No more tally sheets!
That’s right…for the last decade or so, we’ve thrown out the antiquated, hand-marked tally sheets in favor of something far more modernized.
Many of our Citizen Scientists may agree, hand-scoring and uploading data can be a bit lengthy. So, when out in the field, and collecting hours of data, we opt to use a tool called Animal Behavior Pro.
What is Animal Behavior Pro?
In our previous blogs, you learned about different sampling and recording techniques, now it’s time to select your animal behavior recording tool, create your ethogram, and go out in the field and record! Animal Behavior Pro, of course, is not the only available recording tool, however, it’s one that works well for the kind of behavioral data that we typically record with Giant Pandas.
Depending on your research and what data you are hoping to collect, the Animal Behavior Pro App is a great tool that allows you to focus on any of the four sampling methods: Focal Animal, Scan, Focal Behavior, Ad Libitum. You have the freedom to customize the coding scheme for each of these sampling methods based on individual species you want to observe, behaviors that you want to record and the duration of the observation.
Check out the videos below on how to create your own ethogram through the app!
…and how PDX Wildlife uses this tool in the field…or on squirrels in Canada!
Curious about our Pacing Pandas Citizen Science?
Come try your hand at being a Panda Scientist and help us collect behavior data for our Pacing Pandas Citizen Science Project!
