Interpreting Wildlife Habitat from Aerial Photographs (Activity II)

1. Interpreting Wildlife Habitat from Aerial Photographs (Activity II) A. Aerial Photo Evaluation - 20 Points B. Oral Reasoning - 10 Points

2. How the event works • What the kids should expect • Photos • Black and white aerial photos • Number varies • Usually 4 or 8 inches = 1 mile • Name of species(s) will appear under photo • Photo will have from 1-4 (usually 4) numbered circles : • either on photo • on acetate on photo • cut out from a solid paper overlay

3. Judging the Photos • Object • To rank the 4 areas circled from most suitable (=1) to least suitable (=4) FOR THE WILDLIFE SPECIES NAMED at the bottom of the photo • View example score sheet • pick number pattern that goes with chosen “circle” ranking for particular species

4. Judging the photos (cont.) • Hormel System • commonly used in livestock events • judges will score circled areas prior to contest and enter rankings into computer -- assign cut scores between areas (low scores for similar areas, high for different areas) • each possible ranking pattern found on the score sheet will be assigned a point value

5. Questions?

6. Moving in and out

7. Tips for Evaluating Well • Look at Photo in correct position • dates usually in top left hand corner • shadows should fall toward viewer • Do NOT consider ANYTHING outside of the circle

8. Tips (cont.) • What/How to study • Practice Practice Practice • Use BLACK AND WHITE • Order Aerial Photos (or have them donated) • NRCS, USDA • Local wildlife agency • Nearest university • wildlife specialist

9. Tips (cont.) • Practicing • Ask for help from local biologists/foresters • give them manual first • learn what each successional stage looks like at DIFFERENT scales • learn what H20 looks like, buildings, parking lots, riparian areas, fences, center-pivot irrigation systems, hayfields and row crops

10. Tips (cont.) • Use photos from your region, but try to obtain a variety of habitats • try practicing with a variety of copy qualities • Before national contest, order one from that region if one isn’t sent to you

11. Tips (cont.) • Focus on Species Requirements • Best area will have all INGREDIENTS interspersed • study species descriptions and memorize requirements beforehand • decide which of the requirements is “MOST” required (what’s the limiting factor?) • Use that as a way to distinguish one area from another

12. Tips (cont.) • DON’T FORGET THE MANUAL! • It’s easy to let experience dictate decisions, but not everyone’s experience is the same. • Use the manual to guide you.

13. Tips (cont.) • Interspersion Index • If a species requires a good bit of interspersion, use index • Higher the number, higher the interspersion

14. Materials • Bring Pencil • No magnifying glasses allowed • No manual allowed • Score sheet supplied • Scratch paper supplied

15. An Example 1 2

16. An Example 3 4

17. Part B. Oral Reasoning • Kids enter study room after judging photos • make notes for oral justification • calm themselves before presentation

18. Oral Reasoning (cont.) • Judges look for: • Logic • Presentation • Knowledge of species • Use of wildlife terms/concepts • Poise and Appearance

19. Oral Reasoning (cont.) • Usually judged on 2 species • Two judges score presentations and the scores are averaged • Possible maximum: 10 points (2 for each category mentioned in previous slide)

20. A Winning Argument

21. Questions?