Example Observation!

Site: Backyard/Fish Creek
Date: 5/4/08
Time: 5:42 PM
Temp: 54 Degrees F
Weather: Mostly Cloudy, Slightly Breezy
Soil: Dry, except where snow was melting

The observation area is located just off of Fish Creek in Wilson, WY. The area includes both a stream (man made) and pasture used for grazing horses throughout the summer. Without a deep soil/rock barrier between the surface and the water table, these spring months of melting snow may bring shallow floods to the pasture. Regarding the flora of the area, there are various species of trees, grasses and shrubs that serve as both shelter and a food source for the local fauna. Evergreen trees are present, with many dead tree stands indicative of a fire in previous years, as well as willows. With plenty of vegetation, it is expected that there will be a high level of fauna will be observed over the coming months. In this first observation alone, ducks, magpies and moose scat were already seen. Interactions between the population of mallard ducks was apparent, as two males physically fought over the limited resource, the female duck. In addition, in years prior, I have noticed that the birds of the area, that I believe to be robins, use the moose hair to create nests. This speaks to the important niche the moose have in this area of not only providing shelter for birds, but also to eat willows and spread their seeds through their scat. Over the next 4 weeks, it will be interesting to see how the fauna changes as flowers begin to bloom and more vegetation becomes available.