Brad,+Nick,+and+David

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== == == = = = = =    = = = = = =    = = = = = =    = = = = = =    = = = = = =    = =<span style="background-color: rgb(2, 4, 8)"> <span style="font-size: 140%; color: rgb(249, 36, 36); font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif">   = =<span style="background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span style="background-color: rgb(2, 4, 8)"> <span style="font-size: 140%; color: rgb(249, 36, 36); font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif">Welcome to our 2008 Watershed Project page on: <span style="display: block; font-size: 140%; color: rgb(249, 36, 36); font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; text-align: center">   = = = =<span style="background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span style="background-color: rgb(2, 4, 8)"> <span style="display: block; font-size: 140%; color: rgb(249, 36, 36); font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; text-align: center">   = =<span style="background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span style="background-color: rgb(2, 4, 8)"> <span style="display: block; font-size: 140%; color: rgb(249, 36, 36); font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; text-align: center">Mallard Duck Population based on weather. = <span style="background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span style="background-color: rgb(2, 4, 8)"> =<span style="background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span style="background-color: rgb(2, 4, 8)"> <span style="font-size: 140%; color: rgb(249, 36, 36); font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif">   = =<span style="background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span style="background-color: rgb(2, 4, 8)"> <span style="font-size: 140%; color: rgb(249, 36, 36); font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif">    = Members: David Kim, Nick Norden, Bradley Fishel

<span style="display: block; font-size: 170%; color: rgb(0, 255, 68); text-align: center">Purpose/Introduction-
<span style="font-size: 120%; color: rgb(40, 188, 246); font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"> The purpose of our project was to research and examine mallard ducks in their natural

habitats and see how varying temperatures affected the population (assuming that there

were no storms of any kind). Our group wanted to determine when there would be an

abundance of ducks and when there would be very few.

<span style="display: block; font-size: 170%; color: rgb(0, 255, 68); text-align: center">Mallard Ducks Overview-
<span style="font-size: 120%; color: rgb(40, 188, 246); font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"> The Mallard Duck is a very common species that many people will recognize. It is

approximately 56-65 centimeters long, has a wingspan of 81-98 centimeters long, and

weighs about 2-2.5 pounds. In addition, it usually lives in most wetlands; Flat Rock Brook

is a perfect spot to find these ducks. During the breeding season, the male stays with the

female only until she has laid the eggs. The female lays about 8-13 eggs, which are

incubated for 27-28 days, and then finally hatched after 50-60 days; the mallard duck

usually nests on a river bank. Outside the mating season, the mallard is highly active,

forming and traveling in large flocks known as "sords".

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<span style="display: block; font-size: 170%; color: rgb(0, 255, 68); text-align: center">Hypothesis-
<span style="font-size: 120%; color: rgb(40, 188, 246); font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"> Our hypothesis was that as the temperature decreased, the population of the Mallard ducks

at Flat Rock Brook would decrease as well. And as the weather got warmer the Mallard

Duck population at Flat Rock Brook would increase.

<span style="display: block; font-size: 170%; color: rgb(0, 255, 68); text-align: center">Materials-
<span style="font-size: 120%; color: rgb(40, 188, 246); font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">   <span style="font-size: 120%; color: rgb(40, 188, 246); font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

The materials that we used to carry out this project were: a GPS, a camera, a notebook,

pen/pencil, and a thermometer.

<span style="display: block; font-size: 170%; color: rgb(0, 255, 68); text-align: center">Procedure-
<span style="font-size: 120%; color: rgb(40, 188, 246); font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">   <span style="font-size: 120%; color: rgb(40, 188, 246); font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<span style="font-size: 120%; color: rgb(40, 188, 246); font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">The steps that we took to carry out this project were quite simple. First, we took a

measurement of the day's temperature with a thermometer. Next, we went around Flat Rock

Brook searching for mallard ducks at specific locations such as the McFadden's Pond. Once

the ducks were spotted, our mission was to count approximately how many ducks there

were and record that number.

<span style="display: block; font-size: 170%; color: rgb(0, 255, 68); text-align: center">Data from Flat Rock Visits-

 * // Date of Going to Flat Rock Brook // || // Temperature // || // Mallard Ducks Count // ||
 * September 25, 2007 || 65ºF || 6 ||
 * December 11, 2007 || 36ºF || 0 ||
 * May 8, 2008 || 73ºF || 8 ||





<span style="font-size: 120%; color: rgb(40, 188, 246); font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<span style="font-size: 120%; color: rgb(40, 188, 246); font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<span style="display: block; font-size: 170%; color: rgb(0, 255, 68); text-align: center">Analysis-
<span style="font-size: 120%; color: rgb(40, 188, 246); font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">   <span style="font-size: 120%; color: rgb(40, 188, 246); font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<span style="font-size: 120%; color: rgb(40, 188, 246); font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">From the data and the graphs that can be seen above, we can see that our hypothesis was

true. When the temperature was still fairly warm like on our September 25, 2007 visit, we

were able to see an abundance of ducks in the rivers at Flat Rock Brook. During the winter,

however, like on our December 11, 2007 visit when the temperature was substantially

lower, we did not spot any ducks! And when spring time came like on our May 8, 2008 visit

when temperatures reached around 70 degrees Fahrenheit, we saw the most ducks from our

total visits.

<span style="display: block; font-size: 170%; color: rgb(0, 255, 68); text-align: center">Conclusion-
<span style="font-size: 120%; color: rgb(40, 188, 246); font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">   <span style="font-size: 120%; color: rgb(40, 188, 246); font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<span style="font-size: 120%; color: rgb(40, 188, 246); font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">Overall, our hypothesis is nearly flawless. As temperatures increased, the population of the

mallard ducks increased. And as the temperatures decreased, the population of the mallard

ducks decreased. By doing some research, we concluded that there was a decrease in

population during the colder seasons because of the migration of mallard ducks. These

birds migrate towards the south during the winter seasons, and therefore we could not spot

any mallard ducks during our December visit.

<span style="display: block; font-size: 170%; color: rgb(0, 255, 68); text-align: center">Sources of Error-
<span style="font-size: 120%; color: rgb(40, 188, 246); font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">   <span style="font-size: 120%; color: rgb(40, 188, 246); font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">    <span style="font-size: 120%; color: rgb(40, 188, 246); font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">    <span style="font-size: 120%; color: rgb(40, 188, 246); font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

One possible source of error might be the fact that our group was not a 100% sure what

mallard ducks looked like on our first visit. Therefore, we might have included difference

species in our count that looked like mallard ducks. Our hypothesis was relatively correct

according to the results from the graphs, but perhaps there might have been a difference if

our group had gone to Flat Rock Brook more. Three visits were definitely not enough to

gain substantial data, even though our hypothesis was correct. We would have had more

accurate data and graphs if we visited Flat Rock Brook more often. Also, our group made

the terrible mistake of forgetting to record the time of the day during our visits. Our data

could have been affected by this error, for we might have found more ducks when the sun

was up compared to when it was near the evening.

<span style="display: block; font-size: 170%; color: rgb(0, 255, 68); text-align: center">Suggestions for Future Mallard Duck Research-
<span style="font-size: 120%; color: rgb(40, 188, 246); font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">   <span style="font-size: 120%; color: rgb(40, 188, 246); font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">    <span style="font-size: 120%; color: rgb(40, 188, 246); font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">    <span style="font-size: 120%; color: rgb(40, 188, 246); font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

Our group suggests that future groups researching mallard ducks should actually know what

the birds look like before setting off to try and find them. We also suggest that the groups

go to Flat Rock Brook regularly so that in the end, they will have a more accurate data.

<span style="display: block; font-size: 170%; color: rgb(0, 255, 68); text-align: center">Reference-
<span style="font-size: 120%; color: rgb(40, 188, 246); font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">   <span style="font-size: 120%; color: rgb(40, 188, 246); font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">    <span style="font-size: 120%; color: rgb(40, 188, 246); font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">    <span style="font-size: 120%; color: rgb(40, 188, 246); font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"> <span style="font-size: 120%; color: rgb(40, 188, 246); font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"> http://fohn.net/duck-pictures-facts/mallard-duck.jpg

[|http://students.umf.maine.edu/~overlole/Mallard-male.jpg]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mallard