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 6th - 24th, 2011''' '''MTWThF'''  
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'''Intensive Summer Session, May 12th - 30th, 2014'''
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'''Meets:''' M-F, 8 am to 11 am, TLS 181
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Instructor: '''[mailto:a.rico@uconn.edu Alejandro Rico]'''
 
Instructor: '''[mailto:a.rico@uconn.edu Alejandro Rico]'''
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➢ Learn how to take field notes
 
➢ Learn how to take field notes
  
➢ Learn and apply basic field research techniques, study design, and data analysis
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➢ Learn and apply basic field techniques, study design, and data analysis
  
➢ Develop an individual project  
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➢ Develop a research project  
  
 +
➢ Improve collaboration skills
  
  
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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
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o Field notepad/notebook ({{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/b/b4/Field_Notebook_Guidelines_2013.pdf}} Basic guidelines)
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o Closed-toe shoes (no sandals) or hiking boots, & proper outdoor clothing (poison ivy, weather)
  
 
'''• Recommended'''
 
'''• Recommended'''
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o Birding by Ear: Eastern and Central North America
 
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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!style="background:" width="300"|Topic
 
!style="background:" width="300"|Topic
 
|-  
 
|-  
| M 06 || Course introduction and timeline; Bird identification (Optics, Guides and Notes. Reading: MANUAL OF ORNITHOLOGY pags. 274, 276-279 and 286-287), Campus birding || M 13|| {{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/fieldornithology/ortega%26capen1999.pdf}}Ortega & Capen 1999, Local birding (Pink Ravine), Field notebooks (First Submission)  
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| 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 20 || Survey of coastal birds
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  || M 26 || Memorial day: Independent project data collection (Final)
  
 
|-  
 
|-  
| T 07 || Topography and Field Marks; Feet, Beaks and Body Form; Field exercises, start project thinking
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| T 13 || Topography and Field Marks (Homework: Sibley Field Guide pags. 18-24); Feet, Beaks and Body Form; Field exercises, start project thinking
  || T 14 || Individual project presentations; Paper submission (Introduction and Methods)
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  || T 20 || Individual project presentations
  || T 21 ||  Banding demo, Pomfret Center, Connecticut Audubon Society / Field notebooks (Final Submission)
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  || T 27 ||  Survey of coastal birds (Barn Island)
 
|-  
 
|-  
| W 08 || Field research techniques, hypotheses testing, study design, and data analysis
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| W 14 || Field research techniques, hypotheses testing, study design, and data analysis
|| W 15 || MIDTERM EXAM; birding after
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|| W 21 || MIDTERM EXAM  
|| W 22 || Individual project presentations and assisted work on the paper
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|| W 28 || Survey of local birds. Field notebooks (Final Submission)
 
|-  
 
|-  
| Th 09 || {{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/fieldornithology/andersonetal.1979.pdf}}Anderson et al. 1979
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| Th 15 || Survey of local birds (Pink Ravine), Review, Project guidelines discussion and selection (written ideas)
Survey of local birds (Mansfield Hollow), Individual project guidelines discussion and project selection (written ideas)
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  || Th 22 || Individual project data collection I (Methods adjustment)  
  || Th 16 || Individual project data collection I (Methods adjustment)  
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|| Th 23 || HEEP site field activity (use of eBird); PAPER SUBMISSION (FINAL)
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|| 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
 
   
 
   
 
|-  
 
|-  
| F 10 || Capture/banding demonstration, Pomfret Center, Connecticut Audubon Society
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| F 16 || {{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/fieldornithology/andersonetal.1979.pdf}}Anderson et al. 1979
  || F 17 || Individual project data collection II (Final)
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Banding demo, Pomfret Center, Connecticut Audubon Society
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  || F 23 || Individual project data collection II (Assisted)
  
|| F 24 || FINAL EXAM; Instructor evaluations
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|| F 30 || FINAL EXAM; Instructor evaluations; [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php/EEB_3898_Media_Projects Media Projects]
  
 
|-  
 
|-  
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Exams:
 
Exams:
June 15th (MIDTERM) [50 points];
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May 21st (MIDTERM) [50 points];
June 24th (FINAL) [50 points]
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May 30th (FINAL) [50 points]
  
 +
Project Proposal Presentation:
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May 20th  (Intro and Methods) [25 points];
  
Individual Project Paper:
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Media Project:
June 14th (Intro and Methods) [30 points];
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May 29th [100 points]
June 23rd (Final) [50 points]
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+
 
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Individual Project Presentations:
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June 14th (Intro and Methods) [20 points];
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June 22nd (Final) [25 points]
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+
  
 
Field Notebook Submissions:
 
Field Notebook Submissions:
June 13th (First) [20 points];
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May 19th (First) [20 points];
June 21st (Final) [25 points]
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May 28th  (Final) [25 points]
  
  
 
Field trips = Birding exercises (5 points each):
 
Field trips = Birding exercises (5 points each):
June 9th, 10th, 13th, 20th, 21st, 23rd   [30 points]  
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Dates will be weather dependent   [30 points]  
  
  
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'''Additional References & Websites'''
  
'''Important documents to download:'''
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• Local Birds ID tool: http://www.whatbird.com/Expert/Expert.aspx
 
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Course overview{{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/fieldornithology/Field%20Ornithology%202011.pdf}}
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Binoculars sign-out{{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/fieldornithology/Binocs%20signout.pdf}}
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ID'ing exercise{{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/fieldornithology/Exercise.pdf}}
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Field Notebook Instructions{{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/fieldornithology/Field_Notebook_Guidelines.pdf}}
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Individual Project Instructions (Intro and Methods){{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/fieldornithology/Project%20Guidelines%20%28Intro%20and%20Methods%29.pdf}}
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Individual Project Instructions (Final){{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/fieldornithology/Project%20Guidelines%20%28Final%29.pdf}}
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eBird guidelines {{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/fieldornithology/EEB%203898%20EBIRD%202011.pdf}}
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'''Additional References & Websites'''
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• 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
 
• 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

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