Field Ornithology

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EEB 3898: Field Methods in Ornithology

Intensive Summer Session 1, June 8th - 26th, 2009 MTWThF

Instructor: Diego Sustaita

Office: Biol/Pharm 404

Phone: 860-486-0309

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


Course Objectives

• Acquire bird identification skills

• Learn basic field research techniques, study design, and data analysis

• Develop basic understanding of local bird biology & ecology

• Tentative* schedule:

Day Topic Day Topic Day 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

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

Course Materials

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• Required

o The Sibley Field Guide to the Birds of Eastern North America (from Co-op)

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

o Field notepad/notebook

• Recommended

o Sibley’s birding basics (Knopf, New York, 2002)

o Birding by Ear: Eastern and Central North America – Peterson Field Guides

o Old shoes or hiking boots, & proper outdoor clothing (poison ivy, weather)

o Insect repellent (ticks, mosquitoes)

o Sunscreen