FAQ
Common questions about classifying:
Do I count deer that are not fully in the frame of the photo?
Yes! If you see even just part of a deer in a photo shown to you, count that as one entire deer.
Why are there so many blank photos?
The cameras are set to detect even the smallest amount of motion so that all deer that walk past the cameras are captured. Often, plants or trees moving will then also trigger the camera because of these settings.
What happens if I accidentally miscounted/missed a deer?
We understand that mistakes happen, but don't worry! Every photo will be seen by many other volunteers, so your answers will be cross-referenced with answers of many other volunteers. So even if you missed something it is likely that someone else caught it. Despite this, please try to the best of your ability to make accurate detections.
Why am I classifying the positioning of the deer's bodies?
Head-up vs. head-down is a measure of the type of activity that the deer is engaging in when caught in the camera trap. Head-down is being considered as the deer browsing the vegetation and feeding, while head-up is considered as the deer not browsing or feeding.
Why is there not a "not sure" selection when selected for quantity of deer?
We decided to not include a not sure selection within the classification system because we want you to try to the best of your ability to detect whether deer are in the photo or not and how many there are.
Questions about this Research:
What is Ordway Field Station?
This research is being conducted at Macalester College's Field Station right outside of St. Paul, MN. This parcel of land is considered Macalester's other campus and is a popular destination for a number of classes throughout the departments at the College.
Who is doing this research?
Every summer a couple of Macalester students along with staff conduct 10 weeks of summer research that include a number of long-term studies.
Watch this video below to learn more about this!