Interpreting Wildlife Habitat from Aerial Photographs

(Activity II)

A. Aerial Photo Evaluation - 20 Points

B. Oral Reasoning - 10 Points

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

Judging the Photos Object

• To rank the 4 areas circled from most suitable (=in first position) to least suitable (=in 4th position) 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

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

Questions?

Moving in and out

Tips for Evaluating Well

Look at Photo in correct position•dates usually in top left hand

corner, OR•shadows should fall toward viewer•Do NOT consider ANYTHING

outside of the circle

Tips (cont.) What/How to study

•Practice Practice Practice—Use BLACK AND WHITE

•Order Aerial Photos (or have them donated)—NRCS, USDA, USGS, www.quad.com or

www.terraserv.com, www.earthexplorer.com—Local wildlife agency—Nearest university

– wildlife specialist

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

Tips (cont.)

Use photos from your region, but try to obtain a variety of habitats• try practicing with a variety of

copy qualities and scales•Before national contest, order one

from that region if one isn’t sent to you

Tips (cont.)

Focus on Species Requirements•Best area will have food, water, shelter,

space interspersed—study species descriptions and memorize

requirements beforehand (make it fun)–decide which of the requirements is

“MOST” required (what’s the limiting factor?)

–Use that as a way to distinguish one area from another

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.

Tips (cont.)

Interspersion Index•If a species requires a good bit of

interspersion, use index•Higher the number, higher the

interspersion

Materials

Bring Pencil No magnifying glasses allowed No manual allowed Score sheet supplied Scratch paper supplied

Part B. Oral Reasoning

Kids enter study room after judging photos•make notes for oral justification•calm themselves before

presentation

Oral Reasoning (cont.)

Judges look for:•Logic•Presentation•Knowledge of species•Use of wildlife terms/concepts•Poise and Appearance

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)

A Winning Argument

An Example

1 2

An Example

3 4

Feature Finder

1. Stage 3 & 4 2. Wetland 3. Stage 5 & 6 4. Stage 1 5. Stage 2 & 3

6. Pond 7. Shadow 8. Greenhouse 9. Stream 10. Vehicle