[wisb] FW: Invitation to participate in squirrel study

From: "Dan Jackson" <DanJackson@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "WisBirdN" <wisbirdn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 2010 14:45:54 -0600
I received a request yesterday from an honors student at Trent University who 
is doing a study on the regional distribution of color morphs of Eastern Gray 
Squirrels.  She asked me, as a leader of a local Audubon chapter, to ask the 
members of my chapter if they would fill out a brief survey on the coloration 
of the Eastern Gray Squirrels that are seen around our community and 
neighborhoods.
Given that the members of this list are interested in nature, I asked Tom Sykes 
and the teacher overseeing the survey if it would also be okay to share this 
request with the members of WisBirdN.  They both said it was fine and the 
teacher was excited about reaching a group of birders spread throughout the 
state of Wisconsin.

This link will display a pdf version of this very brief survey:

http://www.couleeaudubon.org/Color Survey of Eastern Grey Squirrels.pdf

This is the Text part of the questionnaire:

Town/City:

State:

1. What color of these squirrels do you see in your community and vicinity?
a. All gray (100%)
b. Mostly gray (75% to 99%)
c. Slightly more gray than black (50% to 74%)
d. Slightly more black than gray (50% to 74%)
e. Mostly black (75% to 99%)
f. All black (100%)

2. How long have you been observing squirrels in your area?
a. Less than 5 years
b. 5 to 10 years
c. 10 to 20 years
d. 20 to 30 years
e. More than 30 years

3. During this time, have you noticed a change in the color of these squirrels?
a. Yes
b. No
c. I’m not sure

4. If you answered ‘yes’ to Question #3, what change have you noticed?
a. There has been an increase in the proportion of gray squirrels
b. There has been an increase in the proportion of black squirrels


If you are willing to help, you can e-mail your answers to:

jenniferkong@xxxxxxxxx

Thanks in advance for helping her out!!

Dan Jackson
Chaseburg, Vernon County, Wisconsin (near La Crosse)
www.pbase.com/dejackson
community.webshots.com/user/danielejackson




-----Original Message-----
From: Jennifer Kong [mailto:jenniferkong@xxxxxxxxx] 
Sent: Wednesday, January 06, 2010 8:16 PM
To: Dan Jackson
Subject: Invitation to participate in squirrel study 

Dear Mr. Jackson, 

I am writing to invite you and your club members to participate in a study, 
“Biogeographic patterns of coat color of eastern gray squirrels.” I am doing 
this research as part of my undergraduate Honors thesis at Trent University, 
under the supervision of Professor James Schaefer.

The goal of my project is to describe the biogeographic trends in the pelage of 
these squirrels, which tends to be either black or gray. To do this, I am 
surveying Naturalist and Audubon clubs across North America regarding their 
observations about this little mammal. I hope that your members would be 
willing to participate.

If so, I would be pleased to mail you a package of 1-page questionnaires (see 
attached) that could be distributed at one of your meetings. I will include a 
stamped, return envelope. Please let me know how many participants you expect 
to take part so that I can mail you the appropriate number of questionnaires. 
Or, another method would be if you and your members prefer to complete this 
survey online, I would  provide you with an online website survey link.

Please note that participation in this study is voluntary; you and your members 
are under no obligation to complete the survey. Participants will remain 
anonymous in the compiled database and final reports.

This research has been approved (29 September 2009) by the Biology Department 
ethics review committee at Trent University. For questions about this research, 
please contact Dr. James Schaefer, Professor of Biology by email 
(jschaefer@xxxxxxxxx) or by telephone (705-748- 1011 extension 7968).

I thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Jennifer Kong
B.Sc. Student
jenniferkong@xxxxxxxxx




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[wisb] FW: Invitation to participate in squirrel study

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