Observation 3

Time: 5 pm
Weather: Mostly Cloudy
Temperature: 44 degrees


A new population of organisms are visiting my observation area today; a baby moose and a mother moose. They appear to be having a difficult time surviving. They are both very thin, they are also losing fur in patches, and it appears that they have some type of skin fungus. It also seems very likely that they have lice, and other parasites. They are so desperate for food that they were not even deterred by the barking dogs and cars of the neighborhood as they usually are. I predict that they will have a hard time surviving another winter as long and intense as this one, if they can even survive the summer.

The fox also made an appearance today. He was behaving strangely, one second he would hold stock still, and the next he would be running full speed across the common area field. At another point he also ran in a tight circle for about 3 minutes. I think it may have been the grasshoppers, and other grass bugs that occupy the field.

The fauna in this area is beginning to show signs of spring. The cattails have begun to sprout their white fuzzed tips that will soon turn brown. The population of willow trees by the pond is also starting to show green buds, that leaves will grow from. The grass is also growing taller and greener. All of these changes have created an increase in bird traffic for this area. Several magpies have a habitat in the willow trees, ducks have begun to nest in the island cattails, and a variety of songbird populations are in the area. I believe that as the weather continues to become warmer the biodiversity of the area will continue to increase.

Observation 2

Time: 4:30 pm
Weather: Partly cloudy
Temperature: 56 degrees


There is a new organism in my observation area today. A blue heron has landed on the island by the pond, and appears to be hunting the small frogs and insects that live near the cattail reeds. One of the adult foxes was also out in the field hunting to feed the rest of the population of foxes. I predict that the increase in biodiversity will continue throughout the coming weeks as the weather continues to become warmer. The pond appears to be the center of a small ecosystem. Organisms and populations come to it throughout the day; some to find food/water and others to find shelter, or just a place to stop and rest. The plant life around the pond is also beginning to become more developed. For instance, the cattail reeds have begun to grow their brown fuzzy caps, and the grasses have begun to become green and taller. I predict that soon the reeds grass will be high enough to provide shelter for populations of duck to have their ducklings in.


The blue heron appears to have caught a frog or a small fish to eat and now is returning to it's nest, perhaps the pond will become a regular feeding environment for this bird to visit. Now that the blue heron has left a population of approximately a dozen magpies has come to land in the willows beside the pond. Maybe they are looking to catch some insects or scavenge a kill off a song bird or another organism.

Observation 1: Description of Area 5/6/08

My observation area is located directly behind my house in Shoshone Dr. Wilson. The area reaches from just past the fence border of my back yard, through the pasture, and onto the common area located in the middle of the neighborhood. The area that I am observing will be around 3 acres. The habitat in this area is mostly flat grassland. The tree coverage in this area only consists of a few remaining natural willows and man planted conifer trees. There is also a man made pond with an island just past the fence line. Some of the biotic factors living in this area are a fox that has just had kits, and tends to roam through the neighborhood. Many other predators such as coyotes and the occasional wolf pack have visited this area. An occasional herd of elk or deer will travel through this area; many times moose will also winter in this area to feed off the willows. The pond also hosts a number of small frogs, and insects such as dragonflies, and horse flies.