Using Field Cards

Basically your field cards will list all of your observations in and around your home or in any block(s) that you may own (see Block Owner). The card is arranged with the effort data on the front (see an explanation of Effort), Bird observations on pages 2 and 3, and an abbreviated breeding codes list on the back (see Handbook for Participants, pages 34-35). Make sure you fill in all areas of the field card completely and accurately. For your convenience, a reusable weather-resistant species code card is provided. This will aid you not only in the speed with which you will be able to take notes in the field, but also as a guide to help you know, in advance, which species will require additional information later, e.g. specific locations or detailed notes or both (explanation on back of card). A black and white copy of your bock map folded to fit in your field card works well for this purpose.

If you see a species for which you will need additional information later, do yourself a favor and quickly jot down a number on the map which corresponds to the record on your field card. For example, you see a Golden-winged Warbler carrying food. You would write GWWA or Golden-winged Warbler in the species column “Code” followed by the breeding code, in this case Carrying Food=CF. In the next column write the date. Then take out your map and jot a “1” at your current location, and then write “map location 1” in your notes on your field card on the same line as your GWWA observation. This can also be simplified if you have a GPS; simply mark your location with the GPS and write in the Lat / Long in the comments (please read GeoReferencing Your Records). Write any notes you might have that will help a Regional Coordinator find the location, e.g. “Just behind Grove Run Elementary 50 feet from the swing set.”

You will notice a section of the field card with the heading “Hab”. This is for habitat observations of Hemlock—click here for more information about habitat codes.