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 11th - 29th, 2015'''
  
Instructor: '''[mailto:diego.sustaita@uconn.edu Diego Sustaita]'''
+
'''Meets:''' M-F, 7:30 am to 11:30 am, TLS 371
  
Office: Biol/Pharm 404
 
  
Phone: 860-486-0309
+
Instructor: '''[mailto:kevin.burgio@uconn.edu Kevin Burgio]'''
  
Office hours: variable & flexible (call, email, drop by)
+
Office: Biol/Pharm 402
  
<span style="font-size: large"><font color="#FF3300">Announcements</font></span>
+
Email: kevin.burgio@uconn.edu
<br/>
+
<font color="#FF3300">• '''28 May''': We are go for take-off!!!!</font>
+
  
'''Course Objectives'''
+
Office hours: variable & flexible (email, drop by)
  
• Acquire bird identification skills
+
Website: [http://www.monkparakeetresearch.org UConn Monk Parakeet Research]
  
• Learn basic field research techniques, study design, and data analysis
 
  
• Develop basic understanding of local bird biology & ecology
 
  
• Tentative*  schedule:
+
'''Course Objectives'''
 +
 
 +
Upon completion of this course, students will be proficient in taking field notes, basic bird anatomy, song structure, and identification skills needed to accurately identify bird species. Students will have instruction and experience in the following: bird survey design, the most commonly used bird census methods, and field-based behavioral observation. Lastly, students will be introduced to current statistical approaches used to analyze data collected in the field.
  
{| 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)
+
1. The Sibley Field Guide to the Birds of Eastern North America
  
o Binoculars (available from us if you don’t have any)
+
2. Bibby CJ, Burgess ND, Hill DA, Mustoe S, editors. 2000. Bird census techniques. San Diego, USA: Academic Press
  
o Field notepad/notebook
+
3. Binoculars (available from us if you don’t have any)
  
'''• Recommended'''
+
4. Field notepad/notebook ({{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/b/b4/Field_Notebook_Guidelines_2013.pdf}} Basic guidelines)
  
o Sibley’s birding basics (Knopf, New York, 2002)
+
5. Closed-toe shoes (no sandals) or hiking boots, & proper outdoor clothing (you may encounter poison ivy, ticks and biting insects, and/or bad weather)
  
o Birding by Ear: Eastern and Central North America – Peterson Field Guides
+
'''Recommended'''
  
o Old shoes or hiking boots, & proper outdoor clothing (poison ivy, weather)
+
1. Sibley’s Birding Basics
  
o Insect repellent (ticks, mosquitoes)
+
2. Peterson's Birding by Ear: Eastern and Central North America
  
o Sunscreen
+
3. Insect repellent (ticks, mosquitoes)
  
 +
4. Sunscreen
  
'''Assignments'''
+
'''Tentative schedule - Note that because so much of what we do depends on the weather, the schedule is very subject to change!'''
  
• Daily reading assignments
+
{| 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 11 || Course introduction and timeline; Bird identification (Optics, Guides and Notes)
 +
|| M 18 || Survey of local birds; notebooks (First Submission)
 +
|| M 25 || Independent project data collection (Final); data analysis
  
• Class exercise worksheets
+
|-
  
• Directed project write-ups
+
| T 12 || Topography and Field Marks Feet, Beaks and Body Form; Field exercises; Start projects 
 +
|| T 19 || Individual project presentations
 +
|| T 26 || Survey of coastal birds
 +
|-  
  
• Weekly exams, covering:
+
| W 13 || Field research techniques, hypotheses testing, study design, and data analysis
[[Image: Owlwatching.gif| right]]
+
|| W 20 || '''MIDTERM EXAM'''
o Bird ID by sight & sound
+
|| W 27 || Survey of local birds. Field notebooks (Final Submission)
 +
|-
 +
 
 +
| Th 14 || Survey of local birds, Review, Project guidelines discussion and selection
 +
|| Th 21 || Individual project data collection I (Methods adjustment)
 +
|| Th 28 || Review session in preparation for the final;
 +
|-
 +
 
 +
| F 15 || Banding demo(?)
 +
|| F 22 || Individual project data collection II (Assisted)
 +
|| F 29 || FINAL EXAM; Instructor evaluations
 +
 
 +
|-
 +
</span>   
 +
|}
  
o Basic biology (e.g., from observations; field guide; “All About Birds”)
 
  
o Material from lectures & readings
 
 
o Field technique scenario questions
 
  
  
 
'''Grading'''
 
'''Grading'''
 +
 +
Exams:
 +
May 20st (MIDTERM)         [50 points];
 +
May 29th (FINAL) [50 points]
  
• Midterm exams (50 points)
+
Activities and Quizzes:
 +
5 (10 points each)                                     [50 points]
  
• Daily worksheets/field notes (150 points)
+
Final Project Presentation:
 +
May 28th                                 [70 points];
  
• Directed project assignments (50 points)
+
Field Notebook Submissions:
 +
May 19th (First) [25 points];
 +
May 28th  (Final) [25 points]
  
• Final exam (50 points)
+
Field trips and 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 20:00, 7 April 2015

EEB3898flyer.jpg

EEB 3898: Field Methods in Ornithology

Intensive Summer Session, May 11th - 29th, 2015

Meets: M-F, 7:30 am to 11:30 am, TLS 371


Instructor: Kevin Burgio

Office: Biol/Pharm 402

Email: kevin.burgio@uconn.edu

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

Website: UConn Monk Parakeet Research


Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course, students will be proficient in taking field notes, basic bird anatomy, song structure, and identification skills needed to accurately identify bird species. Students will have instruction and experience in the following: bird survey design, the most commonly used bird census methods, and field-based behavioral observation. Lastly, students will be introduced to current statistical approaches used to analyze data collected in the field.


Course Materials

Binos.jpg

Required

1. The Sibley Field Guide to the Birds of Eastern North America

2. Bibby CJ, Burgess ND, Hill DA, Mustoe S, editors. 2000. Bird census techniques. San Diego, USA: Academic Press

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

4. Field notepad/notebook (Pdficon small.gif Basic guidelines)

5. Closed-toe shoes (no sandals) or hiking boots, & proper outdoor clothing (you may encounter poison ivy, ticks and biting insects, and/or bad weather)

Recommended

1. Sibley’s Birding Basics

2. Peterson's Birding by Ear: Eastern and Central North America

3. Insect repellent (ticks, mosquitoes)

4. Sunscreen

Tentative schedule - Note that because so much of what we do depends on the weather, the schedule is very subject to change!

Day Topic Day Topic Day Topic
M 11 Course introduction and timeline; Bird identification (Optics, Guides and Notes) M 18 Survey of local birds; notebooks (First Submission) M 25 Independent project data collection (Final); data analysis
T 12 Topography and Field Marks Feet, Beaks and Body Form; Field exercises; Start projects T 19 Individual project presentations T 26 Survey of coastal birds
W 13 Field research techniques, hypotheses testing, study design, and data analysis W 20 MIDTERM EXAM W 27 Survey of local birds. Field notebooks (Final Submission)
Th 14 Survey of local birds, Review, Project guidelines discussion and selection Th 21 Individual project data collection I (Methods adjustment) Th 28 Review session in preparation for the final;
F 15 Banding demo(?) F 22 Individual project data collection II (Assisted) F 29 FINAL EXAM; Instructor evaluations



Grading

Exams: May 20st (MIDTERM) [50 points]; May 29th (FINAL) [50 points]

Activities and Quizzes: 5 (10 points each) [50 points]

Final Project Presentation: May 28th [70 points];

Field Notebook Submissions: May 19th (First) [25 points]; May 28th (Final) [25 points]

Field trips and 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