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'''
  
Instructor: '''[mailto:diego.sustaita@uconn.edu Diego Sustaita]'''
+
'''Meets:''' M-F, 8 am to 11 am, TLS 181
 +
 
 +
 
 +
Instructor: '''[mailto:a.rico@uconn.edu Alejandro Rico]'''
  
 
Office: Biol/Pharm 404
 
Office: Biol/Pharm 404
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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">• '''28 May''': We are go for take-off!!!!</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
 +
 
 +
➢ 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 introduction] || 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 [{{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/fieldornithology/macarthur1958.pdf}}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'''
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'''• 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)
 +
 
 +
o Closed-toe shoes (no sandals) or hiking boots, & proper outdoor clothing (poison ivy, weather)
  
 
'''• Recommended'''
 
'''• Recommended'''
  
o Sibley’s birding basics (Knopf, New York, 2002)
+
o Sibley’s birding basics
  
o Birding by Ear: Eastern and Central North America – Peterson Field Guides
+
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 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 12 || Course introduction and timeline; Bird identification (Optics, Guides and Notes. Homework: Sibley Field Guide pags. 10-17) || M 19|| {{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/fieldornithology/ortega%26capen1999.pdf}}Ortega & Capen 1999, Survey of local birds (Mansfield hollow), Field notebooks (First Submission)
 +
|| M 26 || Memorial day: Independent project data collection (Final)
  
• Directed project write-ups
+
|-
 +
| T 13 || Topography and Field Marks (Homework: Sibley Field Guide pags. 18-24); Feet, Beaks and Body Form; Field exercises, start project thinking
 +
|| T 20 || Individual project presentations
 +
|| T 27 ||  Survey of coastal birds (Barn Island)
 +
|-  
 +
| W 14 || Field research techniques, hypotheses testing, study design, and data analysis
 +
|| W 21 || MIDTERM EXAM
 +
|| W 28 || Survey of local birds. Field notebooks (Final Submission)
 +
|-
 +
| Th 15 || Survey of local birds (Pink Ravine), Review, Project guidelines discussion and selection (written ideas)
 +
|| Th 22 || Individual project data collection I (Methods adjustment)
  
• Weekly exams, covering:
+
|| Th 29 || Review session in preparation for the final; [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php/Sound_guide_to_the_birds_of_campus Sound guide to the birds of campus]; MEDIA PROJECT FINAL SUBMISSION
[[Image: Owlwatching.gif| right]]
+
o Bird ID by sight & sound
+
|-
 +
| F 16 ||  {{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/fieldornithology/andersonetal.1979.pdf}}Anderson et al. 1979
 +
Banding demo, Pomfret Center, Connecticut Audubon Society
 +
|| F 23 || Individual project data collection II (Assisted)
  
o Basic biology (e.g., from observations; field guide; “All About Birds”)
+
|| F 30 || FINAL EXAM; Instructor evaluations; [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php/EEB_3898_Media_Projects Media Projects]
 +
 
 +
|-
 +
</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 21st (MIDTERM) [50 points];
 +
May 30th (FINAL) [50 points]
  
• Midterm exams (50 points)
+
Project Proposal Presentation:
 +
May 20th  (Intro and Methods) [25 points];
  
• Daily worksheets/field notes (150 points)
+
Media Project:
 +
May 29th [100 points]
  
• Directed project assignments (50 points)
+
Field Notebook Submissions:
 +
May 19th (First) [20 points];
 +
May 28th  (Final) [25 points]
  
• Final exam (50 points)
 
  
• Total (300 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%.   
 
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 23:24, 29 May 2014

EEB3898flyer.jpg

EEB 3898: Field Methods in Ornithology

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

Meets: M-F, 8 am to 11 am, TLS 181


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 12 Course introduction and timeline; Bird identification (Optics, Guides and Notes. Homework: Sibley Field Guide pags. 10-17) M 19 Pdficon small.gifOrtega & Capen 1999, Survey of local birds (Mansfield hollow), Field notebooks (First Submission) M 26 Memorial day: Independent project data collection (Final)
T 13 Topography and Field Marks (Homework: Sibley Field Guide pags. 18-24); Feet, Beaks and Body Form; Field exercises, start project thinking T 20 Individual project presentations T 27 Survey of coastal birds (Barn Island)
W 14 Field research techniques, hypotheses testing, study design, and data analysis W 21 MIDTERM EXAM W 28 Survey of local birds. Field notebooks (Final Submission)
Th 15 Survey of local birds (Pink Ravine), Review, Project guidelines discussion and selection (written ideas) Th 22 Individual project data collection I (Methods adjustment) Th 29 Review session in preparation for the final; Sound guide to the birds of campus; MEDIA PROJECT FINAL SUBMISSION
F 16 Pdficon small.gifAnderson et al. 1979

Banding demo, Pomfret Center, Connecticut Audubon Society

F 23 Individual project data collection II (Assisted) F 30 FINAL EXAM; Instructor evaluations; Media Projects

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


Grading

Exams: May 21st (MIDTERM) [50 points]; May 30th (FINAL) [50 points]

Project Proposal Presentation: May 20th (Intro and Methods) [25 points];

Media Project: May 29th [100 points]

Field Notebook Submissions: May 19th (First) [20 points]; May 28th (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