Difference between revisions of "Field Ornithology"
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!style="background:" width="300"|Topic | !style="background:" width="300"|Topic | ||
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| − | | M 08 || Course introduction; Bird identification [Sibley introduction] || M 15|| | + | | M 08 || Course introduction; Bird identification [Sibley introduction] || M 15|| Territory mapping activity (I); Exam 1; Behavioral obs. lecture [Green et al. 1996] |
| + | || M 22 || Capture/banding activity (Pomfret Audubon Ctr); Exam 2 [MacArthur & MacArthur1961] | ||
| + | |||
|- | |- | ||
| T 09 || Survey of local birds; Primer of avian ecology [{{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/fieldornithology/macarthur1958.pdf}}MacArthur 1958] | | T 09 || Survey of local birds; Primer of avian ecology [{{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/fieldornithology/macarthur1958.pdf}}MacArthur 1958] | ||
| − | || T 16 || | + | || T 16 || Behavioral obs activity; Habitat measurement lecture [Bibby et al. 1985] |
| + | || T 23 || Data analysis lab I: Density estimation [Thomas et al. 2002] | ||
|- | |- | ||
| W 10 || Survey of local birds; Census techniques: Study design & line transects [Manuwal & Carey 1991 pgs. 9-11; Anderson et al. 1979] | | W 10 || Survey of local birds; Census techniques: Study design & line transects [Manuwal & Carey 1991 pgs. 9-11; Anderson et al. 1979] | ||
| − | || W 17 || | + | || W 17 || Habitat meas activity; Radiotelemetry lecture [TBA] |
| − | || W 24 || Survey of coastal birds [ | + | |
| + | || W 24 || Survey of coastal birds [Craig & Beal1992] | ||
| + | |||
|- | |- | ||
| Th 11 || Line transect activity; Point count/transect lecture [Manuwal & Carey 1991 pgs. 11-14; Reynolds et al. 1980] | | Th 11 || Line transect activity; Point count/transect lecture [Manuwal & Carey 1991 pgs. 11-14; Reynolds et al. 1980] | ||
| − | || Th 18 || | + | || Th 18 || Survey of forest birds; Radiotelemetry activity [Robinson & Holmes 1982] |
| − | || Th 25 || Habitat diversity & community analysis [Stiling, Chapt.16] | + | |
| + | || Th 25 || Data analysis lab II: Habitat structure, diversity, & community analysis [Stiling, Chapt.16] | ||
| + | |||
|- | |- | ||
| − | | F 12 || | + | | F 12 || Point count activity; Territory mapping lecture [Manuwal & Carey 1991 pgs. 14-17/ Ortega & Cappen 1999] |
| − | + | || F 19 || Territory mapping activity (II); Capture/banding lecture [Silkeye et al. 1999] | |
| − | || F 26 || Instructor evaluations; Final exam | + | |
| + | || F 26 || Instructor evaluations; Final exam | ||
| + | |||
|- | |- | ||
</span> | </span> | ||
Revision as of 18:12, 9 June 2009
EEB 3898: Field Methods in Ornithology
Intensive Summer Session 1, June 8th - 26th, 2009 MTWThF
Instructor: Diego Sustaita
Office: Biol/Pharm 404
Phone: 860-486-0309
Office hours: variable & flexible (call, email, drop by)
Announcements
• 28 May: We are go for take-off!!!!
Course Objectives
• Acquire bird identification skills
• Learn basic field research techniques, study design, and data analysis
• Develop basic understanding of local bird biology & ecology
• Tentative* schedule:
| Day | Topic | Day | Topic | Day | Topic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M 08 | Course introduction; Bird identification [Sibley introduction] | M 15 | Territory mapping activity (I); Exam 1; Behavioral obs. lecture [Green et al. 1996] | M 22 | Capture/banding activity (Pomfret Audubon Ctr); Exam 2 [MacArthur & MacArthur1961] |
| T 09 | Survey of local birds; Primer of avian ecology [[[File:Pdficon small.gif|link=http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/fieldornithology/macarthur1958.pdf]]MacArthur 1958] | T 16 | Behavioral obs activity; Habitat measurement lecture [Bibby et al. 1985] | T 23 | Data analysis lab I: Density estimation [Thomas et al. 2002] |
| W 10 | Survey of local birds; Census techniques: Study design & line transects [Manuwal & Carey 1991 pgs. 9-11; Anderson et al. 1979] | W 17 | Habitat meas activity; Radiotelemetry lecture [TBA] | W 24 | Survey of coastal birds [Craig & Beal1992] |
| Th 11 | Line transect activity; Point count/transect lecture [Manuwal & Carey 1991 pgs. 11-14; Reynolds et al. 1980] | Th 18 | Survey of forest birds; Radiotelemetry activity [Robinson & Holmes 1982] | Th 25 | Data analysis lab II: Habitat structure, diversity, & community analysis [Stiling, Chapt.16] |
| F 12 | Point count activity; Territory mapping lecture [Manuwal & Carey 1991 pgs. 14-17/ Ortega & Cappen 1999] | F 19 | Territory mapping activity (II); Capture/banding lecture [Silkeye et al. 1999] | F 26 | Instructor evaluations; Final exam |
Note: Schedule is subject to change pending weather conditions, or unforeseen birding and research opportunities.
Course Materials
• Required
o The Sibley Field Guide to the Birds of Eastern North America (from Co-op)
o Binoculars (available from us if you don’t have any)
o Field notepad/notebook
• Recommended
o Sibley’s birding basics (Knopf, New York, 2002)
o Birding by Ear: Eastern and Central North America – Peterson Field Guides
o Old shoes or hiking boots, & proper outdoor clothing (poison ivy, weather)
o Insect repellent (ticks, mosquitoes)
o Sunscreen
Assignments
• Daily reading assignments
• Class exercise worksheets
• Directed project write-ups
• Weekly exams, covering:
o Bird ID by sight & sound
o Basic biology (e.g., from observations; field guide; “All About Birds”)
o Material from lectures & readings
o Field technique scenario questions
Grading
• Midterm exams (50 points)
• Daily worksheets/field notes (150 points)
• Directed project assignments (50 points)
• Final exam (50 points)
• Total (300 points)
Grading scale: A = 100-90%, B = 89-80%, C = 79-70%, D = 69-60%, F = 59-0%. Plus/minus system will be used for the final grade. Perfect attendance & participation are mandatory!
Additional References & Websites
• Bibby CJ, Burgess ND, Hill DA, Mustoe S, editors. 2000. Bird census techniques. San Diego, USA: Academic Press.
• Gill F. 2007. Ornithology. New York: W. H. Freeman and Company.
• Stiling P. 1999. Ecology: theories and application. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
• Clark, G. A. 1999. Birds of Storrs, Connecticut and vicinity. 3rd Ed. Mansfield, CT: Natchaug Ornithological Society & Joshua’s Tract Conservation and Historic Trust.
• SORA (Searchable Ornithological Research Archive): http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/index.php
• Cornell Lab of Ornithology “All About Birds”: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds
• Natchaug Ornithological Society: http://www.nosbird.org/ (esp. “local hotspots” http://www.nosbird.org/hotspots.html)
• Connecticut Ornithological Association: http://www.ctbirding.org/index.htm
• CT Audubon Society: http://www.ctaudubon.org/
• CT Department of Environmental Protection: http://www.ct.gov/dep/site/default.asp
