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 8th - 26th, 2009''' '''MTWThF'''  
+
'''Intensive Summer Session, May 12th - 30th, 2014''' '''MTWThF'''  
  
Instructor: '''[mailto:diego.sustaita@uconn.edu Diego Sustaita]'''
+
'''Meets:''' 8 am to 11 am, TLS 371
 +
 
 +
 
 +
Instructor: '''[mailto:a.rico@uconn.edu Alejandro Rico]'''
  
 
Office: Biol/Pharm 404
 
Office: Biol/Pharm 404
Line 15: Line 18:
  
 
Office hours: variable & flexible (call, email, drop by)
 
Office hours: variable & flexible (call, email, drop by)
 +
  
  
 
'''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
 +
 
 +
➢ Improve collaboration skills
  
{| 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 08 || Course introduction; Bird identification [Sibley intro/ lecture notes handout] || M 15|| Point count/transect lecture & activity [Manuwal & Carey 1991 pgs. 11-14; Reynolds et al. 1980] || M 22 || Group project(s) [TBA]
 
|-
 
| T 09 || Distance calibration; Survey of local birds [TBA] || T 16 || Territory mapping lecture & activity (I) [Manuwal & Carey 1991 pgs. 14-17/ Ortega & Cappen 1999] || T 23 || Survey of forest birds [TBA]
 
|-
 
| W 10 || Primer of avian ecology; Survey of local birds [MacArthur 1958]|| W 17 || Behavioral observation lecture & activity [Green et al. 1996]
 
|| W 24 || Survey of coastal birds [TBA]
 
|-
 
| Th 11 || Census techniques lecture: line transects [Manuwal & Carey 1991 pgs. 9-11; Anderson et al. 1979] || Th 18 || Density estimation lecture & activity [Thomas et al. 2002]; Territory mapping activity (II)
 
|| Th 25 || Habitat diversity & community analysis [Stiling, Chapt.16]
 
|-
 
| F 12 || Exam 1; Mist-netting/banding (Pomfret Audubon Center)[Silkeye et al. 1999] || F 19 || Exam 2;
 
Habitat measurement lecture & activity [Bibby et al. 1985]
 
|| 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'''
[[Image:binos.jpg| right]]
+
[[Image:Binos.jpg| right]]
  
 
'''• 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)
  
o Field notepad/notebook
+
o Field notepad/notebook ({{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/b/b4/Field_Notebook_Guidelines_2013.pdf}} Basic guidelines)
  
'''• 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)
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'''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 13 || Course introduction and timeline; Bird identification (Optics, Guides and Notes. Homework: Sibley Field Guide pags. 10-17) || M 20|| {{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/fieldornithology/ortega%26capen1999.pdf}}Ortega & Capen 1999, Horizon Wings, Field notebooks (First Submission)
 +
|| M 27 || Memorial day: Individual project data collection III (Final)
  
• Directed project write-ups
+
|-
 +
| T 14 || Topography and Field Marks (Homework: Sibley Field Guide pags. 18-24); Feet, Beaks and Body Form; Field exercises, start project thinking
 +
|| T 21 || Review; Individual project presentations; Paper submission (Introduction and Methods)
 +
|| T 28 ||  Survey of coastal birds (Barn Island)
 +
|-  
 +
| W 15 || Field research techniques, hypotheses testing, study design, and data analysis
 +
|| W 22 || MIDTERM EXAM
 +
|| W 29 || Project presentations; birding after (Mansfield Hollow). Field notebooks (Final Submission)
 +
|-
 +
| Th 16 || {{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/fieldornithology/andersonetal.1979.pdf}}Anderson et al. 1979
 +
Survey of local birds (Pink Ravine),  Project guidelines discussion and selection (written ideas)
 +
|| Th 23 || Individual project data collection I (Methods adjustment)
  
• Weekly exams, covering:
+
|| Th 30 || Review session in preparation for the final; PAPER SUBMISSION (FINAL)
[[Image: Owlwatching.gif| right]]
+
o Bird ID by sight & sound
+
|-
 +
| F 17 || Banding demo, Pomfret Center, Connecticut Audubon Society
 +
|| F 24 || Individual project data collection II (Assisted)
  
o Basic biology (e.g., from observations; field guide; “All About Birds”)
+
|| F 31 || 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 22nd (MIDTERM) [50 points];
 +
May 31st (FINAL) [50 points]
  
• Midterm exams (50 points)
 
  
• Daily worksheets/field notes (150 points)
+
Project Paper:
 +
May 21st (Intro and Methods) [30 points];
 +
May 30th  (Final) [50 points]
  
• Directed project assignments (50 points)
 
  
Final exam (50 points)
+
Project Presentations:
 +
May 21st  (Intro and Methods) [20 points];
 +
May 29th  (Final) [25 points]
 +
 
 +
 
 +
Field Notebook Submissions:
 +
May 20th (First) [20 points];
 +
May 29th  (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.
+
• Local Birds ID tool: http://www.whatbird.com/Expert/Expert.aspx
 +
 
 +
• 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.
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 +
'''Website design by Diego Sustaita'''
  
 
[[Category:EEB Courses]]
 
[[Category:EEB Courses]]

Revision as of 23:08, 8 April 2014

EEB3898flyer.jpg

EEB 3898: Field Methods in Ornithology

Intensive Summer Session, May 12th - 30th, 2014 MTWThF

Meets: 8 am to 11 am, TLS 371


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 (Pdficon small.gif Basic guidelines)

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 13 Course introduction and timeline; Bird identification (Optics, Guides and Notes. Homework: Sibley Field Guide pags. 10-17) M 20 Pdficon small.gifOrtega & Capen 1999, Horizon Wings, Field notebooks (First Submission) M 27 Memorial day: Individual project data collection III (Final)
T 14 Topography and Field Marks (Homework: Sibley Field Guide pags. 18-24); Feet, Beaks and Body Form; Field exercises, start project thinking T 21 Review; Individual project presentations; Paper submission (Introduction and Methods) T 28 Survey of coastal birds (Barn Island)
W 15 Field research techniques, hypotheses testing, study design, and data analysis W 22 MIDTERM EXAM W 29 Project presentations; birding after (Mansfield Hollow). Field notebooks (Final Submission)
Th 16 Pdficon small.gifAnderson et al. 1979

Survey of local birds (Pink Ravine), Project guidelines discussion and selection (written ideas)

Th 23 Individual project data collection I (Methods adjustment) Th 30 Review session in preparation for the final; PAPER SUBMISSION (FINAL)
F 17 Banding demo, Pomfret Center, Connecticut Audubon Society F 24 Individual project data collection II (Assisted) F 31 FINAL EXAM; Instructor evaluations

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


Grading

Exams: May 22nd (MIDTERM) [50 points]; May 31st (FINAL) [50 points]


Project Paper: May 21st (Intro and Methods) [30 points]; May 30th (Final) [50 points]


Project Presentations: May 21st (Intro and Methods) [20 points]; May 29th (Final) [25 points]


Field Notebook Submissions: May 20th (First) [20 points]; May 29th (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

• Local Birds ID tool: http://www.whatbird.com/Expert/Expert.aspx

• 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