Difference between revisions of "Ornithology Laboratory"
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<span style="font-size: x-large">EEB 4261</span><br> | <span style="font-size: x-large">EEB 4261</span><br> | ||
− | '''Spring | + | '''Spring 2013''' |
'''Meets:''' Fridays, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m, TLS 371 | '''Meets:''' Fridays, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m, TLS 371 | ||
Line 19: | Line 19: | ||
'''Office Hours:''' By appointment<br> | '''Office Hours:''' By appointment<br> | ||
− | < | + | '''Teaching Assistant:''' '''[mailto:kevin.burgio@uconn.edu Kevin Burgio]'''<br> |
+ | '''Office:''' PharmBio 402 <br> | ||
+ | '''Office Hours:''' Wed. 12:05 - 1:05 (in the BioPhysics Cafe); or by appointment<br><br> | ||
− | + | <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> | |
− | ''' | + | |
− | + | ||
== Required Texts == | == Required Texts == | ||
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!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 || Course Intro: How We Roll + Tools of the trade: Optics, Field Guides, Field Notes and Journals || Come dressed and ready to bird; meet in TLS 371 |
|- | |- | ||
− | | Jan | + | | Jan 30 || P & L p. 22-37, 47-65, 263-265; Sibley p. 15-21; Clark p. 21-40/ P & L p. 66-77 || North American bird Orders; Topography and Field Marks; Feet, Beaks and Body Form; || Bring P & L to class; meet in TLS 371 |
|- | |- | ||
− | | Feb | + | | Feb 6 || Handouts|| Opportunities in Ornithology - You Mean I Can Get Paid for This? || Come dressed to bird, bring your resume if you have one |
|- | |- | ||
− | | Feb | + | | Feb 13 || || Tour of Mansfield Birding Spots || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | Feb | + | | Feb 20 || P & L p. 81-105 || Feathers & Aerodynamics || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | Feb | + | | Feb 27 || P & L Chapters 6 & 7, 205-209, 219-226|| Anatomy: musculature and internal organs || NO BIRDING - we will need the whole class period for dissections. '''Bring your Proctor and Lynch to class!''' |
|- | |- | ||
− | | March | + | | March 6|| P & L Chap. 5 || Anatomy - Skeletons || Check for weather, and come dressed to bird |
|- | |- | ||
− | | March | + | | March 13 || ||'''MIDTERM EXAM'''; ''birding after''|| |
|- | |- | ||
− | | March | + | | March 20 || ||NO CLASS - SPRING BREAK - GO BIRDING! || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | March | + | | March 27 ||Handouts ||Field Techniques: Survey methods || Bring to class, and turn in, your Weather Worksheet. [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/a/a5/EBird_exercise.pdf eBird exercise (to be done in class)] |
+ | |- | ||
+ | | April 3|| Proctor & Lynch p. 266-273 || Weather and Bird Movements: Go Outside to EXPERIENCE both! || [http://woodcreeper.com Monitor bird movements with Dave LaPuma!] [http://virtual.clemson.edu/groups/birdrad/ Clemson University Radar Ornithology Lab] [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/5/5d/Weather_lab.pdf Birds and Weather worksheet] | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | | + | | April 10 || || Vocalizations: Bird outside all four hours|| |
− | + | |- | |
− | + | | April 17 || Handouts || Field Techniques: Behavioral observations || | |
− | |- | + | |
− | | April | + | |
|- | |- | ||
− | | April | + | | April 24|| || Bird, Bird, Bird – outside all four hours|| |
|- | |- | ||
− | | | + | | May 1|| || Bird, Bird, Bird - outside all four hours|| |
|- | |- | ||
− | | | + | | May 4 ||'''8:00 – 10:00 am'''|| '''FINAL EXAM in TLS 371'''|| |
|} | |} | ||
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'''COURSE POINT TOTAL 300 POINTS''' | '''COURSE POINT TOTAL 300 POINTS''' | ||
− | '''Test 1:''' | + | '''Test 1:''' 75 points, March 15 |
− | '''Final:''' | + | '''Final:''' 75 points, May 6 |
− | '''Field Notebook:''' | + | '''Field Notebook:''' 10 points |
− | '''Worksheets/Quizzes''' | + | '''Worksheets/Quizzes''' 40 points (4 at 10 points each) |
[http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/f/f6/Independent_observation_guidelines.pdf '''Independent Field Observations:'''] 35 points | [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/f/f6/Independent_observation_guidelines.pdf '''Independent Field Observations:'''] 35 points | ||
− | SEE: [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/ | + | SEE: [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/a/a2/EBird_set-up_document.pdf Ebird Set-up Document] and [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/0/05/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/3/38/Point_count_example.pdf Point Count Example]. | ||
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[http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/department/collections/index.html '''Collections'''] '''Work:''' 20 points (4 hours at 5 points per hour). | [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/department/collections/index.html '''Collections'''] '''Work:''' 20 points (4 hours at 5 points per hour). | ||
− | + | Note that '''you are required to keep a''' [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/f/fe/Field_Notebook_Guidelines.pdf '''Field Notebook.'''] Notebooks will be collected for assessment and feedback, at random, throughout the course of first half of the semester. '''You may not begin work on your independent observations (themselves worth 35 points) until you have demonstrated notebook competence''' AND '''you must achieve notebook competence by the midterm''' or forgo your opportunity to earn the 35 points from the independent observations. At the final assessment of your notebook, you will be awarded from 1 (just barely competent) to up to 10 points (EXCELLENT) for notebook skills. | |
== Academic Rules/Conduct == | == Academic Rules/Conduct == | ||
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== Questions == | == Questions == | ||
− | ''If you have questions, by all means | + | ''If you have questions, by all means ask me in class or email me. I will post both the questions (questioners will be anonymous) and answers here. |
'' | '' | ||
+ | |||
== Useful and Amusing Links == | == Useful and Amusing Links == | ||
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===Bird blogs=== | ===Bird blogs=== | ||
+ | |||
+ | [http://www.woodcreeper.com Dave LaPuma's Bird Migration Blog], an excellent spot to learn to use weather radar to watch migration happen. As he says: Look Busy, Birds Are Coming! | ||
[http://www.sibleyguides.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.sibleyguides.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. | ||
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'''Vertebrate Collections Manager:''' Sue Hochgraf susan.hochgraf@uconn.edu 860-486-8945 | '''Vertebrate Collections Manager:''' Sue Hochgraf susan.hochgraf@uconn.edu 860-486-8945 | ||
− | To sign-up, let Dr. Rubega or | + | To sign-up, let Dr. Rubega or Kevin know which date/hours you would like to work; refer here to see hours already taken. No more than 2 students in an hour block simultaneously, unless Sue Hochgraf approves it. The Thursday during spring break is available for collections work. |
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" | {| border="1" cellpadding="2" | ||
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!width="85"|1 pm | !width="85"|1 pm | ||
!width="85"|2 pm | !width="85"|2 pm | ||
− | !width="85"|3 pm | + | !width="85"|3 pm || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | Feb | + | | Feb 5|| || || || || || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | Feb | + | | Feb 12|| || || || || || Jenny, Damon || Jenny, Damon || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | Feb | + | | Feb 19|| || || || || || Jenny, Damon || Jenny, Damon || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | Feb | + | | Feb 26|| || || Megan T || || || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | Mar | + | | Mar 5|| || || Megan T || || || Megan T. ||Megan T. || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | Mar | + | | Mar 12|| || || || || || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | Mar | + | | Mar 19|| Spring || Break || No || Collections || Work || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | Mar | + | | Mar 26|| || || || || ||Jaron, Andrea || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | | + | | April 2|| || || || || ||Jaron, Andrea || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | April | + | | April 9|| || || || || ||Jaron, Andrea || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | April | + | | April 16|| || || || || ||Jaron, Andrea || || |
+ | |- | ||
+ | | April 23|| || || || || || || || | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
|-} | |-} | ||
[[Category:EEB Courses]] | [[Category:EEB Courses]] |
Revision as of 18:46, 5 March 2015
Western Sandpiper; drawing copyright Bridget Keimel
Basic Course Information
EEB 4261
Spring 2013
Meets: Fridays, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m, TLS 371
Instructor: Dr. Margaret Rubega
Office: PharmBio 500 Phone: 486-4502
Office Hours: By appointment
Teaching Assistant: Kevin Burgio
Office: PharmBio 402
Office Hours: Wed. 12:05 - 1:05 (in the BioPhysics Cafe); or by appointment
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.
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 | Course Intro: How We Roll + Tools of the trade: Optics, Field Guides, Field Notes and Journals | Come dressed and ready to bird; meet in TLS 371 |
Jan 30 | P & L p. 22-37, 47-65, 263-265; Sibley p. 15-21; Clark p. 21-40/ P & L p. 66-77 | North American bird Orders; Topography and Field Marks; Feet, Beaks and Body Form; | Bring P & L to class; meet in TLS 371 |
Feb 6 | Handouts | Opportunities in Ornithology - You Mean I Can Get Paid for This? | Come dressed to bird, bring your resume if you have one |
Feb 13 | Tour of Mansfield Birding Spots | ||
Feb 20 | P & L p. 81-105 | Feathers & Aerodynamics | |
Feb 27 | P & L Chapters 6 & 7, 205-209, 219-226 | Anatomy: musculature and internal organs | NO BIRDING - we will need the whole class period for dissections. Bring your Proctor and Lynch to class! |
March 6 | P & L Chap. 5 | Anatomy - Skeletons | Check for weather, and come dressed to bird |
March 13 | MIDTERM EXAM; birding after | ||
March 20 | NO CLASS - SPRING BREAK - GO BIRDING! | ||
March 27 | Handouts | Field Techniques: Survey methods | Bring to class, and turn in, your Weather Worksheet. eBird exercise (to be done in class) |
April 3 | Proctor & Lynch p. 266-273 | Weather and Bird Movements: Go Outside to EXPERIENCE both! | Monitor bird movements with Dave LaPuma! Clemson University Radar Ornithology Lab Birds and Weather worksheet |
April 10 | Vocalizations: Bird outside all four hours | ||
April 17 | Handouts | Field Techniques: Behavioral observations | |
April 24 | Bird, Bird, Bird – outside all four hours | ||
May 1 | Bird, Bird, Bird - outside all four hours | ||
May 4 | 8:00 – 10:00 am | 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 5 points. If you miss a test, you will receive a score of zero. If you have a legitimate reason (for example, a death in your family) 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, an obituary documenting a death in your family) within one week of missing the class or test. 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.
SICK? First, do your level best to let us know before the field trip/class exercise/test. Second, if you are sick, believe us when we say that we don't want to see you in lab --- please be responsible, and don't spread germs by coming to class with a fever, or hacking and coughing. For illnesses, we pro-rate your grade on the basis of the point-bearing exercises you didn't miss. If you are sick for the final YOU MUST INFORM THE OFFICE OF STUDENT SERVICES in order to be allowed to take a make-up after final exam week is over. The final exam is the only point-bearing exercise for which a make-up is possible.
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: 75 points, March 15
Final: 75 points, May 6
Field Notebook: 10 points
Worksheets/Quizzes 40 points (4 at 10 points each)
Independent Field Observations: 35 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 Projector View the locations on Google Earth/Maps
Field Trips: 45 points (Field trips are required: you lose 5 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).
Note that you are required to keep a Field Notebook. Notebooks will be collected for assessment and feedback, at random, throughout the course of first half of the semester. You may not begin work on your independent observations (themselves worth 35 points) until you have demonstrated notebook competence AND you must achieve notebook competence by the midterm or forgo your opportunity to earn the 35 points from the independent observations. At the final assessment of your notebook, you will be awarded from 1 (just barely competent) to up to 10 points (EXCELLENT) for notebook skills.
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 ask me in class or email me. I will post both the questions (questioners will be anonymous) and answers here.
Useful and Amusing Links
Online field guides
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.
Field guide apps
An article from the NY Times on smart phone apps for birding
A feature comparison of various bird guide apps, inlcuding Sibley, Peterson, NatGeo, and iBird
A forthcoming app for automatically IDing bird song in the field
Apps for finding birds
Cornell's BirdsEye app (for finding recent sightings using the eBird database)
Bird blogs
Dave LaPuma's Bird Migration Blog, an excellent spot to learn to use weather radar to watch migration happen. As he says: Look Busy, Birds Are Coming!
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).
Jobs in Ornithology
Jobs in Ornithology, the job board for the Ornithological Societies of North America. THE central clearing house for field research internships and jobs.
ECOLOG-L listserve postings Job postings, other miscellaneous information and discussions about field ecology.
CT Beardsley Zoo Summer Internships
Collections Work Hours Sign Up
Vertebrate Collections Manager: Sue Hochgraf susan.hochgraf@uconn.edu 860-486-8945
To sign-up, let Dr. Rubega or Kevin know which date/hours you would like to work; refer here to see hours already taken. No more than 2 students in an hour block simultaneously, unless Sue Hochgraf approves it. The Thursday during spring break is available for collections work.
Date | 9 am | 10 am | 11 am | 12 pm
(can only be worked consecutively after an 11 am block) |
1 pm | 2 pm | 3 pm | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Feb 5 | ||||||||
Feb 12 | Jenny, Damon | Jenny, Damon | ||||||
Feb 19 | Jenny, Damon | Jenny, Damon | ||||||
Feb 26 | Megan T | |||||||
Mar 5 | Megan T | Megan T. | Megan T. | |||||
Mar 12 | ||||||||
Mar 19 | Spring | Break | No | Collections | Work | |||
Mar 26 | Jaron, Andrea | |||||||
April 2 | Jaron, Andrea | |||||||
April 9 | Jaron, Andrea | |||||||
April 16 | Jaron, Andrea | |||||||
April 23 |