A good field journal is essential  to a field biologist.  The journal allows casual observations to be retained as data and increases the scientific value of any time spent in the field.  It is also your memory crutch, and a standard field observation format helps you to be thorough, thoughtful and objective.   

    It is expected that you will maintain a journal as part of the vertebrate zoology lab course.  This involves a journal entry for each major site that you visit during lab including the fall break trip.  A journal entry consists of:  

• Coversheet with environmental and species data (using the provided format)

• Free form sheet with observations and personal comments

• Map of the site (hand drawn or obtained)

The journal entries should be made upon your return form the field if not in the field.  Do not procrastinate with journal entries.  

Journal entries should always be made with  waterproof ink or dark pencil.  A simple test is to make a sample entry and immerse the journal sheet in water.  This will tell you how suitable your ink is for field work.

In general, entries should all be on high rag content paper provided in lab so that your journal sheets do not disintegrate in water.  Exceptions to this are brochures and handouts from field sites that you may want to incorporate.  I recommend using an 8" x 10" 3 ring binder for your journal.  I also recommend that you obtain a sealable  plastic insert pocket to keep writing implements, hand lens, thermometer and other loose items in.

The journal should have your name clearly marked on the cover.

The journal should have a table of contents at the beginning.

The journal entries must be legible to any reader.

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