Greg H

Field Project 1: Finding Existing Data

Topic and Anticipated Research Question:

The dataset that I found included data on many species of migratory birds.  This data was the number of migratory birds recorded at various key junctions in their migrations, where the birds band together in large numbers.  This dataset could be used to analyze weather the populations of many North American migrants’ bird species are declining or growing.  You could also use the data to determine the effect of drought on the population of birds by locating data on the precipitation amounts in the summer breeding areas and comparing them to the recorded populations along the flyway from that year. The dataset that I choose is on the recorded count of the mallard because it is the most extensively studied migrant bird of North America and there was ample data provided.

Dataset:

1. 1.    What is it? The dataset is a list the number of migrant mallard ducks recorded at seven different key migration locations on the pacific flyway.
2. 2.    Who collected it? This dataset was collected by USGS, or the United States Geological survey
3. 3.    When was it collected? Data is available from 1960 when the first count began to 2013
4. 4.    Where is it available? This dataset is available at the United States Geological Survey website.
5. 5.    Form in which used? The dataset is available in an excel document format. Or displayed on a chart on the website.

Appropriate Dataset:

This data set is an appropriate dataset because it provides the recorded count of mallard populations traveling through the pacific flyway.  Additionally the it documents the past well and provides large amounts of data on past recorded populations making it ideal for a study of the growth or decline of the mallard population. So using this dataset one could very easily determine whether the population of mallards has been growing of has been in decline.

 Data Structure:

The data is structured by first choosing the bird in which you wish to find data. You then select the country and the flyway. From there the flyway is broken up into six or seven different points which funnel the migrant birds through mountain passes so as to get the most accurate population count. The data includes a chart provided by USGS or you can download the data in an excel format.

Data Extraction:

All you need to do to extract the data that you need is would be to determine which bird you would like to find data on, choose the flyway and the country and choose the years in which you are interested in.

Analysis Needed:

Simple charts and graph are all that are needed to display whether the population of mallards traveling through the pacific flyway is in decline or in a period of growth. A good way to show this would be through a line or bar graph by dissecting the data into its separate stages of migration, or creating a bar graph which compares the recorded number for each of the locations that they collect the bird counts.

To determine the what extent drought effects mallard populations one would have to run a regressions analysis of precipitation levels and recorded bird counts from the location. Maybe a multiple regression should be included and have other factors that like extremes in weather or temperature.