Training MaterialsRecording Animal Observations

www.usanpn.org/participate/guidelines 2

1. Select a site

2. Select plant and animal species

3. Select individual plants

4. Mark your site and plants

5. Record your observations of

animals

6. Record your observations of plants

7. Report your data online

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• Plants: repeat observations of the same individual plants

• Animals: create a checklist for your site, look and listen for all species each time you visit

Observation considerations

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• Phenophases to observe

• Frequency of observations

• Special considerations

• Site visit details

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Observation considerations

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• Walking a single line through site

• Stationary at a single point

• Area search: multiple passes through site

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Observing animals

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Phenophases to observe

Check animal profile page:

http://www.usanpn.org/species_search

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What to look for and record• Yes (Y) – if the phenophase is

occurring• No (N) – if the phenophase is

not occurring• Uncertain (?) – if you are not

certain whether you saw or heard that species or that phenophase

• Do not record anything if you did not check for this phenophase

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What to look for and record• Yes (Y) – if the phenophase is

occurring• No (N) – if the phenophase is

not occurring• Uncertain (?) – if you are not

certain whether you saw or heard that species or that phenophase

• Do not record anything if you did not check for this phenophase

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What to look for and record• Yes (Y) – if the phenophase is

occurring• No (N) – if the phenophase is

not occurring• Uncertain (?) – if you are not

certain whether you saw or heard that species or that phenophase

• Do not record anything if you did not check for this phenophase

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What to look for and record• Yes (Y) – if the phenophase is

occurring• No (N) – if the phenophase is

not occurring• Uncertain (?) – if you are not

certain whether you saw or heard that species or that phenophase

• Do not record anything if you did not check for this phenophase

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What to look for and record• Yes (Y) – if the phenophase is

occurring• No (N) – if the phenophase is

not occurring• Uncertain (?) – if you are not

certain whether you saw or heard that species or that phenophase

• Do not record anything if you did not check for this phenophase

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What to look for and record• Yes (Y) – if the phenophase is

occurring• No (N) – if the phenophase is

not occurring• Uncertain (?) – if you are not

certain whether you saw or heard that species or that phenophase

• Do not record anything if you did not check for this phenophase

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A quick example: American robin

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A quick example: American robin

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A quick example: American robin

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A quick example: American robin

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A quick example: American robin

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A quick example: American robin

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Robin

Goldfinch

Black-capped chickadee

Gopher snake

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Robin

Goldfinch

Black-capped chickadee

Gopher snake

4/8/10

Robin

Goldfinch

Black-capped chickadee

Gopher snake

4/8/10 4/15/10 5/1/10

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Cover Sheet

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• W = walked a single line through site

• S = stationary at a single point

• A = area search through site

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During each site visit:• Summarize animals seen and heard on the

Animal Checklist• Document any phenophases seen or heard

for animals on your checklist on individual Animal Phenophase Datasheets

• Document site visit details on the Cover Sheet

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Bringing it all together: Another quick example

• American robin

• Black-capped chickadee

• Bumblebee

60Photo:Trounce/Wikimedia Commons

Bringing it all together: Another quick example

On your site visit, you see:

• One robin flying through the site

• Two bumblebees visiting flowers

And you hear:

• One robin singing

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Robin

Bumblebee

Black-capped chickadee

4/8/10

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1

1

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3/1/11

5/5/10

5/5/10

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• W = walked a single line through site

• S = stationary at a single point

• A = area search through site

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5/5/10

5/5/10

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5/5/10

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5/5/10

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Another example…

• American robin

• Black-capped chickadee

• Bumblebee

71Photo:Trounce/Wikimedia Commons

• As often as possible

• At least once a week

• All observations are valuable!

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Frequency of observations

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• Convenient for you

• Consistently

• For species on Nature’s Notebook list, during the day

Time of day of observations

What if I missed a phenophase?• Make a note of it in the comments section of

your data form

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3/10/11

Nest built between 3/1/11 and 3/10/11

• Continue to watch• Make a note of it in the comments section of

your data form

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What if a phenophase isn’t occurring?

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11/10/11

No robins seen mating this year

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What if I never see the animals on my list?

• Often you will not see them

• Sometimes you will never see them

• This information is very valuable

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Keep looking for a phenophase, even after it has ended

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Keep looking for a phenophase, even after it has ended

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