Tips and Tricks
Finding GPS Coordinates for Locations
- If you are using Google maps- sometimes you can touch/hold on your location and coordinates may appear in info for that location.
- If not, many apps that will convert an address to coordinates or convert your current location to coodinates.
- For Android: My GPS Coordinates (by Hot Android Apps and Tools) or any similar apps.
- For Apple: Using the default "Maps" program, touch the dot for your location and it will bring up a window with information about that location, including coordinates.
- Whatsmygps.com is a useful website if you are using a computer or don't want to download an app.
Timing Observations
We highly recommend using an interval timer app or website to signal to you every 20 seconds to record the behavior. This will allow you to focus on the squirrel and not worry about keeping time.
- Android App: "Exercise Timer" http://app.exercisetimer.net/ykhaHLRW7V
- We have set up a timer for the squirrel project observations. This app will pulse-vibrate a few seconds before you need to record the observation and long-vibrate when it has been 20 seconds. You may need to go into the app settings to change it to vibrate.
- Website: http://www.intervaltimer.com/timers/8330653-auburn-squirrel-project-survey
- Hit the play button to start the survey. It should beep every 20 seconds for 10 minutes. Make sure to turn your volume down so you can hear it but the squirrel is not disturbed.
Watching Squirrels and Data Collection
- Try to stay as still and quiet as possible while watching your squirrel so you don’t distract or alter their behavior with your presence.
- While watching a squirrel, whenever it changes behaviors, note to yourself what the new behavior would be categorized as. When it’s time to record the current behavior, you’ll already know what to record.
- When watching scatterhoarding behavior, the telltale sign of caching food is the thrusting of the body towards the ground as the squirrel pushes food into the dirt. If you see the squirrel digging around in the leaf litter and suddenly finds food to eat or bury, it probably recovered a cached food.
If you think of other advice that you think would be helpful to our other volunteers, let us know and we will add to the list!