Instructions for selecting sample points

Utah has widely diverse habitats often with several in a survey square. Since breeding birds are habitat specific, each habitat represented within a square should be surveyed.

Surveys are to be conducted by choosing sample points or stops, then visiting the sample point and viewing, identifying and recording the birds present, spending enough time at the sample point to observe the birds and identify their behavior.

A minimum of 5 sample points should be surveyed in a square. If the square is primarily a single habitat type, the suggested 5 sample points can be used, adapting them to the realities of the square terrain. When recording a sample point location, use the location actually surveyed, not the suggested sample point location. If significant areas of different habitats occur in the square, one or more sample points should be chosen within each habitat, choosing locations appropriate to the terrain. The new sample points may replace or augment the suggested sample points.

Sample points chosen should be representative of the habitat in general. If multiple sample points are selected for a habitat, select locations that differ, such as being dryer, or having a different slope, or facing a different direction.

Sample points may be chosen in advance or may be selected while visiting the square.

Sample points should be numbered for identification purposes. The suggested sample points are numbered S1 thru S5. If a suggested sample point is not used the identification number is not reused. Other sample points selected should be numbered 'A1', 'A2'... and so on. (The 'A' is arbitrary and may be replaced by any letter or combination of letters desired.) The numbers need not be consecutive but can be chosen for surveying convenience.

When visiting a sample point, its location should be recorded either by using a GPS and noting the coordinates or by placing a dot on a map with the sample point identification and noting the directions to the point on the survey form.

Sample points can be thought of as small circles rather than a single point, having a diameter of 200 to 300 feet. All species seen while at the sample point should be recorded even if they are outside the sample point circle. If a significant sighting, such as an uncommon bird or nest site is discovered while traveling within the square from one sample point to another, a new sample point should be established to record that species, provided it has not been observed previously at a different sample point.

Often it will be necessary to have a sample point in one habitat while surveying a different habitat, such as when at a grassland habitat looking for birds in a wetland habitat. In this case two different sample points would be established using almost the same location but with different habitat types.

If questions arise when determining the location of a sample point, do your best to locate it on a map and provide as detailed directions as possible. The habitat and bird are more important than a 100% accurate location.