PASSER:
Programmable Automated System for Songbird Ecobehavioral Research. Radford University launched the PASSER project in order to study the physical activity of songbirds in relation to the surrounding environment. One major observation involves the daily feeding patterns of these birds and how they vary between species and/or the correlating habitat conditions. What is a "Smart-feeder"? Data is collected by using high-tech bird feeders (AKA: Smart-feeders) that use external sensors and processors to record various aspects of environmental conditions, such as the time/date, humidity, and temperature. The smart-feeder also holds a camera that is triggered by motion sensor, and each time it is triggered it takes a burst of 10 high-resolution photos. The Smart-feeder runs on batteries and solar power, so it is able to perform 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! Why use a Smart-feeder? Some common obstacles that come along with bird monitoring studies involve the need for many researchers and lots of time spent observing/recording. The Smart-feeder is a great resolution to these problems. When it comes to 24/7 surveillance, why not let the computers do it?! |
Data Analysis: Our phenology (study of seasonal changes) research class analyzed the different aspects of data from the photo sets, and submitted them into a corresponding excel data sheet. The date, humidity and temperature were automatically submitted by the Smart-feeder, and we entered the rest in 3 specific visual observations. 1st: Name that species! We identified the species of bird that was present in each photo. Each species has a distinct four letter code (shown to the right) that was input for each presence. Click Here to view Cornell's Common Feeder Bird Identification Guide that helped us with identification. 2nd: Male or Female? Sexual Dimorphism: When a species has a visual distinction between sexes. For the certain species that display sexual dimorphism, we determined whether a male or female was present. Other species do not have visually distinctive sexes. In the Cornell Bird Guide referred to above, it also shows sexual dimorphic species and the visual differences. 3rd: Signs of displacement? Displacement: When a bird attempts to force another individual from the feeder, whether successful or not. We recorded any displacement that occurred within each set of photos. When displacement was observed, a "2nd Occupant" was recorded as taking the "1st Occupant's" place. For visual examples, see pictures below. |
-We followed research protocols established for the PASSER Project by Dr. Jason Davis and Dr. Sarah Foltz (faculty) and Conner Philson (undergraduate) of Radford University.
(Click images to enlarge) |
Migratory Species |
Permanent Residents Species |