Field Protocols
ORGANIZATION OF THIS PROTOCOL
This protocol is organized into a series of sections that each represent a different task associated with running a BBIRD site. These descriptions of tasks are organized in roughly the same order as you would encounter them in the course of setting up a BBIRD study site, collecting data in the field, and summarizing the data at the end of the field season. The tasks are organized in the following order:
- Data collection forms: forms for recording data in the field should be prepared before the field season begins, in order to provide a standardized way of keeping records. See data sheet web page.
- Establishing the study plots to use: See study plot web page.
- Finding new nests: which data to record while searching for a suspected nest or immediately upon finding a new nest. See data to record from newly found nests.
- Monitoring nests: information to record each time you re-check a nest. See description of routine monitoring.
- After a nest fledges or fails: condensing the information from nest monitoring into a summary of the monitoring effort and fate of the nest. See fate summary web page.
- Describing location of the nest: measuring variables that describe placement and concealment of nests, done after activity at the nest has completed. These measurements should be taken at the same time that vegetation is measured around a nest. See how to describe nest locations.
- Describing vegetation on your study plots: systematic measurements of vegetation both in the immediate vicinity of nests, and at locations across study plots in order to describe habitat choices of birds, and to provide a description of the type of habitat on study plots. These measurements are generally taken at the end of a field season, when nest-related activities have slowed down. See how to describe vegetation around nests.
- Measuring densities of adult birds: description of using point counts to provide an index of the densities of breeding birds on study plots. This activity is conducted in parallel with nest finding and monitoring. See protocol for point counts.
- Recording meteorological information: recording information useful for relating nesting success to climatic variation. This activity is conducted in parallel with nest finding and monitoring. See meteorological measurements taken at BBIRD sites.
Field Protocols
Last modified: Sunday, 23-March-97 12:12:34 MST