Armando Madrigal

Tzyyyuan Huang

Andrew Tran

Joel Galvan

Marine Bio. Prof.Sepulveda

Hypothesis

Our null hypothesis is that there is no diurnal shift in bird species composition at a specific location.

In other words, is there a difference between the species of birds at noon and night?

Data Collection & Methods We tested our hypothesis with the help of binoculars

and Mac’s Field Guide to California Coastal Birds.

Data Collection & Methods Cont’D We chose to observe the different bird species at two

different times in the day. One at noon and the other at dusk.

We took photos quietly and counted how many birds there were in a single species.

We also took photos through our binoculars.

We recorded the temperature and weather.

We walked all the way from the pier to the harbor, until we found the perfect location; mouth of the river.

Rationale

We chose this site because it was located at the end of the San Luis Rey River and very close to an open ocean.

The mouth of the river is a haven for freshwater marsh and sandy beach birds to loaf and be undisturbed by humans.

This specific beach habitat provides shorebirds to drink, bathe, and serve as a nesting colony for some birds.

Observations, Noon California Gull-large population

Western Gull-large population

American Scoot- couple

Herring Gull-few

Mallard- only one we saw

Brown Pelican- large population. Flying in formation

Observations, Dusk

Western Gull-

Sabine’s Gull-

Herring Gull-

Sooty Shearwater-open ocean

Conclusion

Our null hypothesis is refuted because we did observe a diurnal shift in bird species composition.