Grinnell Field Notebook

Grinnell style field notebook

A field notebook is a small shirt-pocket-sized memo pad where you record your nature observations.

It is carried on field trips, hikes and while sitting in your backyard. It is a handy way to record what you see and to always have something to write in your nature journal. I always have mine with me.

I take mine on fast-moving birding walks with my Audubon group. I list birds seen and other observations.

It is your primary note receptacle. It can contain all sorts of notes such as directions, nature observations, books to read, anything you want.

Keeping it with you allows you to take notes while you are observing. Memories can be inaccurate.

Later you may ask yourself was the hawk's eye yellow or red? Had the American Goldfinch's plumage turned from summer breeding to drabber winter colors?

A memo pad fills up quickly. I go through several each year. When you fill up one, file it away.

From the memo pad a full account of your observations are written in the field journal.

Hints and Tips

• date every page
• include your name, permanent address, telephone and email on the inside front cover
• write or tape the daily observation checklist on the back cover

Winter Journal Prompts

• Identify tree twigs 
• Scout out the different colors of winter 
• Learn the circumpolar stars. These are the stars that are always in the sky since they circle the North or South pole. 
• Look for signs of insects - galls, leaf miners and leaf rollers 
• Identifying winter birds - with so few around they are easy to learn 
• Begin to feed winter birds 
• Which birds are still around? 
• What are they eating? 
• Identify winter grasses and plants 
• Learn the difference between evergreen (or conifer) trees 
• Look for winter seed heads and berries - Which are eaten last by birds and other animals? 
• Look for signs of winter mammals - tunnels, trails and tracks. 
• Look for old birds nests in trees, shrubs and under house eaves 
• Learn the difference between evergreen plants. 
• Which plants stay green in winter? 
• Sketch or photograph animals tracks in the mud and snow. 
• Record the activity in the night sky. 
• Record the moon phases, or the setting or rising sun 
• Sketch or photograph trees silhouettes. 
• Record signs of animal activity. 
• Record the different types of pine cones 

I use all the following books to deepen my understanding of winter. Some of the titles are out-of-print, but are available used on Amazon.com and other online sellers. And of course try your local library.

Grinnell System Overview

one of my journals in the Grinnell format

The Grinnell System has helped me become a better naturalist.

I've been keeping a naturalist's journal for a long time. But a year or so ago, I felt my journal writing had stagnated and needed a boost. I went searching for a way to make my nature journaling more thorough.

What I found was this method.

The method is designed to aid scientific investigation. It is the method most often used by professional biologists and field naturalists.

The method was developed by Joseph Grinnell (1877-1939), a field naturalist, teacher and the first director of the University of California's Berkeley Museum of Vertebrate Zoology. He taught this method to his students and used a variation of the system himself.

The method consists of four parts:
• a field notebook - to directly record observations as they are happening.
• a field journal - of fully written entries on observations and the information
• species account - of detailed observations on chosen species
• catalog - a record of where & when specimens were collected.

It takes practice to use the system but it is well worth it.

My nature journal information has improved probably a hundredfold. My observations are more thorough since I follow the suggested observation list of what to include. The species account has tied together various entries from the span of a year.

The Berkeley Museum of Vertebrate Zoology had started a project to put all of its collected field journals online. This is an wonderful opportunity for naturalists all over the world, to read information and see the field notes of professional scientists.

This is the only book that I have come across that discusses the method in-depth. I treasure my copy. It is also available from the original publisher, Buteo Books. At the same price, though.

This is the first in a four-part series. The next part will be published tomorrow at 3 pm.