Field Notes
A few guides for the naturalist:
Keeping a Naturalist’s Field Journal
A Glimpse Inside Great Explorers’ Notebooks
How to keep a field journal
THE NATURALIST'S FIELD JOURNAL
Photographs of a life form or event might have some historical significance. Asking some questions such as why is this observation happening? How does it work? What are the components and is there a strategy to capture it if the opportunity arises again? Where does this exist? Is this a reoccurring or onetime event? Environment? When do they first appear? Do their numbers increase/decrease?
What life stage appears? Greater detail will fill in more of the blanks. Ask the experts.
8/9/19 Peck Park: Canyon with a creek and filled with a variety of flora and hidden fauna. Lizards heard scurrying through the dried leaves and grass, while ravens were active in the canopy. One common native plant, Encelia californica, nowhere in sight.
8/3/19 Bandini Canyon Park: Parallel horizontal painted panel walls flank the whole corridor park, which still plays host to native species. Not one western fence lizard appeared on this occasion. Mostly flattened dried grass, few native plants and the possibly unclimbable walls may be factors to consider. A well-developed habitat plays an important role in the local area’s biodiversity. Chaparral, nectar sources from various plants, landscape, water source, logs, rocks, and other ground objects are a few ways to allow the food chain to function and flourish.
6/15/19 White Point Nature Preserve: After above-normal winter rainfall, Theba pisana population exploded, found on plants to building walls. I could hear a variety of birds in the golden fields, though not seen.
How do birds learn songs?
How Birds Make Sounds
How and Why Birds Sing
4/21/19 George F. Canyon: Walking down the casual trail, an out of the ordinary bird call and another at a distance, an echo? Mourning cloak and Sara Orangetip butterflies pass by, and a Buteo heard somewhere beyond the trees. Further down the trail, scanning the tall eucalyptus trees from stories past, a big light object on a high branch came into view. Finally, the first sighting of a Great Horned Owl . Ever wonder why birds don't fall over when asleep? After the wonderful surprise sighting one hour into the adventure, a fitting ending, and back down the trail again listening to the mysterious sound. The song of an Indian peafowl.
4/13/19 Delthorne Park: A monarch and swallowtail flying around, the usual fox squirrel, a dry creek runoff, and a lawn dotted with large trees. Though the whole park wasn't examined too closely, one ubiquitous species was missing - the Argentine ant. Ants are usually easy to spot along the concrete, utility covers, wall, ground, or tree areas, none to be found. 8/3/19 Upon visiting once again, Red Harvester, Moorish Sneaking Ant, and another ant sp. Argentine ants seem to thrive where a supply of nectar, fruit, and moisture occur. 11/16/19 Same location: A nest of Dorymyrmex insanus appeared in the fine sand along the concrete walkway
