Using a Species Account

A Species Account is a record of animal, plant or other nature observations.

Since little is known about the majority of animal and plant speciesalmost any information is useful and valuable. It's entries are geared toward recording ecology and behavior.

In the Grinnell Field Journal System, the journal would narrate generalobservations the species account would be for specific birds, plants, weather, rocks, etc, that you are focusing on.

I have read that college biology students are required to make a detailed species account of all the species that they observe. For the amateur naturalist, that might be too much. Choose what works best for you.

These entries are where observation of regularly or intensely studied species is collected in one place. This makes it easy to locateinformation on behavior, nesting, courtship, etc. To be reallyvaluable, the observations should be made at regular intervals. Professional naturalists plan out a schedule. Perhaps, a certain plant is scheduled to be observed every day at 10:00 am. Or a bird's nesting behavior once a week.

Having this information in one place saves hunting through journals to find out about a particular species. Say, you were asked to write a short article, poem, etc., for your nature club newsletter on the bluebirds in your local area. Having detailed observations about the birds' habits would make writing that article much easier.



Hints and Tips

• record the locality of sighting, observer and date
• on frequently traveled trails use standard references or prominent landscape features. State the distance from the pond, the big red boulder, etc.
• use a compass or pace off measurements
• record observations, while you are observing them

From Species Account Return to Grinnell Journal System