One of our larger projects this week was bird surveying throughout the park. This involved periods of listening, fancy equipment so try to see the birds (making it a little easier to identify), and some very early mornings. The Manassas National Battlefield Park monitors the Bobwhite Quail in particular to determine the distribution of the quail throughout the park and to help maintain proper habitat management for them. These quails are in decline across the United States and have gradually become a larger concern for conservationists. Although we spend some of the time specifically listening for the distinct "bob white" sound, we are also able to find so many other species throughout the park. The park not only provides habitat for the birds, but the birds are able to play a large role in the ecosystem of the park by acting as both predators and prey, dispersing seeds, and some birds are even able to pollinate flowers.