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Science is based on observations. This week focuses on learning to make observations that will assist you in identifying the birds that you see in the field.
Field notes are most useful when they include details about how the bird looked, where the bird was located and what the bird was doing. Unfortunately a bird rarely stays in view for as long as we would like it to. Your notes can help you identify a bird when you can no longer see it.
This week's readings focus on the topography of birds. Learning the terminology that describes the external structures of a bird makes it easier to write useful field notes. Field guides point out topographical features that are useful for identifying birds in the field.
Observing birds in your neighborhood provides an opportunity to practice using visual and auditory clues to locate birds. Focusing on field marks will help you identify the birds that you observe.