Data Collection • Observation periods: • 4 separate days • 1-2 hours total Choose an animal species: • NO pets • Same species (different individuals are okay) • Something with an observable behaviour • Standardize: • Conduct observations on days with decent/similar weather conditions • Animals will act differently under different environmental conditions! Data Collection: Behaviour Log ⚫ Date • Time • Weather conditions • Location • Species name (to the best of your ability) • Environmental context: •Habitat/surroundings ⚫ Changes that occur during the survey ⚫ Log of behavioural activity: ⚫ Note all behaviours (eating, scanning area, making sounds, interactions with other animals, etc.) • Record approximate duration of each behaviour (2min foraging, 20sec scanning area, etc.) • Take photos/video if you can! Data Collection: Behaviour Log (example) Species: Sciurus carolinensis (Eastern grey squirrel, black morph) Date: Day 1 Oct 1st 2022 Start Time: 4:02pm End Time: 4:33pm Location: My front lawn, Shawville, Quebec (grassy yard with single mature maple tree) Weather: ~12°C, partially sunny Behavioural Observations: 4:02pm squirrel climbs down from tree, pausing on trunk to observe area 4:03pm begins foraging (sniffing) ground; pauses after every minute (or so) to scan surroundings (a few seconds) before resuming 4:10pm finds food item, places it in mouth and runs to a new location, sniffing on ground in several locations before burying it 4:13pm resumes foraging