With your assigned group, identify each animal observed at all the stations.

Observers Instructions:
Upon sighting, don't take your eyes off of what you are looking at.
Bring your binoculars up to your face.
After you focus the binoculars look for key characteristics/markings and tell them to the Note Taker
Describe in the following order:

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Example for birds:

What size is it? Chickadee size (length of an adult's little finger), Sparrow size (size of an adults fist), Robin size (size of an adults hand), Crow size (size of the area between an adult's fingers and forearm), Hawk size (length of an adult's tip of the fingers to the elbow)

Then the head:     Beak size, shape, and color     Color on head and around eyes     Eye lines or rings     Eye color

Then the body:     Chest color (plain, striped, spots)     Wings color and markings     Legs (length and color)     Feet (toe shapes, webbing)

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Example of mammals:

What size is it? Is it the size of a:
    Mouse
    Rat
    Cat
    Large dog (Lab)
    Bear


What is the color of the fur?
Does it have a short or long tail?
Does the tail have fur on it?
Does it have a long or short snout/nose?


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Example for amphibians and reptiles:

What is its color?
Are there eye lines or rings?
Is the skin smooth or bumpy?

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Note Taker Instructions:
Observers Name: Record your team's names, teacher, and period - in your data collection form.
Date: Today's date
Common Name: Write common name - spelling it correctly
How sure are you? If unsure, record a "1" if you are not sure if you identified the species correctly or a "2" if you know the species ID is correct, but it "shouldn't be there"
Description: Describe the key characteristics of the species the best you can as reported by the Observer

Biologist Instructions:
Sketch the species being described in your journal (especially for elementary students).
Use field guide and State Species List for reference to identify the species being described by the Observer and give the common name to the Note Taker.