Esri Educational Enrichment for Environmental Conservation Studies

Kathryn de Venecia

STEAM Community Service Project

Plains Conservation Center andEaglecrest High School Science National Honor Society

Educational Enrichment• Field data collector apps were used to obtain GPS coordinates

• Temporal and geospatial analyses were conducted to correlate time with bird count totals at observation locations and at area based totals

Step 1

GIS Collector

Apps

Step 2Geospatial & Temporal

Analyses

Step 3Geomentor

Support

Step 4Multiple Source

Databases

Step 5Peer Review

• GeoMentors provided student support in project development and GIS software use

• Multiple source databases were used for data analysis correlation to evaluate population trends

• Peer reviews were conducted by GIS, environmental, and ornithology specialists

Learning Objectives

• Spreadsheet development from monthly bird counts (2008 to 2016)

• Categorization of 89 species based on sightings as:

• year-round resident

• summer resident

• winter resident

• migrant or "occasional" sighting

• Population trend analysis for key bird species and groups based on count data

• Development of conservation strategies to support and increase specific key species

Site Characteristics• Eastern edge of Rocky

Mountains

• Shortgrass Prairie Ecosystem

• 1100-acre site

• Aurora, Colorado

• Unique Observation Points

• Increasing to the west, south, and northeast

• Throughout data collection from 2008 to 2016

ResidentialEncroachment

Excel Spreadsheet: Raw Data

Bird List: Season(s) to Occasional

Determining Seasonal and Grand Totals

Example: Population Trends for Western Burrowing Owl

Temporal and Geospatial Analysis

Pixabay

Raptor Population Trends• Raptors are keystone species, an indicator of the health of

an ecosystem

• Raptor population trends demonstrate how essential this conserved grassland is to their survival and breeding

• Training ground for young raptors

• Lack of human disturbance is a critical factor in the survival of many hawks, eagles, falcons, and owls especially during their first winter (when survival rate is <30%).

• Graph: Total number of raptors

observed annually divided by

the number of surveys

conducted

• Heat map: Relative distribution

of raptors at each observation

point and average for each year

represented by the filled

polygon color

Songbird Population Trends

Songbird and raptor populations reveal an inverse correlation in relative numbers at point locations, indicating possible predator-prey relationships.

• Graph: Total number of songbirds

observed annually divided by the

number of surveys conducted

• Heat map: Relative distribution of

songbirds at each observation

point and average for each year

represented by the filled polygon

color

Waterfowl Population Trends

• Analyses of waterfowl data indicate an inverse relationship to precipitation

• This may indicate in years of high precipitation, waterfowl have alternative water sources. Conversely, in years of low precipitation, onsite water sources become essential.

• Graph: Total

number of

waterfowl

observed

annually divided

by the number of

surveys

conducted

• Precipitation:

The average

precipitation for

the same year is

shown

Precipitation data obtained from the closest

maintained source location from the site,

Denver International Airport.

Educational Insights…

• Learning Goals

• Enriching Programs

• Coordinating Schedules

• Tutoring Tutorials

• Integrating Content

• Extending Opportunities

Conclusion• This study demonstrates an extended educational enrichment

opportunity originating in 2013 through the collaboration between Plains Conservation Center Specialists and Eaglecrest High School Science National Honor Society students with support from their advisor and GeoMentors.

AcknowledgementsThis Citizen Science Project has been possible through the resources and coordinated efforts of:

• Esri ConnectED and GeoMentor programs

• Data provided by the Plains Conservation Program Specialists and Volunteers

• Eaglecrest High School Science National Honor Society students

• Eaglecrest High School’s Principal and Administration

Future Considerations

• Continue trend evaluations of key indicator species and threatened or special concern species

• Expand on data analysis correlations through ArcGIS Pro

• Continue to recommend conservation strategies to help support and/or increase species