Difference between revisions of "Field Ornithology"

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[[Image:EEB3898flyer.jpg| right]]
 
[[Image:EEB3898flyer.jpg| right]]
  
<span style="font-size: x-large">EEB 3898: Field Methods in Ornithology
+
<span style="font-size: x-large">EEB 4262: Field Methods in Ornithology
  
'''Intensive Summer Session 1, June 8th - 26th, 2009''' '''MTWThF'''  
+
'''Intensive Summer Session, May 8th - 26th, 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:holly.k.brown@uconn.edu Holly K. Milton Brown]'''
  
Office hours: variable & flexible (call, email, drop by)
+
Office: Pharmacy Biology Building, room 402
  
 +
Email: holly.k.brown@uconn.edu
  
<span style="font-size: large"><font color="#FF3300">Announcements</font></span>
+
Office hours: flexible (email to set up an appointment)
<br/>
+
<font color="#FF3300">• '''17 June''': Updates to schedule; new readings posted</font>
+
  
 +
Websites: [http://rubegalab.uconn.edu/hollybrown/ UCONN website] [https://hollymiltonbrown.wordpress.com Wordpress]
  
'''Course Objectives'''
 
  
• Acquire bird identification skills
 
  
• Learn basic field research techniques, study design, and data analysis
+
'''Course Objectives'''
  
• Develop basic understanding of local bird biology & ecology
+
Upon completion of this course, students will have:
  
• Tentative*  schedule:
+
1. acquired bird identification skills (by sight and sound).
  
{| border="1" cellpadding="2"
+
2. become proficient in taking scientific field notes.
!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
+
|-
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| 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
+
  
|-
+
3. gained experience in common field techniques for studying birds.
| 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: Radio telemetry and bird movements (from: 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]
+
  
|-
+
4. contributed to the design and implementation of a group research project.
| 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'''
 
[[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
+
'''Strongly Recommended'''
  
o Old shoes or hiking boots, & proper outdoor clothing (poison ivy, weather)
+
1. Peterson's Birding by Ear: Eastern and Central North America
  
o Insect repellent (ticks, mosquitoes)
+
2. Peterson's More Birding by Ear: Eastern and Central North America
  
o Sunscreen
+
3. Insect repellent (ticks, mosquitoes)
  
 +
4. Sunscreen
  
'''Assignments'''
 
  
• Daily reading assignments
+
'''Tentative schedule''' - Note that because so much of what we do depends on the weather, the schedule is very subject to change! Also note that '''Pop Quizzes''' are possible on any date.
  
• 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 8 || Course intro: syllabus, schedule, field safety; Intro to bird ID (Optics, Guides and Notes); Survey local birds; '''Read Bibby Ch 1 PRIOR to class'''
 +
|| M 15 || Group project proposal presentations & '''project selection'''; Start projects; Submit field notebooks for grading
 +
|| M 22 || Finish data collection; Start data analysis
  
• Directed project write-ups
+
|-  
  
• Weekly exams, covering:
+
| T 9 || '''NOTE: THIS CLASS WILL RUN 9AM-1PM.''' Bird Topography and Field Marks; Banding Demonstration Field Trip
[[Image: Owlwatching.gif| right]]
+
|| T 16 || Data collection
o Bird ID by sight & sound
+
|| T 23 || Survey of coastal birds
 +
|-
 +
 
 +
| W 10 || Field research techniques, study design, and data analysis
 +
|| W 17 || '''MIDTERM EXAM'''; Data collection
 +
|| W 24 || Survey of local, off-campus birding sites; Submit field notebooks for a final notebook grade
 +
|-
 +
 
 +
| Th 11 || Field techniques, continued; Survey local birds
 +
|| Th 18 || Report on state of group research project; Discuss methodological revisions; Data collection
 +
|| Th 25 || '''Research Presentations''' (& birding afterwards)
 +
|-
 +
 
 +
| F 12 || Research project guidelines & discussion; Survey local birds 
 +
|| F 19 || Data collection
 +
|| F 26 || '''FINAL EXAM'''; '''Peer evaluations'''; 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 17th (MIDTERM)         [50 points];
 +
May 26th (FINAL) [50 points]
  
• Midterm exams (50 points)
+
Pop Quizzes:
 +
5 (10 points each)                                     [50 points]
  
• Daily worksheets/field notes (150 points)
+
Research Project Proposal (Presentation & Discussions):
 +
May 15th                                 [50 points];
  
• Directed project assignments (50 points)
+
Research Project Presentation:
 +
May 25th                                 [50 points];
  
Final exam (50 points)
+
Field Notebook Submissions:
 +
May 15th (First) [25 points];
 +
May 26th  (Final) [25 points]
 +
 
 +
Field trips and birding exercises (5 points each):
 +
Dates will be weather dependent                    [35 points]
 +
 
 +
Total:         [335 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.
Line 151: Line 161:
  
  
 +
'''Website design by Diego Sustaita'''
  
 
[[Category:EEB Courses]]
 
[[Category:EEB Courses]]

Latest revision as of 19:57, 2 May 2017

EEB3898flyer.jpg

EEB 4262: Field Methods in Ornithology

Intensive Summer Session, May 8th - 26th, 2015

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


Instructor: Holly K. Milton Brown

Office: Pharmacy Biology Building, room 402

Email: holly.k.brown@uconn.edu

Office hours: flexible (email to set up an appointment)

Websites: UCONN website Wordpress


Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course, students will have:

1. acquired bird identification skills (by sight and sound).

2. become proficient in taking scientific field notes.

3. gained experience in common field techniques for studying birds.

4. contributed to the design and implementation of a group research project.


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)

Strongly Recommended

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

2. Peterson's More 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! Also note that Pop Quizzes are possible on any date.

Day Topic Day Topic Day Topic
M 8 Course intro: syllabus, schedule, field safety; Intro to bird ID (Optics, Guides and Notes); Survey local birds; Read Bibby Ch 1 PRIOR to class M 15 Group project proposal presentations & project selection; Start projects; Submit field notebooks for grading M 22 Finish data collection; Start data analysis
T 9 NOTE: THIS CLASS WILL RUN 9AM-1PM. Bird Topography and Field Marks; Banding Demonstration Field Trip T 16 Data collection T 23 Survey of coastal birds
W 10 Field research techniques, study design, and data analysis W 17 MIDTERM EXAM; Data collection W 24 Survey of local, off-campus birding sites; Submit field notebooks for a final notebook grade
Th 11 Field techniques, continued; Survey local birds Th 18 Report on state of group research project; Discuss methodological revisions; Data collection Th 25 Research Presentations (& birding afterwards)
F 12 Research project guidelines & discussion; Survey local birds F 19 Data collection F 26 FINAL EXAM; Peer evaluations; Instructor evaluations



Grading

Exams: May 17th (MIDTERM) [50 points]; May 26th (FINAL) [50 points]

Pop Quizzes: 5 (10 points each) [50 points]

Research Project Proposal (Presentation & Discussions): May 15th [50 points];

Research Project Presentation: May 25th [50 points];

Field Notebook Submissions: May 15th (First) [25 points]; May 26th (Final) [25 points]

Field trips and birding exercises (5 points each): Dates will be weather dependent [35 points]

Total: [335 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