1. Tracy Aviary Citizen Science
Indoor Training – Beginner Group
February 18, 2017

2. Who we are
Tracy Aviary inspires curiosity and caring for birds and nature through education and conservation

3. Who you are Name Hometown Favorite hobby
Why you joined Tracy Aviary’s citizen science team

4. Citizen Science Project Overview

5. Tracy Aviary Citizen Science Background
2011
2017
Water Reclamation Facility
1 study site
Regional Athletic Complex
Jordan River Golf Course
8 study sites
8 volunteers
City Creek Canyon
~30 volunteers
Liberty Park
Parley’s Historic Nature Park
City Creek Canyon
Big Bend Habitat Restoration Area
Alta
Galena Soo’nkhanni Preserve

6. Why do we study birds? (relatively) Easy to identify
Contributors to healthy ecosystems
Indicators
Charismatic ambassadors
American Dipper

7. American Three-toed Woodpecker
Program Objectives
Science for everyone
Engaging citizens
Collect & Interpret data
Share results & Inform decision-making ?
American Three-toed Woodpecker

8. How do we use the data? Create a baseline Inform managers
Species present, habitat usage
Recommendations-voice for the birds
Long-term monitoring
Trends over time
Data sharing
Contribute to the big picture
eBird
BCOR

9. Study Sites and Partnerships
Alta
City Creek Canyon
Jordan River
Big Bend
Galena Soo’nkhanni
RAC/Jordan River Golf Course
Liberty Park
Parleys Historic Nature Park
Water Reclamation Facility
Water Reclamation Facility
Regional Athletic Complex
Jordan River Golf Course
City Creek Canyon
Liberty Park
Parley’s Historic Nature Park
Big Bend Habitat Restoration Area
Galena Soo’nkhanni Preserve
Alta

10. Utah Division of Wildlife

11. Things to keep in mind when doing science
Learn and follow protocols
Be consistent in data collection
Question your knowledge, double check yourself
Ensure assumptions are being met

12. Survey Protocol and Methods
Breeding Bird Surveys - Point Counts (Distance Sampling)
2 Roles:
Recorder
Observer
Start Time: dawn (5:15am – 6am depending on site)
End Time: several hours after dawn (8am-10:30am depending on site)
Survey Dates: Mid-April to July (varies by site)

13. Survey Protocol and Methods
Point Transect Surveys (Distance Sampling)

14. Distance Sampling Species Richness Abundance Density
Community Composition

15. Assumptions of Distance Sampling
Birds are identified correctly
Nearby birds are detected
All birds at 0m are detected
Birds are detected at their initial locations
Distance measurements are exact
No “binning”

16. Learning Goals for Beginner Group
Learn to identify 20 common birds by sight and sound
Learn how to conduct field surveys as recorder

17. Trainings, Weekly Practices, and Assessments
1. Indoor Training and Pre-assessment
2. Trainings and Practice:
Field Trainings* (March 4 through June):
Saturday mornings
Thursday afternoons
Same topic
*Minimum of 4 required
Weekly Practices (Feb 28 through May):
Online bird ID practices and quizzes
Optional in-person birding by ear practices: Tuesday evenings 5:30-6:30
3. Post-assessments:
Indoor post-assessment – early May
Field assessment – early May
4. Breeding Bird Surveys (April 15 through July)

18. Training Resources tracyaviaryconservation.org
***Password to access schedule: woodpecker

19. Break
Northern Flicker

20. What birds do you know?

31. QUIZ PART 2
TURN OFF PROJECTOR

32. LAZB: http://www.xeno-canto.org/74088
WETA:
YEWA:
AMGO:
BCCH:
DEJU:
BHGR:
CHSP:
AMRO:
NOFL:

33. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Break
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

34. Identifying Birds by Sight and Sound
Western Meadowlark
Red-winged Blackbird
Wilson’s Snipe
Identifying Birds by Sight and Sound
Downy Woodpecker
Cinnamon Teal

35. Bird ID by Sight Size & Shape Movement & Behavior
Habitat & Time of Year
Color Pattern & Field Marks

36. Black-capped Chickadee
1. Size & Shape
Black-capped Chickadee
Black-billed Magpie
Belted Kingfisher
Mourning Dove

37. 1. Size & Shape Sharp-shinned Hawk Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker
Cooper’s Hawk

38. 2. Movement & Behavior House Finch Northern Flicker California Quail
American Robin

39. 3. Habitat & Time of Year
Alta
City Creek
Jordan River
Elevation

40. 3. Habitat & Time of Year ebird.org: Green-tailed Towhee
Spotted Towhee
Western Tanager

41. 4. Color Pattern & Field Marks
American Goldfinch
Lesser Goldfinch
Song Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Yellow Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler

42. Bird ID by Sound Parts of bird vocalization Distinguishing features
Rhythm, pitch, repetition, tone
Mnemonics
Differentiating songs that sound similar

43. 1. Parts of bird vocalization
American Goldfinch
House Finch
Call notes
Songs
Hairy Woodpecker
Other (non vocal) sounds

44. 2. Distinguishing features
Rhythm
Pitch
Repetition
Tone
House Wren
American Robin
Mourning Dove
Cedar Waxwing
Canyon Wren
repeat phrases 3+ times
Northern Mockingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Yellow Warbler

45. put on your tea-kettle-ettle-ettle!
3. Mnemonics
Black-capped Chickadee
American Robin
Song Sparrow
Chick-a-dee-dee-dee-dee
Feee-bee!
Cheese burger!
Cheerily cheer-up cheerily
Yellow Warbler
Maids-maids-maids,
put on your tea-kettle-ettle-ettle!
Sweet-sweet-sweet-little-boy-sweet

46. 4. Differentiating songs that sound similar
American Robin
Western Tanager
Hoarse and burry: Robin with a cold?
Hairy Woodpecker
Downy
Woodpecker
vs.
vs.
Lower, even-pitched rattle
sharp “peek”
Descending whinny
flat “pick” call note

47. Learning Resources All About Birds allaboutbirds.org
Macaulay Library macaulaylibrary.org
Dendroica natureinstruct.org/dendroica
ebird ebird.org
Merlin ID app merlin.allaboutbirds.org
Larkwire app Xeno-Canto
Utah Birds

48. Practice Practice Practice!

49. Training
Assessment
American Avocet