A brief guide to conducting animal behavior research at Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden. Prepared by Monika Lapinski, March 2013

Transcription

1 A brief guide to conducting animal behavior research at Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden Prepared by Monika Lapinski, March 2013 Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden in Portland, Oregon (near Reed College), offers a large area with multiple ponds known for its abundance of waterfowl during the winter months. The garden is free to visitors during the winter until March 1, so students will not have to worry about entrance fees. This habitat is highly managed and has a wide variety of native and non native vegetation, man made water features including fountains and waterfalls (most are non-functional during winter), as well as extensive maintained trail systems frequented by local residents and their pets. Behavioral research can be undertaken readily in this area, using different techniques for different species based on your interest. There are many common species of ducks that are easy to observe including mallards, ring necked ducks, lesser scaup, greater scaup (less common, so if you are an inexperienced birder, lesser scaup is likely what you are looking at), wood ducks, American widgeon, gadwall, redheads and canvasbacks (see the end of this handout for descriptions and best methods for research). Other common species include Canada geese (easy to observe, but hard to monitor individuals), American coot, great blue heron, green heron, double crested cormorant, and various gull species. Difficulties in studying these species vary broadly. Both species of heron are easily seen but may involve long hours of tedious monitoring, watching a single bird sit on a branch for hours with little movement between flight, foraging or social interaction (herons are not know for being very social outside of the breeding season). Cormorants and gulls, while common, are most easily seen when they

2 are resting on logs sunning or flying overhead quickly (and subsequently flying out of sight), but could be more easily studied on an individual basis because they are not grouped in such large populations as the Canada goose. American coots are the last common species of bird easily observed on the ponds at Crystal Springs. This small, charismatic member of the rail family can be observed feeding on aquatic vegetation (it is an efficient diver) and frequently chasing away other coots as well as neighboring ducks. These birds could be easily studied because although they are often seen with other coots or ducks, they are not in large tight knit groups, making individuals easy to keep an eye on. It is recommended that students visit the area before choosing their study subject(s) to determine which group of species is most interesting to them. While many bird studies are limited to the early morning hours, conducting research on the energy budget of waterfowl is not completely dependent on conducting your studies in the early morning. However, the garden is a public space that becomes busier the later in the day you conduct your research and people walking their dogs, jogging, or with small children will influence duck and other wildlife behavior. Species descriptions and some ideas for data collection technique follow.

3 Mallard: Large dabbling duck (meaning it feeds on the surface of the water and does not dive), often in male/female pairs or small groups. Both male and female have bright orange legs, males sport a bright green head and yellow bill, while females are drab brown, have a prominent dark stripe across the eye and an orange bill. MOST USEFUL STUDY TECHNIQUE: SCAN SAMPLING OF FOCAL ANIMAL OR PAIR/GROUP, CONTINUOUS OR FOCAL ANIMAL SAMPING

4 Wood duck: This smaller duck feeds mostly on seeds and acorns along with aquatic invertebrates and vegetation. Able to dive but commonly seen on land foraging. Males are brightly colored with distinct green crest, bright red and orange bill, and red eye, chestnut chest and white chinstrap. Females also sport a crest but are primarily brown and grey with a very distinct teardrop shaped white eye ring. MOST USEFUL STUDY TECHNIQUE: SCAN SAMPLING OF FOCAL ANIMAL OR PAIR/GROUP, CONTINUOUS OR FOCAL ANIMAL SAMPING

5 Gadwall: This heavy dabbling duck boasts yellow legs (a good identifier when compared with mallards), males have a dark grey/black bill, females have some lighter, orange coloration on the lower portion of their bill, males have distinct black tail feathers and silver tertials, but are overall a mottled grey color. Females may be confused with female mallards, but are greyer. Both adults have a large, almost square shaped head. MOST USEFUL STUDY TECHNIQUE: SCAN SAMPLING OF FOCAL ANIMAL OR PAIR/GROUP, CONTINUOUS OR FOCAL ANIMAL SAMPING

6 American Wigeon: This is another heavy dabbling duck that can be seen often grazing on grasses near the ponds as well as feeding on aquatic vegetation. Often seen with gadwall, but has distinct pinkish-brown coloration on its back and sides, females have a gray-brown head and males have a bright green stripe starting from the eye and continuing down the back of its head, with a white or buff colored forehead. These ducks have dark gray legs, and a bluish bill with a dark tip. MOST USEFUL STUDY TECHNIQUE: SCAN SAMPLING OF FOCAL ANIMAL OR PAIR/GROUP, CONTINUOUS OR FOCAL ANIMAL SAMPING

7 Lesser Scaup: Common diving duck, males sport a bright blue bill, black head and primarily white flanks, with a black tail and gray barring on the back with a yellow eye. Females are dark brown with gray-brown body, blue-gray bill, and a distinct white patch of feathers at the base of the bill. These birds are often found in pairs or small flocks and feed primarily by diving and sifting through the sand and mud on the bottom of ponds and lakes in search of aquatic invertebrates. MOST USEFUL STUDY TECHNIQUE: SCAN SAMPLING OF FOCAL ANIMAL OR PAIR/GROUP, CONTINUOUS OR FOCAL ANIMAL SAMPING

8 Ring Necked Duck: Similar in appearance to the lesser scaup. Males have a black back, gray flanks, black head and chest and a black tail. Bill has a distinct white outline and a black tip. Females are overall dark brown, have a white eye ring (with the scaup doe not), and grey cheeks. MOST USEFUL STUDY TECHNIQUE: SCAN SAMPLING OF FOCAL ANIMAL OR PAIR/GROUP, CONTINUOUS OR FOCAL ANIMAL SAMPING

9 Canvasback: A common, larger diving duck with distinct bill and head shape, these divers are not often seen as close to shore as the other diving ducks mentioned in the handout. Males have a heavy brown head with a sloped forehead leading to a large sloping black bill. Dark brown head and limited black coloration on the chest contrast with a primarily white body, and black tail. Females are light brown overall, with a pale gray-brown body and darker head, and share the same large sloping black bill that is characteristic of this species. Feeds on mollusks and other aquatic invertebrates as well as aquatic vegetation. MOST USEFUL STUDY TECHNIQUE: SCAN SAMPLING OF FOCAL ANIMAL OR PAIR/GROUP, CONTINUOUS OR FOCAL ANIMAL SAMPING

10 Redhead: Slightly smaller than canvasbacks, and also seen farther from shore than other divers, this bird primarily feeds on aquatic vegetation. Males have a very bright rufous, round head with a blue bill, black chest and gray body. Females are a drab brown color with a black eye, ground head, and blue-gray bill. Head and bill shape are the easiest way to distinguish redheads and canvasback ducks, especially from a distance. MOST USEFUL STUDY TECHNIQUE: SCAN SAMPLING OF FOCAL ANIMAL OR PAIR/GROUP, CONTINUOUS OR FOCAL ANIMAL SAMPING

11 Canada Goose: Large goose found in pairs or large flocks. Brown body with a black neck and head with a distinct white cheek and pale breast. Many different subspecies exist, and some will group together in the winter flocks seen at Crystal Springs. MOST USEFUL STUDY TECHNIQUE: GROUP OR FOCAL ANIMAL SCAN SAMPLING, CONTINUAL/FOCAL ANIMAL SAMPLING IF SINGLE BIRD IS IDENTIFIABLE

12 Great Blue Heron: Very tall, large wading birds with heavy yellow bill, black plumes on the head and an overall blue-gray body and gray legs. In flight, this birds long legs are extended behind it and its neck is tucked into its body. Feeds on fish, small mammals and other prey. MOST USEFUL STUDY TECHNIQUE: ALL OCCURRENCE, ONE-ZERO OR FOCAL ANIMAL SAMPLING

13 Green Heron: Much smaller, darker heron species. Bright orange legs, dark rufous neck and iridescent green plumage on its back with a dark crest, mostly black bill and a yellow eye. Overall a very dark bird with little contrast between markings. This mostly solitary bird feeds on fish, small mammals and other prey. MOST USEFUL STUDY TECHNIQUE: ALL OCCURRENCE, ONE-ZERO OR FOCAL ANIMAL SAMPLING

14 Double Crested Cormorant: Black bird with a long neck, hooked grey bill, blue eye and yellow throat. Frequently seen with its wings spread out sunning on logs and dead trees. This bird forages for fish and is an excellent diver, when swimming, its back is almost completely obscured by water. Likely the only species of cormorant that you would see at Crystal Springs. MOST USEFUL STUDY TECHNIQUE: CONTINUOUS FOCAL ANIMAL SAMPLING, ALL OCCURRENCE, OR SCAN SAMPLING.

15 American Coot: Black and dark gray overall with a bright white bill, lobed yellow feet (related to rails, so no webbed feet), and a red eye. Dives for aquatic vegetation and will sometimes graze on land in golf courses or lawns. Forms loose flocks and is often seen with ducks as well as other coots. MOST USEFUL STUDY TECHNIQE: CONTINUOUS ANIMAL SAMPLING, SCAN SAMPLING

16 Gulls: Gulls are often difficult to identify if the observer is not a savvy or experienced birder. Possible species observed at Crystal Springs during the winter include but are not limited to: Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, and possibly California Gull. All are larger gulls, and are commonly seen during the winter months. These smart and charismatic seabirds may be difficult to study based on their patchy distribution and active lifestyle. MOST USEFUL STUDY TECHNIQUE: ALL OCCURRENCE, CONTINUOUS ANIMAL SAMPLING.