Bird Study Data Set Biol 3250

Using four decimals scale, 900 grams of bird seed was measured three times and placed in three identical plastic containers. Each container was then treated with water and one dye colour: red, green or yellow. Water allowed the dye to be absorbed by seed in order for seed to express the desired colour. 30 grams of coloured seed was then placed in 25 empty white bowls, and this was repeated for each colour. In total there was 125 bowls of seed each with 30 grams of either yellow, red or green in each bow. Bowls were brought to five chosen forest on York University campus in Toronto Ontario on October 1st, 2015. The edges of each forest were designated with a number from 1-4; North-1, South-2, West-3, and East-4. Using a random number generator, one of the four edges of the forest was chosen. The chosen edge was further divided horizontally along the edge into four equal sections, each section was then designated with a number from 1-4. Using a random number generator one of the section along the chosen edge was selected. The trees along the edge of the chosen section was then numbered, and using a random number generator a tree was selected. Starting from the chosen tree, orientated perpendicularly to the edge of the forest, 20 meter of the transect tape was placed on the ground. Walking along the transect tape three bowls each containing 30.00 grams of bird seed was placed in triangular orientation on the ground at the 1-meter mark of the transect tape. Each bowl within the triangular orientation contained a different colour bird seed; 1 bowl contained green bird seed, 1 bowl contained red bird seed and 1 bowl contained yellow bird seeds. This was repeated at 5, 10, 15, and 20 meters’ mark of the transect tape. Next the recorder stood in close proximity of the bowls until exactly 3:00 p.m. Eastern Pacific time, ensuring that no birds began eating the birds seed. At exactly 3:00 p.m.- 5:00 p.m. Eastern Pacific time, the recorder moved 30 feet away from bowls allowing the birds to begin to eat the bird seeds. At 5:00 p.m. the bird seeds remaining in each bowl was then weighed and recorded. This was repeated again on Thursday October 8th , 2015 and Thursday October 15th, 2015.