Savannah Sparrow decoy

What a day at the Beaty Biodiversity Museum ! The Cowan Tetrapod lab had a decoy day preparation for UBC research studies that will take place this summer. Decoys are very useful for field research because they can trigger behavioural responses that can be observed and measured.

Observing Peter Arcese preparing a Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) was a great way to learn how to make a decoy. Here is my Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) decoy on his branch!