Difference between revisions of "Field Ornithology"

From EEBedia
Jump to: navigation, search
(45 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown)
Line 6: Line 6:
 
<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 8th - 26th, 2009''' '''MTWThF'''  
+
'''Intensive Summer Session, May 7th - 25th, 2012''' '''MTWThF'''  
  
Instructor: '''[mailto:diego.sustaita@uconn.edu Diego Sustaita]'''
+
Instructor: '''[mailto:a.rico@uconn.edu Alejandro Rico]'''
  
 
Office: Biol/Pharm 404
 
Office: Biol/Pharm 404
Line 16: Line 16:
 
Office hours: variable & flexible (call, email, drop by)
 
Office hours: variable & flexible (call, email, drop by)
  
 
<span style="font-size: large"><font color="#FF3300">Announcements</font></span>
 
<br/>
 
<font color="#FF3300">• '''11 June''': Updates to syllabus; new reading posted</font>
 
  
  
 
'''Course Objectives'''
 
'''Course Objectives'''
  
Acquire bird identification skills
+
Acquire bird identification skills
  
Learn basic field research techniques, study design, and data analysis
+
Learn how to take field notes
  
• Develop basic understanding of local bird biology & ecology
+
➢ Learn and apply basic field techniques, study design, and data analysis
  
• Tentative*  schedule:
+
➢ Develop a research project
  
{| border="1" cellpadding="2"
+
➢ Improve collaboration skills
!style="background:" width="68" align="center"|Day
+
!style="background:" width="300"|Topic
+
!style="background:" width="68"|Day
+
!style="background:" width="300"|Topic
+
!style="background:" width="68"|Day
+
!style="background:" width="300"|Topic
+
|-
+
| M 08 || Course introduction; Bird identification [Sibley introduction] || M 15|| Exam 1; Point count activity
+
|| M 22 || Capture/banding activity [{{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/fieldornithology/silkeyetal1999.pdf}}Silkeye et al. 1999]; Exam 2
+
  
|-
 
| T 09 || Survey of local birds; Primer of avian ecology [{{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/fieldornithology/macarthur1958.pdf}}MacArthur 1958]
 
|| T 16 || Territory mapping lec [Manuwal & Carey 1991 pgs. 14-17/{{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/fieldornithology/ortega%26capen1999.pdf}}Ortega & Cappen 1999]; Territory mapping activity (I)
 
|| T 23 || Data analysis lab I: Density estimation [{{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/fieldornithology/thomasetal2002.pdf}}Thomas et al. 2002]
 
|-
 
| W 10 || Survey of local birds
 
|| W 17 || Radiotelemetry activity [{{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/fieldornithology/chapt7.pdf}}Chapt. 7: Wild Birds and Avian Influenza: an introduction to applied field research and disease sampling techniques]
 
|| W 24 || Survey of coastal birds [{{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/fieldornithology/craig%26beal1992.pdf}}Craig & Beal 1992]
 
 
|-
 
| Th 11 || Census techniques: Study design & line transects lec [{{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/fieldornithology/manuwal%26carey1991.pdf}}Manuwal & Carey 1991 pgs. 9-11; {{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/fieldornithology/andersonetal.1979.pdf}}Anderson et al. 1979]; Line transect activity
 
|| Th 18 || Behavioral obs. lec [{{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/fieldornithology/greenetal1996.pdf}}Green et al. 1996]; Behavioral obs activity
 
 
|| Th 25 || Data analysis lab II: Habitat structure, diversity, & community analysis [Stiling, Chapt.16; {{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/fieldornithology/macarthur%26macarthur1961.pdf}}MacArthur & MacArthur 1961]
 
 
|-
 
| F 12 || Point count/transect lec [Manuwal & Carey 1991 pgs. 11-14;{{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/fieldornithology/reynoldsetal1980.pdf}}Reynolds et al. 1980]
 
|| F 19 || Habitat measurement lec [{{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/fieldornithology/bibbyetal1985.pdf}}Bibby et al. 1985]; Habitat meas activity; Territory mapping activity (II)
 
 
|| F 26 || Instructor evaluations; Final exam
 
 
|-
 
</span>   
 
|}
 
Note: Schedule is subject to change pending weather conditions, or unforeseen birding and research opportunities.
 
  
 
'''Course Materials'''
 
'''Course Materials'''
Line 74: Line 36:
 
'''• Required'''
 
'''• Required'''
  
o The Sibley Field Guide to the Birds of Eastern North America (from Co-op)
+
o The Sibley Field Guide to the Birds of Eastern North America
  
 
o Binoculars (available from us if you don’t have any)
 
o Binoculars (available from us if you don’t have any)
Line 80: Line 42:
 
o Field notepad/notebook
 
o Field notepad/notebook
  
'''• Recommended'''
+
o Closed-toe shoes (no sandals) or hiking boots, & proper outdoor clothing (poison ivy, weather)
  
o Sibley’s birding basics (Knopf, New York, 2002)
+
'''• Recommended'''
  
o Birding by Ear: Eastern and Central North America – Peterson Field Guides
+
o Sibley’s birding basics
  
o Old shoes or hiking boots, & proper outdoor clothing (poison ivy, weather)
+
o Birding by Ear: Eastern and Central North America
  
 
o Insect repellent (ticks, mosquitoes)
 
o Insect repellent (ticks, mosquitoes)
Line 93: Line 55:
  
  
'''Assignments'''
 
  
• Daily reading assignments
+
'''Tentative*  schedule'''
  
• Class exercise worksheets
+
{| border="1" cellpadding="2"
 +
!style="background:" width="68" align="center"|Day
 +
!style="background:" width="300"|Topic
 +
!style="background:" width="68"|Day
 +
!style="background:" width="300"|Topic
 +
!style="background:" width="68"|Day
 +
!style="background:" width="300"|Topic
 +
|-
 +
| M 07 || Course introduction and timeline; Bird identification (Optics, Guides and Notes. Homework: Sibley Field Guide pags. 10-17) || M 14|| {{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/fieldornithology/ortega%26capen1999.pdf}}Ortega & Capen 1999, Local birding (Pink Ravine), Field notebooks (First Submission)
 +
|| M 21 || Individual project data collection II (Final)
  
• Directed project write-ups
+
|-
 +
| T 08 || Topography and Field Marks (Homework: Sibley Field Guide pags. 18-24); Feet, Beaks and Body Form; Field exercises, start project thinking
 +
|| T 15 || Individual project presentations; Paper submission (Introduction and Methods)
 +
|| T 22 ||  Survey of coastal birds / Field notebooks (Final Submission)
 +
|-  
 +
| W 09 || Field research techniques, hypotheses testing, study design, and data analysis
 +
|| W 16 || MIDTERM EXAM; birding after
 +
|| W 23 || Project presentations and assisted work on the paper
 +
|-
 +
| Th 10 || {{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/fieldornithology/andersonetal.1979.pdf}}Anderson et al. 1979
 +
Survey of local birds (Mansfield Hollow),  Project guidelines discussion and selection (written ideas)
 +
|| Th 17 || Individual project data collection I (Methods adjustment)
  
• Weekly exams, covering:
+
|| Th 24 || Review session in preparation for the final; PAPER SUBMISSION (FINAL)
[[Image: Owlwatching.gif| right]]
+
o Bird ID by sight & sound
+
|-
 +
| F 11 || Survey of local birds (Pink ravine)
 +
|| F 18 || Banding demo, Pomfret Center, Connecticut Audubon Society
  
o Basic biology (e.g., from observations; field guide; “All About Birds”)
+
|| F 25 || FINAL EXAM; Instructor evaluations
 +
 
 +
|-
 +
</span>   
 +
|}
 +
'''*''': Schedule is subject to change pending weather conditions, or unforeseen birding and research opportunities.  
  
o Material from lectures & readings
 
 
o Field technique scenario questions
 
  
  
 
'''Grading'''
 
'''Grading'''
 +
 +
Exams:
 +
May 16th (MIDTERM) [50 points];
 +
May 25th (FINAL) [50 points]
  
• Midterm exams (50 points)
 
  
• Daily worksheets/field notes (150 points)
+
Project Paper:
 +
May 15th (Intro and Methods) [30 points];
 +
May 24th  (Final) [50 points]
  
• Directed project assignments (50 points)
 
  
Final exam (50 points)
+
Project Presentations:
 +
May 15th  (Intro and Methods) [20 points];
 +
May 24th  (Final) [25 points]
 +
 
 +
 
 +
Field Notebook Submissions:
 +
May 14th (First) [20 points];
 +
May 22nd  (Final) [25 points]
 +
 
 +
 
 +
Field trips = Birding exercises (5 points each):
 +
Dates will be weather dependent    [30 points]
 +
 
 +
 
 +
Total: [300 points]
  
• Total (300 points)
 
  
 
Grading scale: A = 100-90%, B = 89-80%, C = 79-70%, D = 69-60%, F = 59-0%.   
 
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! 
+
Plus/minus system will be used for the final grade.  
  
  
 
'''Additional References & Websites'''
 
'''Additional References & Websites'''
  
• Bibby CJ, Burgess ND, Hill DA, Mustoe S, editors. 2000. Bird census techniques. San Diego, USA: Academic Press.
+
• MANUAL OF ORNITHOLOGY (Yale Univ.), by N.S. Proctor and P.J. Lynch: http://books.google.com/books?id=nQ3vLQkEWQMC&printsec=frontcover&dq=general+warbler+bill+shape#v=onepage&q&f=false
 +
 
 +
• Bibby CJ, Burgess ND, Hill DA, Mustoe S, editors. 2000. Bird census techniques. San Diego, USA: Academic Press.: http://books.google.com/books?id=Ld5wkzPp49cC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Bibby&ie=ISO-8859-1&cd=2&source=gbs_gdata#v=onepage&q&f=false
  
• Gill F. 2007. Ornithology. New York: W. H. Freeman and Company.  
+
• Gill F. 2007. Ornithology. New York: W. H. Freeman and Company. :  http://books.google.com/books?id=zM0tG5ApO0UC&printsec=frontcover&dq=ornithology+gill&hl=en&src=bmrr&ei=4iTsTfHvN4b2gAeg3o3ZCQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CC4Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false
  
 
• Stiling P. 1999. Ecology: theories and application. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
 
• Stiling P. 1999. Ecology: theories and application. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
Line 151: Line 155:
  
  
 +
'''Website design by Diego Sustaita'''
  
 
[[Category:EEB Courses]]
 
[[Category:EEB Courses]]

Revision as of 21:20, 6 May 2012

EEB3898flyer.jpg

EEB 3898: Field Methods in Ornithology

Intensive Summer Session, May 7th - 25th, 2012 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 techniques, study design, and data analysis

➢ Develop a research project

➢ Improve collaboration skills


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

o Closed-toe shoes (no sandals) or hiking boots, & proper outdoor clothing (poison ivy, weather)

• Recommended

o Sibley’s birding basics

o Birding by Ear: Eastern and Central North America

o Insect repellent (ticks, mosquitoes)

o Sunscreen


Tentative* schedule

Day Topic Day Topic Day Topic
M 07 Course introduction and timeline; Bird identification (Optics, Guides and Notes. Homework: Sibley Field Guide pags. 10-17) M 14 Pdficon small.gifOrtega & Capen 1999, Local birding (Pink Ravine), Field notebooks (First Submission) M 21 Individual project data collection II (Final)
T 08 Topography and Field Marks (Homework: Sibley Field Guide pags. 18-24); Feet, Beaks and Body Form; Field exercises, start project thinking T 15 Individual project presentations; Paper submission (Introduction and Methods) T 22 Survey of coastal birds / Field notebooks (Final Submission)
W 09 Field research techniques, hypotheses testing, study design, and data analysis W 16 MIDTERM EXAM; birding after W 23 Project presentations and assisted work on the paper
Th 10 Pdficon small.gifAnderson et al. 1979

Survey of local birds (Mansfield Hollow), Project guidelines discussion and selection (written ideas)

Th 17 Individual project data collection I (Methods adjustment) Th 24 Review session in preparation for the final; PAPER SUBMISSION (FINAL)
F 11 Survey of local birds (Pink ravine) F 18 Banding demo, Pomfret Center, Connecticut Audubon Society F 25 FINAL EXAM; Instructor evaluations

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


Grading

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


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


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


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


Field trips = Birding exercises (5 points each): Dates will be weather dependent [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

• MANUAL OF ORNITHOLOGY (Yale Univ.), by N.S. Proctor and P.J. Lynch: http://books.google.com/books?id=nQ3vLQkEWQMC&printsec=frontcover&dq=general+warbler+bill+shape#v=onepage&q&f=false

• Bibby CJ, Burgess ND, Hill DA, Mustoe S, editors. 2000. Bird census techniques. San Diego, USA: Academic Press.: http://books.google.com/books?id=Ld5wkzPp49cC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Bibby&ie=ISO-8859-1&cd=2&source=gbs_gdata#v=onepage&q&f=false

• Gill F. 2007. Ornithology. New York: W. H. Freeman and Company. : http://books.google.com/books?id=zM0tG5ApO0UC&printsec=frontcover&dq=ornithology+gill&hl=en&src=bmrr&ei=4iTsTfHvN4b2gAeg3o3ZCQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CC4Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false

• 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


Website design by Diego Sustaita