Difference between revisions of "Ornithology Laboratory"
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| − | <font color= "#FF0000">Your emails to me '''MUST contain the phrase "EEB 4261” in the subject line;''' email received without that phrase, and especially those with a blank subject line, will be DELETED | + | <font color= "#FF0000">Your emails to me '''MUST contain the phrase "EEB 4261” in the subject line;''' email received without that phrase, and especially those with a blank subject line, will be DELETED, unread.</font> |
| − | '''Teaching | + | '''Teaching Assistant:''' Brian Hiller '''Office:''' PharmBio 404 '''Office Phone:''' 486-5896 '''Office Hours:''' MW 10:00 - 11:00 am |
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BIRDS OF STORRS (Natchaug Ornithological Society) by G.A. Clark, Jr. | BIRDS OF STORRS (Natchaug Ornithological Society) by G.A. Clark, Jr. | ||
| − | SIBLEY GUIDE TO BIRDS (Knopf), by D.A. Sibley. | + | SIBLEY GUIDE TO BIRDS (Knopf), by D.A. Sibley.(Eastern or North American Edition) |
| Line 47: | Line 47: | ||
!width="300"|Meeting notes, and other resources | !width="300"|Meeting notes, and other resources | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | | Jan | + | | Jan 23 ||P & L p. 274-281,286-287; Sibley p. 9-14; Clark p. 1-19 || Tools of the Trade: Optics, Field Guides, Field Notebooks || |
|- | |- | ||
| − | | | + | | Jan 30 || P & L p. 22-37, 47-65, 263-265; 296-303; Sibley p. 15-21; Clark p. 21-40 || Specimen collections: why keep a bunch of dead bodies around? While in the collection: North American Bird Orders; topography & field marks || <font color= "#FF0000">CHECK UNIVERSITY WEB SITE BEFORE LEAVING HOME </font> in case of class cancellation and BRING YOUR FIELD NOTEBOOK |
|- | |- | ||
| − | | Feb | + | | Feb 6 || Handouts|| Birding First, then Opportunities in Ornithology - You Mean I Can Get Paid For This Stuff? || Be on time! We leave at 8 am! Bring your resume, if you have one, for the second half of lab. If you haven't looked at it yet, check out: [http://www.osnabirds.org/on/ornjobs.htm Jobs in Ornithology], the job board for the Ornithological Societies of North America. |
|- | |- | ||
| − | | Feb | + | | Feb 13 ||Handouts ||Field Techniques: Survey Methods || |
|- | |- | ||
| − | | Feb | + | | Feb 20|| Handouts || Field Techniques: Behavioral Observations || |
|- | |- | ||
| − | | Feb | + | | Feb 27 || P & L p. 81-105 || Feathers & Aerodynamics || |
|- | |- | ||
| − | | March | + | | March 6 ||'''MIDTERM EXAM''' || BRING your Sibley guide, Birds of Storrs. Birding After|| |
|- | |- | ||
| − | | March | + | | March 13 || ||NO CLASS - SPRING BREAK - GO BIRDING! || |
|- | |- | ||
| − | | March | + | | March 20 ||P & L p. 66-77 ||Feet, Beaks, and Body Form || |
|- | |- | ||
| − | | March | + | | March 27 || P & L Chapters 6 & 7, 205-209, 219-226 ||Anatomy - Musculature and Internal Organs || |
| + | |||
| + | |||
|- | |- | ||
| − | | April | + | | April 3 ||Chap. 5 || Anatomy - Skeletons || 8 am - birding first |
|- | |- | ||
| − | | April | + | | April 10 || Sibley; herons, gulls, and ducks || Tour de Local Birds || 4 hour field trip -- we'll be out of the lab from 8-12. |
|- | |- | ||
| − | | April | + | | April 17 || P & L p. 266-273 || Weather and Bird Movements || |
|- | |- | ||
| − | | April | + | | April 24|| || Carry overs, catch-ups, just birding |
|- | |- | ||
| − | | May | + | | May 1 || || Carry overs, catch-ups, just birding |
|- | |- | ||
| − | | May | + | | May 4 ||'''8-10am'''|| '''FINAL EXAM in TLS 371'''|| |
|} | |} | ||
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'''COURSE POINT TOTAL 300 POINTS''' | '''COURSE POINT TOTAL 300 POINTS''' | ||
| − | Test 1: 50 points, March | + | '''Test 1:''' 50 points, March 6 |
| − | + | '''Final:''' 80 points, May 4 (50 points for post-midterm material, 30 points for material from the WHOLE COURSE) | |
| − | + | [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/f/fe/Field_Notebook_Guidelines.pdf '''Field Notebook:'''] 30 points | |
| − | + | [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/f/f6/Independent_observation_guidelines.pdf '''Independent Field Observations''']: 70 points | |
| − | + | SEE: [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/c/c5/Ebird_Setup_Document.pdf Ebird Set-up Document] and [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/7/7f/POINT_COUNT_PROTOCOL.pdf Point Count Protocol] and [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/6/62/Point_Count_Datasheet.pdf Point Count Datasheet] and | |
| − | + | [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/3/38/Point_count_example.pdf Point Count Example]. | |
| − | [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/ | + | |
| − | [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/3/38/Point_count_example.pdf Point Count Example] | + | |
Independent Field Observation Locations: [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/4/40/Heep_Site_Map.pdf Map of Hillside Environmental Education Project] | Independent Field Observation Locations: [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/4/40/Heep_Site_Map.pdf Map of Hillside Environmental Education Project] | ||
| − | Field Trips 50 points (Field trips are required: you ''lose'' 10 points for every missed | + | '''Field Trips:''' 50 points (Field trips are required: you ''lose'' 10 points for every missed trip. Note that field trips are VERY subject to change, depending on birds, weather, circumstances, and whim. Don't assume you know what you are going to miss!) |
| − | + | [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/department/collections/index.html '''Collections'''] '''Work:''' 20 points (4 hours at 5 points per hour). | |
== Academic Rules/Conduct == | == Academic Rules/Conduct == | ||
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[http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/ Bird songs online!] | [http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/ Bird songs online!] | ||
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| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
[http://www.lab.fws.gov/featheratlas/ Feather Identification Resource Online!] The Feather Atlas of North American Birds provided high-resolution scans of flight feathers of the major groups of birds; useful for comparison with found feathers whose origin you aren't sure of. | [http://www.lab.fws.gov/featheratlas/ Feather Identification Resource Online!] The Feather Atlas of North American Birds provided high-resolution scans of flight feathers of the major groups of birds; useful for comparison with found feathers whose origin you aren't sure of. | ||
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[http://sibleyguides.blogspot.com/ David Sibley's Blog], wherein the field guide guy riffs mostly on the finer and philosophical points of bird identification, and reports his experiments in window treatments to prevent bird strikes. | [http://sibleyguides.blogspot.com/ David Sibley's Blog], wherein the field guide guy riffs mostly on the finer and philosophical points of bird identification, and reports his experiments in window treatments to prevent bird strikes. | ||
| − | + | [http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2008/03/photo20080313.html North Coast (Oregon) Diaries] Comments on photo documentation versus detailed notes. See also the March 2, 2008 post on Ugly Gulls (browse Main calendar). | |
| − | + | ||
| − | [http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2008/03/photo20080313.html North Coast (Oregon) Diaries] Comments on photo documentation versus detailed notes. See also the March 2 post on Ugly Gulls (browse Main calendar). | + | |
[http://listserv.umd.edu/archives/ecolog-l.html ECOLOG-L listserve postings] Job postings, other miscellaneous information and discussions about field ecology. | [http://listserv.umd.edu/archives/ecolog-l.html ECOLOG-L listserve postings] Job postings, other miscellaneous information and discussions about field ecology. | ||
[[Category:EEB Courses]] | [[Category:EEB Courses]] | ||
Revision as of 16:34, 28 January 2009
Western Sandpiper; drawing copyright Bridget Keimel
Basic Course Information
EEB 4261
Spring 2009
Meets: Fridays, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m, TLS 371
Instructor: Dr. Margaret Rubega Office: PharmBio 500
Office Phone: 486-4502 Office Hours: By appointment
Email: margaret.rubega@uconn.edu
Your emails to me MUST contain the phrase "EEB 4261” in the subject line; email received without that phrase, and especially those with a blank subject line, will be DELETED, unread.
Teaching Assistant: Brian Hiller Office: PharmBio 404 Office Phone: 486-5896 Office Hours: MW 10:00 - 11:00 am
Required Texts
MANUAL OF ORNITHOLOGY (Yale Univ.), by N.S. Proctor and P.J. Lynch
BIRDS OF STORRS (Natchaug Ornithological Society) by G.A. Clark, Jr.
SIBLEY GUIDE TO BIRDS (Knopf), by D.A. Sibley.(Eastern or North American Edition)
Class Schedule
(very subject to change; check back before every lab)
| Date | Required Reading | Subject | Meeting notes, and other resources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 23 | P & L p. 274-281,286-287; Sibley p. 9-14; Clark p. 1-19 | Tools of the Trade: Optics, Field Guides, Field Notebooks | |
| Jan 30 | P & L p. 22-37, 47-65, 263-265; 296-303; Sibley p. 15-21; Clark p. 21-40 | Specimen collections: why keep a bunch of dead bodies around? While in the collection: North American Bird Orders; topography & field marks | CHECK UNIVERSITY WEB SITE BEFORE LEAVING HOME in case of class cancellation and BRING YOUR FIELD NOTEBOOK |
| Feb 6 | Handouts | Birding First, then Opportunities in Ornithology - You Mean I Can Get Paid For This Stuff? | Be on time! We leave at 8 am! Bring your resume, if you have one, for the second half of lab. If you haven't looked at it yet, check out: Jobs in Ornithology, the job board for the Ornithological Societies of North America. |
| Feb 13 | Handouts | Field Techniques: Survey Methods | |
| Feb 20 | Handouts | Field Techniques: Behavioral Observations | |
| Feb 27 | P & L p. 81-105 | Feathers & Aerodynamics | |
| March 6 | MIDTERM EXAM | BRING your Sibley guide, Birds of Storrs. Birding After | |
| March 13 | NO CLASS - SPRING BREAK - GO BIRDING! | ||
| March 20 | P & L p. 66-77 | Feet, Beaks, and Body Form | |
| March 27 | P & L Chapters 6 & 7, 205-209, 219-226 | Anatomy - Musculature and Internal Organs |
|
| April 3 | Chap. 5 | Anatomy - Skeletons | 8 am - birding first |
| April 10 | Sibley; herons, gulls, and ducks | Tour de Local Birds | 4 hour field trip -- we'll be out of the lab from 8-12. |
| April 17 | P & L p. 266-273 | Weather and Bird Movements | |
| April 24 | Carry overs, catch-ups, just birding | ||
| May 1 | Carry overs, catch-ups, just birding | ||
| May 4 | 8-10am | FINAL EXAM in TLS 371 |
Grading
Grading in this course is done on a straight percentage-of-points basis, i.e., to obtain an A, you need to earn 90% or more of the available points. The grades will not be "curved", and there will be no opportunities for "make-up" or "extra-credit" points. Attendance on the field trips is required. If you miss a field trip, you lose 10 points. If you miss a test, you will receive a score of zero. If you have a legitimate reason (click here for a sample of legitimate vs. lame excuses) to miss a field trip or test, you may be excused (at the discretion of the instructors) IF AND ONLY IF you provide written documentation (for example, a doctor's note documenting illness; an obituary documenting a death in your family). In cases where the instructors determine you have a legitimate excuse, there still will be no make-ups administered: you will be graded only on the basis of the points contained in the field trips and tests you did complete. NOTE that this method reduces the number of points you can afford to lose and still do well in the course.
These policies have been developed over years of teaching this and other courses, and are designed to ensure fair treatment of everyone by eliminating discrepancies in testing and evaluation, and by eliminating differences in the amount of field and study time available to students. I am very willing to discuss my reasoning for these policies, but if you try to talk me into making an exception to them for you, you will fail, and probably make me grumpy to boot.
Point Structure for Grading
COURSE POINT TOTAL 300 POINTS
Test 1: 50 points, March 6
Final: 80 points, May 4 (50 points for post-midterm material, 30 points for material from the WHOLE COURSE)
Field Notebook: 30 points
Independent Field Observations: 70 points
SEE: Ebird Set-up Document and Point Count Protocol and Point Count Datasheet and Point Count Example.
Independent Field Observation Locations: Map of Hillside Environmental Education Project
Field Trips: 50 points (Field trips are required: you lose 10 points for every missed trip. Note that field trips are VERY subject to change, depending on birds, weather, circumstances, and whim. Don't assume you know what you are going to miss!)
Collections Work: 20 points (4 hours at 5 points per hour).
Academic Rules/Conduct
All students should be aware of the guidelines on academic integrity contained in the Student Conduct Code. The Conduct Code is available at http://www.dosa.uconn.edu/student_conduct.html.
Questions
If you have questions, by all means collar me or email me and ask. I will post both the questions (questioners will be anonymous) and answers here.
Useful and Amusing Links
Feather Identification Resource Online! The Feather Atlas of North American Birds provided high-resolution scans of flight feathers of the major groups of birds; useful for comparison with found feathers whose origin you aren't sure of.
Jobs in Ornithology, the job board for the Ornithological Societies of North America. THE central clearing house for field research internships and jobs.
David Sibley's Blog, wherein the field guide guy riffs mostly on the finer and philosophical points of bird identification, and reports his experiments in window treatments to prevent bird strikes.
North Coast (Oregon) Diaries Comments on photo documentation versus detailed notes. See also the March 2, 2008 post on Ugly Gulls (browse Main calendar).
ECOLOG-L listserve postings Job postings, other miscellaneous information and discussions about field ecology.
