The Field Guide:
Using the Field Guide
How to get the field guide
Watchers and leaders can get a copy of the field guide and recording
form by logging into their personal home page. You can browse
through the field guide on the web. You can also download a copy
and the recording form to take outside with you. Follow the instructions
for downloading.
How to use the field guide
The Thousand Eyes field guide will help you watch for natural
events in Nova Scotia. Each natural event has it's own picture
and description. The picture gives you a general idea of what
to look for. It is also important to read the descriptions because,
like people, each natural event is unique. The descriptions tell
you what to look for, when to look for it and where to look. The
field guide also tells you where the animals and plants live their
habitat.
You can use the field guide to look up information on plants
or animals. You can find out where each species lives, what it
looks like and some of its habits. For instance, the field guide
tells me that the Shadbush is a tall, upright shrub, that it lives
mostly in western Nova Scotia on the edges of woods and swamps
and that it blooms in May.
How the field guide is organized
The field guide divides the natural events into three seasons
spring, summer and fall. Each season is divided into categories
weather events, animals and plants. You can look through each
season to see what happens in each. For instance, in the spring,
expect to see the last snowfall, Robins and Mayflowers. In the
summer, you can see flowers, berries and butterflies. And in the
fall, expect frost, ice on the lakes and migrating geese.
Choose your natural events
Look through the field guide first to choose which natural events
you know. Choose one or two that you are really familiar with
to start. This way we know for sure that the information you send
us is really true. Remember scientists look for facts.
Keep it clean
Scientists know that field guides can get very dirty. They go
outside a lot and often meet mud and water. Keep yours in a plastic
bag and try and hold it with clean fingers. Take it outside with
you every time you go to watch. Make it a habit to keep it with
you at all times
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