Human Facial Recognition By Northern Mockingbirds (Mimus polyglottos).

A number of studies have examined the ability of various animal species to recognize individual humans, but only a few have focused on native, non-captive birds. Previous research demonstrated that American Crows learn to recognize individual human faces. Other research indicated that Northern Mockingbirds learn to discriminate among individual humans, but did not examine the factors involved in the discrimination. We have begun a study of Northern Mockingbirds on the University of North Georgia campus in Dahlonega, GA, to test the hypothesis that Northern Mockingbirds learn to distinguish among individual humans based on facial recognition. Our field tests involve approaching and touching mockingbird nests on successive days and recording the responses of parent birds. We use masks of human faces which we interchange among researchers to determine if birds key on faces as a discriminating factor. We will also explore the possibility that birds may respond differently depending on proximity of nest sites to human pedestrian activity. Here we report on one preliminary field season; we plan to continue the project during future breeding seasons. Our research has received funding from the UNG Center for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities and from the UNG Department of Biology

Human Facial Recognition by Northern Mockingbirds

A number of studies have examined the ability of various animal species to recognize individual humans, but only a few have focused on native, non-captive birds. Previous research demonstrated that American Crows learn to recognize individual human faces. Other research indicated that Northern Mockingbirds learn to discriminate among individual humans, but did not examine the factors involved in the discrimination. Here we report on a study of Northern Mockingbirds on the University of North Georgia campus in Dahlonega, GA, to test the hypothesis that Northern Mockingbirds learn to distinguish among individual humans based on facial recognition. Our field tests involved approaching and touching mockingbird nests on successive days and recording the responses of parent birds. We used masks of human faces which we interchanged among researchers to determine if birds key on faces as a discriminating factor. The mockingbirds we tested indicated an ability to distinguish among humans based on facial recognition. Our research has received funding from the UNG Center for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities and from the UNG Department of Biology

UNG Tree Inventory Mapping Using a Mobile GIS App and Volunteer Field Crews

Trees provide a variety of benefits in urban areas, including improved air quality, energy conservation, storm water management, and carbon sequestration. Geographic information systems (GIS) are often used to aid foresters and arborists in managing these urban trees by creating maps with detailed information about tree species and health. In recent years, mobile GIS apps have become more widely used in urban tree management due to their inexpensiveness and ease of use. This multi-year project utilized one such GIS app, ArcGIS Collector, to conduct a complete inventory of the trees on all five University of North Georgia campuses. The ArcGIS Collector app was used in conjunction with ArcGIS Online, which contained base maps for the study area and allowed researchers to review collected data. ArcGIS Online also included an imported USFS tree inventory scale, which was modified to facilitate a standardized collection process in the Collector app downloaded on personal mobile devices and provided iPads. This project also evaluated the effectiveness of utilizing volunteers in the data collection process, many of whom had no experience with GIS or tree identification. The results of this project indicate that inexperienced volunteers can be effectively trained to conduct an inventory using the ArcGIS Collector app. This finding is significant in the field of urban tree management, because it demonstrates a methodology which successfully utilizes mobile GIS apps and volunteer data collectors to complete an urban tree inventory

Investigating Dahlonega\u27s Historic Yahoola High Trestle (9LU52, The Hand-Ditch)

Within the Dahlonega city limits, on the wooded, hilly banks of Yahoola Creek, sits the Yahoola High Trestle site (9LU52, The Hand-Ditch). The Yahoola High Trestle was constructed in 1859 by the Consolidated Gold Mining Company. The Trestle sat 240 feet high and spanned 1,000 feet across Yahoola Creek in order to transport water into the city to supply a hydraulic mining system. This paper discusses UNG student excavations at the trestle site. During the fall of 2015 and spring of 2016, the site was cleared exposing the foundation platforms after which a detailed survey grid was established for the site. Several excavation units were placed along a section of the Trestle\u27s original foundation to better understand the structure’s architecture. Results of this excavation have uncovered artifacts such as structural hardware including nails and bolts. These artifacts attest the significance of the logistical networks of north Georgia during the gold rush period. This research will continue through April 2016 and contributes a greater insight into the rich history of the gold mining era in the north Georgia mountains

Exploring the Yahoola High Trestle: Industrial Archaeology in Dahlonega, Georgia

Archaeological exploration at the Yahoola High Trestle site in Dahlonega Georgia explored the construction, use, and abandonment of an important component of America’s first gold rush. This trestle was a structure that supplied high-pressure water to hydraulic mining operations in Dahlonega, Georgia, facilitating large-scale mining operations during the industrialization of America. This poster presents the results of archaeological excavations conducted in 2015 and 2016 by student volunteers and members of the local community. These excavations confirm that the trestle was not as substantial as it was originally intended and was systematically disassembled after it became obsolete. Furthermore, this poster demonstrates the utility of archaeological field research to engage students in a meaningful manner, encouraging critical thinking while contributing to community heritage