Difference between revisions of "Field Ornithology"

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<span style="font-size: x-large">EEB 3898: Field Methods in Ornithology
 
<span style="font-size: x-large">EEB 3898: Field Methods in Ornithology
  
'''Intensive Summer Session 1, June 7th - 25th, 2010''' '''MTWThF'''  
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'''Intensive Summer Session 1, June 6th - 24th, 2011''' '''MTWThF'''  
  
 
Instructor: '''[mailto:a.rico@uconn.edu Alejandro Rico]'''
 
Instructor: '''[mailto:a.rico@uconn.edu Alejandro Rico]'''
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!style="background:" width="300"|Topic
 
!style="background:" width="300"|Topic
 
|-  
 
|-  
| M 07 || Course introduction and timeline; Bird identification (Optics, Guides and Notes) || M 14|| Capture/banding demonstration; Field notebooks (First Submission)  
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| M 06 || Course introduction and timeline; Bird identification (Optics, Guides and Notes) || M 13|| Capture/banding demonstration; Field notebooks (First Submission)  
  || M 21 || Survey of coastal birds; Field notebooks (Final Submission)
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  || M 20 || Survey of coastal birds; Field notebooks (Final Submission)
  
 
|-  
 
|-  
| T 08 || Topography and Field Marks; Feet, Beaks and Body Form; Field exercises
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| T 07 || Topography and Field Marks; Feet, Beaks and Body Form; Field exercises
  || T 15 || Individual project presentations; Paper submission (Introduction and Methods)
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  || T 14 || Individual project presentations; Paper submission (Introduction and Methods)
  || T 22 ||  Bird families (Taxonomy); Individual project data analysis
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  || T 21 ||  Bird families (Taxonomy); Individual project data analysis
 
|-  
 
|-  
| W 09 || Survey of local birds (Mansfield Hollow), start project thinking (written ideas)   
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| W 08 || Survey of local birds (Mansfield Hollow), start project thinking (written ideas)   
|| W 16 || MIDTERM EXAM; birding after  
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|| W 15 || MIDTERM EXAM; birding after  
|| W 23 || Individual project presentations and assisted work on the paper
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|| W 22 || Individual project presentations and assisted work on the paper
 
|-  
 
|-  
| Th 10 || Field research techniques, hypotheses testing, study design, and data analysis; {{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/fieldornithology/andersonetal.1979.pdf}}Anderson et al. 1979; {{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/fieldornithology/ortega%26capen1999.pdf}}Ortega & Capen 1999  
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| Th 09 || Field research techniques, hypotheses testing, study design, and data analysis; {{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/fieldornithology/andersonetal.1979.pdf}}Anderson et al. 1979; {{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/fieldornithology/ortega%26capen1999.pdf}}Ortega & Capen 1999  
  || Th 17 || Individual project data collection I (Methods adjustment)  
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  || Th 16 || Individual project data collection I (Methods adjustment)  
  
|| Th 24 || Point count theory and field activity (use of eBird); PAPER SUBMISSION (FINAL)
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|| Th 23 || Point count theory and field activity (use of eBird); PAPER SUBMISSION (FINAL)
 
   
 
   
 
|-  
 
|-  
| F 11 || Individual project guidelines and selection; Local birding
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| F 10 || Individual project guidelines and selection; Local birding
  || F 18 || Individual project data collection II (Final)
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  || F 17 || Individual project data collection II (Final)
  
|| F 25 || FINAL EXAM; Instructor evaluations
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|| F 24 || FINAL EXAM; Instructor evaluations
  
 
|-  
 
|-  

Revision as of 20:55, 30 May 2011

EEB3898flyer.jpg

EEB 3898: Field Methods in Ornithology

Intensive Summer Session 1, June 6th - 24th, 2011 MTWThF

Instructor: Alejandro Rico

Office: Biol/Pharm 404

Phone: 860-486-0309

Office hours: variable & flexible (call, email, drop by)


Course Objectives

➢ Acquire bird identification skills

➢ Learn how to take field notes

➢ Learn and apply basic field research techniques, study design, and data analysis

➢ Develop an individual project


Tentative* schedule

Day Topic Day Topic Day Topic
M 06 Course introduction and timeline; Bird identification (Optics, Guides and Notes) M 13 Capture/banding demonstration; Field notebooks (First Submission) M 20 Survey of coastal birds; Field notebooks (Final Submission)
T 07 Topography and Field Marks; Feet, Beaks and Body Form; Field exercises T 14 Individual project presentations; Paper submission (Introduction and Methods) T 21 Bird families (Taxonomy); Individual project data analysis
W 08 Survey of local birds (Mansfield Hollow), start project thinking (written ideas) W 15 MIDTERM EXAM; birding after W 22 Individual project presentations and assisted work on the paper
Th 09 Field research techniques, hypotheses testing, study design, and data analysis; Pdficon small.gifAnderson et al. 1979; Pdficon small.gifOrtega & Capen 1999 Th 16 Individual project data collection I (Methods adjustment) Th 23 Point count theory and field activity (use of eBird); PAPER SUBMISSION (FINAL)
F 10 Individual project guidelines and selection; Local birding F 17 Individual project data collection II (Final) F 24 FINAL EXAM; Instructor evaluations

*: Schedule is subject to change pending weather conditions, or unforeseen birding and research opportunities.


Course Materials

Binos.jpg

• Required

o The Sibley Field Guide to the Birds of Eastern North America

o Binoculars (available from us if you don’t have any)

o Field notepad/notebook

• Recommended

o Sibley’s birding basics

o Birding by Ear: Eastern and Central North America

o Old shoes or hiking boots, & proper outdoor clothing (poison ivy, weather)

o Insect repellent (ticks, mosquitoes)

o Sunscreen


Grading

Exams: June 16th (MIDTERM) [50 points]; June 25th (FINAL) [50 points]


Individual Project Paper: June 15th (Intro and Methods) [30 points]; June 24th (Final) [50 points]


Individual Project Presentations: June 15th (Intro and Methods) [20 points]; June 24th (Final) [25 points]


Field Notebook Submissions: June 14th (First) [20 points]; June 22nd (Final) [25 points]


Field trips = Birding exercises (5 points each): June 9th, 11th, 17th, 18th, 21st, 24th [30 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.


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


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