr_mm avg organic litter depth from 12 sample points within 5m plot (in mm) Gcgrn percent green cover - percent of ground within 5m plot covered by green vegetation below 50 cm Gcgrass percent grass/sedge cover below 50 cm. If sedges are included in this category, leave Gcsedge blank Gcsedge percent sedge cover below 50 cm Gcforb percent forb cover below 50 cm Gcshrub percent shrub cover below 50 cm Gcfern percent fern cover below 50 cm Gcmoss percent moss cover below Gccactus percent cactus shorter than 50 cm in ground cover Gclog percent of ground covered by downed logs (logs > 12 cm diameter) Gcwater percent of ground covered by standing water Gcbare percent of open ground not covered by leaf litter (gravel or smaller sized) Gcrock percent rocks (larger than grapefruit sized) in ground cover Gcleaf percent of ground covered by leaf litter Gcbrush percent brush (dead shrub and bramble) cover below 50 cm in height Gcmarsh percent of ground covered by marshvegetation (vegetation, not differentiated by species or growth form, with its roots submerged under water, but stems and leaves above the water surface; note that sedge cover should be determined separately in Gcsedge. Aspect_d direction (in degrees) that the 5m radius plot faces Slope_d in degrees Topcan_m average top canopy height in meters Hcanopy percent high (above 5m) canopy cover (based on 4 densiometer readings) Cancov percent total canopy cover (based on 4 densiometer readings) Cdomsp1 alphanumeric code (from PLANTS database) of plant species that dominates the high canopy Cdomsp1p percent of high canopy occupied by Cdomsp1 Cdomsp2 alphanumeric code (from PLANTS database) of second plant species that co-dominates the high canopy Cdomsp2p percent of high canopy occupied by Cdomsp2 M11snag1 total number of snags within the 11.3m radius vegetation plot with dbh < 12 cm (all species pooled) M11snag2 total number of snags within the 11.3 meter radius vegetation plot with dbh > 12 cm (all species pooled) VgSRadm radius of small vegetation plot in meters (5 m for most BBIRD sites) Vgsp1 alphanumeric code (from PLANTS database) for first plant species within the 5m radius vegetation plot VStm1Cl1 number of stems of Vgsp1within the small radius plot with dbh <2.5 cm VStm1Cl2 number of stems of Vgsp1within the small radius plot with dbh 2.5-8 cm Vgsp2 alphanumeric code (from PLANTS database) for second plant species within the 5m radius vegetation plot VStm2Cl1 number of stems of Vgsp2within the small radius plot with dbh <2.5 cm VStm2Cl2 number of stems of Vgsp2within the small radius plot with dbh 2.5-8 cm Vgsp#
VStm#Cl1
VStm#Cl2
use as many sets of Vgsp#, VStm#Cl1, and VStm#Cl2 variables as you have plant species in the 5m radius vegetation plot, pooling rare or uncommon species into "OTHER")
TSRadM radius of large vegetation plot in meters (11.3 m for most BBIRD sites) TreeSp1 alphanumeric code (from PLANTS database) for first tree species within the 11.3m radius vegetation plot (tree species can be ordered arbitrarily) TStm1Cl1 number of live stems of TreeSp1 within the large radius plot with dbh 8-- 23cm TStm1Cl2 number of live stems of TreeSp1 within the large radius plot with dbh 23-- 38cm TStm1Cl3 number of live stems of TreeSp1 within the large radius plot with dbh >38cm TreeSp2 alphanumeric code (from PLANTS database) for second tree species encountered within the larger radius vegetation plot TStm2Cl1 number of live stems of TreeSp2 within the large radius plot with dbh 8--23cm TStm2Cl2 number of live stems of TreeSp2 within the large radius plot with dbh 23--38cm TStm2Cl3 number of live stems of TreeSp2 within the large radius plot with dbh >38cm TreeSp#
TStm#Cl1
TStm#Cl2
TStm#Cl3
Use as many sets of TreeSp#,TStm#Cl1,TStm#Cl2, and TStm#Cl3 variables as you have tree species in the larger radius vegetation plot, but pooling rare or uncommon species into OTHER)
PQShSp1 species code for nearest shrub in first quadrate from center of vegetation plot; used in point-centered quarter measurements of vegetation PQShDst1 distance (in meters) from center of vegetation plot to nearest shrub in first quadrate PQShHt1 height (in meters) of selected shrub in first quadrate PQShWd1 maximum width (in meters) of selected shrub in first quadrate PQShPWd1 width (in meters) of shrub perpendicular to the width measurement in PQShWd1 PQShSp2 species code for nearest shrub in second quadrate from center of vegetation plot PQShDst2 distance (in meters) from center of vegetation plot to nearest shrub in second quadrate PQShHt2 height (in meters) of selected shrub in second quadrate PQShWd2 maximum width (in meters) of selected shrub in second quadrate PQShPWd2 width (in meters) of shrub perpendicular to the width measurement in PQShWd2 PQShSp3 species code for nearest shrub in third quadrate from center of vegetation plot PQShDst3 distance (in meters) from center of vegetation plot to nearest shrub in third quadrate PQShHt3 height (in meters) of selected shrub in third quadrate PQShWd3 maximum width (in meters) of selected shrub in third quadrate PQShPWd3 width (in meters) of shrub perpendicular to the width measurement in PQShWd3 PQShSp4 species code for nearest shrub in fourth quadrate from center of vegetation plot PQShDst4 distance (in meters) from center of vegetation plot to nearest shrub in fourth quadrate PQShHt4 height (in meters) of selected shrub in fourth quadrate PQShWd4 maximum width (in meters) of selected shrub in fourth quadrate PQShPWd4 width (in meters) of shrub perpendicular to the width measurement in PQShWd4 PQTrSp1 species code for nearest tree in first quadrate from center of vegetation plot; used in point-centered quarter measurements of vegetation PQTrDst1 distance (in meters) from center of vegetation plot to nearest tree in first quadrate PQTrHt1 height (in meters) of selected tree in first quadrate PQTrCan1 canopy cover (from densiometer) under selected tree in first quadrate PQTrDBH1 diameter at breast height (in centimeters) of selected tree in first quadrate PQTrCrn1 average width (in meters) of crown of selected tree in first quadrate PQTrSp2 species code for nearest tree in second quadrate from center of vegetation plot; used in point-centered quarter measurements of vegetation PQTrDst2 distance (in meters) from center of vegetation plot to nearest tree in second quadrate PQTrHt2 height (in meters) of selected tree in first quadrate PQTrCan2 canopy cover (from densiometer) under selected tree in second quadrate PQTrDBH2 diameter at breast height (in centimeters) of selected tree in second quadrate PQTrCrn2 average width (in meters) of crown of selected tree in second quadrate PQTrSp3 species code for nearest tree in third quadrate from center of vegetation plot; used in point-centered quarter measurements of vegetation PQTrDst3 distance (in meters) from center of vegetation plot to nearest tree in third quadrate PQTrHt3 height (in meters) of selected tree in third quadrate PQTrCan3 canopy cover (from densiometer) under selected tree in third quadrate PQTrDBH3 diameter at breast height (in centimeters) of selected tree in third quadrate PQTrCrn3 average width (in meters) of crown of selected tree in third quadrate PQTrSp4 species code for nearest tree in fourth quadrate from center of vegetation plot; used in point-centered quarter measurements of vegetation PQTrDst4 distance (in meters) from center of vegetation plot to nearest tree in fourth quadrate PQTrHt4 height (in meters) of selected tree in fourth quadrate PQTrCan4 canopy cover (from densiometer) under selected tree in fourth quadrate PQTrDBH4 diameter at breast height (in centimeters) of selected tree in fourth quadrate PQTrCrn4 average width (in meters) of crown of selected tree in fourth quadrate PQSnagD1 distance from center of vegetation plot to the first snag 12cm dbh in the first quadrate. Leave this and all subsequent measures of snags in quadrate 1 blank if there is no snag present within 25 m of the center of the vegetation plot PQSngHt1 height (in meters) of selected snag in first quadrate PQSnCan1 canopy cover (from densiometer) under selected snag in first quadrate PQSnDBH1 diameter at breast height of the snag within the first quadrate PQSngCr1 average width (in meters) of crown of selected snag in the first quadrate PQSnagD2 distance from center of vegetation plot to the first snag 12cm dbh in the second quadrate. Leave this and all subsequent measures of snags in quadrate 1 blank if there is no snag present within 25 m of the center of the vegetation plot PQSngHt2 height (in meters) of selected snag in second quadrate PQSnCan2 canopy cover (from densiometer) under selected snag in second quadrate PQSnDBH2 diameter at breast height of the snag within the second quadrate PQSngCr2 average width (in meters) of crown of selected snag in the second quadrate PQSnagD3 distance from center of vegetation plot to the first snag 12cm dbh in the third quadrate. Leave this and all subsequent measures of snags in quadrate 1 blank if there is no snag present within 25 m of the center of the vegetation plot PQSngHt3 height (in meters) of selected snag in first quadrate PQSnCan3 canopy cover (from densiometer) under selected snag in third quadrate PQSnDBH3 diameter at breast height of the snag within the first quadrate PQSngCr3 average width (in meters) of crown of selected snag in the third quadrate PQSnagD4 distance from center of vegetation plot to the first snag 12cm dbh in the fourth quadrate. Leave this and all subsequent measures of snags in quadrate 1 blank if there is no snag present within 25 m of the center of the vegetation plot PQSngHt4 height (in meters) of selected snag in fourth quadrate PQSnCan4 canopy cover (from densiometer) under selected snag in fourth quadrate PQSnDBH4 diameter at breast height of the snag within the fourth quadrate PQSngCr4 average width (in meters) of crown of selected snag in the fourth quadrate
VARIABLE NAMES USED IN DAILY WEATHER DATA FILES
Variable Name Description Date (first digit = month, next two digits = day of month: 5/07/94 = 507) Yr year (2 numbers, e.g. 94) Plot
State
Site
MaxT_C maximum temperature (degrees C) during the 24 hr Date MinT_C minimum temperature (degrees C) during the 24 hr Date Rain_mm rainfall during the 24 hr Date (in mm) Wind wind code (0-5) recorded at noon on that Date Sky sky code (0-8) recorded at noon on that Date
APPENDIX B
Names of some variables were changed from earlier editions of the protocol to the current version. Below is a list of the variables that were added or changed. The reasons for changes were to make the names of variables more closely reflect the actual data being recorded. The major constraint was that variable names could only be 8 characters long, as most, in order to maintain compatibility with some database programs.
New Variable Names Comment/Old Name Lat_d, Lat_min, Lat_sec, Long_d, Long_m, Long_sec, Lat_m, Elev_m All are new variables provided for BBIRD sites that GPS the locations of all nests. Nsucegg, Nsucinc, Nsucnstl, Nfinalsuc, Cnfate New versions of pre-existing fate code variables (see APPENDIX C). Nobtot New variable required to fully tally numbers of observation days of nests. Precinit New precision code for initiation dates. Cobs New observation days code for Cowbirds. Preceggd, Preceggl, Preceggh, Precfldg New precision codes for cowbird-related nest variables. Gcsedge, Gcbrush, Gcmoss, Gccactus, Gcwater, Gcmarsh, Gcrock New categories of ground cover. VgSRadm Formerly called Pltrad_m. Vgsp#, Treesp# Formerly Spp#m5. and Spp#m11 respectively. VStm#cl1, VStm#cl2 Formerly S#m50 and S#m51 respectively. TSRadM New variable allowing variable radii in tree stem count plots. TStm#Cl1, TStm#Cl2, TStm#Cl3 Formerly S#m112, S#m113, and S#114 respectively. PQShSp#, PQShdSt#, PQShHt#, PQShWd#, PQShpWd# New variables for point-centered quarter sampling of shrubs. PQTrSp#, PQTrDst#, PQTrHt#, PQTrDBH#, PQTrCrn#, PQTrCan# New variables for point-centered quarter sampling of live trees. PQSnagD#, PQSngHt#, PQSngCr#, PQSnDBH#, PQSnCan# New variables for point-centered quarter sampling of snags. M#NumI, M#NumO, F#NumI, F#NumO, U#NumI, U#NumO For point counts, replace Sex#, Num#, and Num1b
APPENDIX C
The numeric codes used to describe nest fate were changed from previous editions of the protocol to the current edition. The table below provides a conversion from old fate codes to the newer codes. The reason for the change was that some BBIRD sites required additional codes, resulting in a proliferation of integer codes, the order of which reflected in no logical way the biological similarities of the fates. The new integer.decimalformat allows similar fates to be grouped together based on the integer component of the codes, while allowing a series of sub-categories in the decimal component.
Field Protocol Menu
Program Overview
Where To Look
Methods
Data Sheets
Establishing Study Plots
Finding New Nests
Monitoring Nests
Summarizing Nest Fate
Describing Nests' Locations
Measuring Vegetation
Point Counts
Measuring Weather
References
Appendix of BBIRD Variables
General Protocol (PDF)
Grassland Protocol (PDF)
Old BBIRD Fate Code New BBIRD Fate Code 1 1.0 2 2.3 3 4.0 4 4.1 5 2.7 6 2.2 7 2.4 8 2.1 9 3.0 9 3.1 9 3.2 10 2.6 11 2.0 12 2.5 13 4.2
Field Protocols
Last modified: Sunday, 23-March-97 13:00:22 MST