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 2010'''  
+
'''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>
  
<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 Assistant:''' '''[mailto:kevin.burgio@uconn.edu Kevin Burgio]'''<br>
 +
'''Office:''' PharmBio 402        <br>   
 +
'''Office Hours:'''  Wed. 12:05 - 1:05; or by appointment<br><br>
  
'''Teaching Assistants:'''<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>
'''[mailto:diego.sustaita@uconn.edu Diego Sustaita]'''<br>
+
'''[mailto:alejandro.rico@uconn.edu Alejandro Rico Guevara]'''<br>
+
'''Office:''' PharmBio 402/404        '''Phone:''' 486-3839/0309 <br>   
+
'''Office Hours:'''  Variable and flexible; by appointment<br>
+
  
 
== Required Texts ==
 
== Required Texts ==
Line 44: Line 42:
 
!width="300"|Meeting notes, and other resources  
 
!width="300"|Meeting notes, and other resources  
 
|-  
 
|-  
| Jan 22 ||P & L p. 274-281,286-287; Sibley p. 9-14; Clark p. 1-19  || Tools of the trade: Optics, Field Guides, Field Notes and Journals || [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/e/ec/Syllabus_2010.pdf '''Lab Syllabus''']
+
| 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 29 || 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 || NO BIRDING, due to windchill risks. Bring P & L to class; 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 5 || P & L, p 296-304, and Handouts||  Specimen preparation – skinning demonstration || Come dressed and ready to bird; 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 12 || 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
 
|-  
 
|-  
| Feb 19||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 13 || ||'''MIDTERM EXAM'''; ''birding after''|| 
 
|-  
 
|-  
| Feb 26 || P & L Chap. 5 || Anatomy - Skeletons  ||
+
| March 20 || ||NO CLASS - SPRING BREAK - GO BIRDING! ||  
 
|-  
 
|-  
| March || || '''MIDTERM EXAM'''; ''birding after''||
+
| March 27 || || Coastal Birding; Avery Point Campus||
 +
|-
 +
| April 3|| Proctor & Lynch p. 266-273; and [http://ebird.org/content/ebird/news/radar/ this Overview of Birds on Radar] || Weather and Bird Movements: Go Outside to EXPERIENCE both! ||    [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/5/5d/Weather_lab.pdf Birds and Weather worksheet] & [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/a/a5/EBird_exercise.pdf eBird exercise] (to be done in class)
 
|-  
 
|-  
| March 12 || ||NO CLASS - SPRING BREAK - GO BIRDING! ||  
+
| April 10 ||Handouts ||Field Techniques: Survey methods  ||  Come dressed to bird! And arrive on time, we'll be leaving to walk to the HEEP site. 
 +
|-
 +
| April 17 ||  Handouts ||  HEEP Site Points tour – outside all four hours || MEET AT THE END OF NORTH HILLSIDE ROAD! Don't come to Torrey!
 
|-  
 
|-  
| March 19 ||Handouts ||Field Techniques: Survey methods  || 
+
| April 24|| Handout ||  Field Techniques: Behavioral observations ||
|-
+
| March 26 || Proctor & Lynch p. 266-273 ||Weather and Bird Movements || [http://woodcreeper.com Monitor bird movements with Dave LaPuma!]  [http://virtual.clemson.edu/groups/birdrad/ Clemson University Radar Ornithology Lab]
+
 
+
 
+
|-
+
| April 2 || || Bird, Bird, Bird – outside all four hours || 
+
|-
+
| April 9 || Handouts || Opportunities in Ornithology --- You Mean I Can Get Paid For This Stuff?  || (Bring your resume, if you have one)
+
|-
+
| April 16 ||  ||Bird, Bird, Bird – outside all four hours  ||
+
|-
+
| April 23|| Handouts ||  Field Techniques: Behavioral observations ||
+
|-
+
| April 30 ||  ||  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'''||
 
| 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:'''    50 points,    March 6    
+
'''Test 1:'''    75 points,    March 15    
  
'''Final:'''    50 points,    May 4   
+
'''Final:'''    75 points,    May 6
  
'''Worksheets/Quizzes'''  100 (10 at 10 points each)
+
'''Field Notebook:'''          10 points
 +
 
 +
'''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/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
+
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].   
  
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]or [http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=208276875179231289772.0004b684a244c6b18ade9&msa=0 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!)
 
'''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!)
Line 108: Line 106:
 
[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).
  
You are also expected to keep a [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/f/fe/Field_Notebook_Guidelines.pdf '''Field Notebook:''']. At least 2 of the "Quizzes" will consist of unscheduled collections and grading of your field notebook.
+
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 ==
  
 
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.
 
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 ==
 
== 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.  
+
''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 ==
 +
 +
===Online field guides===
  
 
[http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/ Bird songs online!]
 
[http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/ Bird songs online!]
Line 127: Line 125:
 
[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.  
  
[http://www.osnabirds.org/on/ornjobs.htm Jobs in Ornithology], the job board for the Ornithological Societies of North America. THE central clearing house for field research internships and jobs.
+
===Field guide apps===
  
[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.nytimes.com/2010/04/22/technology/personaltech/22smart.html An article from the NY Times on smart phone apps for birding]
  
[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://ibird.com/compare.aspx A feature comparison of various bird guide apps, inlcuding Sibley, Peterson, NatGeo, and iBird]
 +
 
 +
[http://blog.aba.org/2011/10/digital-bird-song-identification-a-reality.html#comments A forthcoming app for automatically IDing bird song in the field]
 +
 
 +
===Apps for finding birds===
 +
[http://www.getbirdseye.com/ Cornell's BirdsEye app (for finding recent sightings using the eBird database)]
 +
 
 +
[http://ictbirds.wordpress.com/ iCTBirds: an app for finding birds in CT using the Connecticut Ornithological Association's  CTBirds listserv]
 +
 
 +
[http://www.ctbirdtrends.org/storrssightings.html A webpage that shows recent sightings from birding hotspots around Storrs (for free!), using the eBird database]
 +
 
 +
===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.surfbirds.com/community-blogs/mbalame/2008/03/13/when-bad-photos-happen-to-good-birds/ 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===
 +
 
 +
[http://www.osnabirds.org/on/ornjobs.htm Jobs in Ornithology], the job board for the Ornithological Societies of North America. THE central clearing house for field research internships and jobs.  
 
   
 
   
 
[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.
  
[http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/8/8a/CTbeardsley_zoo_internships.pdf '''CT Beardsley Zoo Summer Internships''']
+
[http://beardsleyzoo.org/volunteer-gi1 CT Beardsley Zoo Summer Internships]
== Collections Work Hours Sign Up ==
+
  
'''Vertebrate Collections Manager:''' Sue Hochgraf              susan.hochgraf@uconn.edu                      860-486-8945 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              860-486-8945      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              860-486-8945      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              860-486-8945      end_of_the_skype_highlighting
+
== Collections Work Hours Sign Up ==
  
 +
'''Vertebrate Collections Manager:''' Sue Hochgraf              susan.hochgraf@uconn.edu  860-486-8945
  
To sign-up, let Dr. Rubega or Diego 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.
+
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. No collections work during spring break this year (2015).
  
 
{| 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 3|| ||Carrie ||  ||  ||  ||  || ||
+
| Feb 5|| ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  || ||
 
|-  
 
|-  
| Feb 11|| ||  ||Carrie ||  ||  || || ||
+
| Feb 12|| ||  || ||  ||  || Jenny, Damon || Jenny, Damon ||
 
|-  
 
|-  
| Feb 18|| ||  ||Carrie || || || || || ||
+
| Feb 19|| ||  || || || || Jenny, Damon || Jenny, Damon ||
 
|-  
 
|-  
| Feb 25|| ||  ||Carrie,Dianne ||Dianne || || || ||
+
| Feb 26|| ||  || Megan T || || || || ||
 
|-  
 
|-  
| Mar 4|| ||  || || || || || ||
+
| Mar 5|| ||  || || || || Megan T. ||Megan T. ||
 
|-  
 
|-  
| Mar 11||Spring ||Break  ||No ||Work ||Sue ||Birding ||Texas ||
+
| Mar 12|| || ||Megan T || || || || ||
 
|-  
 
|-  
| Mar 18|| ||Grace  || || || || || ||
+
| Mar 19|| Spring || Break || No || Collections || Work  || || ||
 
|-  
 
|-  
| Mar 25||Aaron ||Grace, Aaron  || || || || || ||
+
| Mar 26|| || Kali || Kali, Andrew || ||Kali, Megan L. ||Jaron, Andrea || ||
 
|-  
 
|-  
| April 1|| || || || || ||Sam ||Sam || ||
+
| April 2||Aaron || Aaron  || Aaron, Andrew  || Aaron, Andrew || Megan L. ||Jaron, Andrea  || ||
 
|-  
 
|-  
| April 8|| ||  Grace|| || || ||Sam ||Sam || ||
+
| April 9|| ||Eric || Darren, Eric || Darren, Eric  || Megan L., Eric ||Jaron, Andrea  || ||
 
|-  
 
|-  
| April 15||Aaron ||Aaron, Grace || || || || || || ||
+
| April 16|| || || Darren || Darren || Megan L. ||Jaron, Andrea || ||
 +
|-
 +
| April 23|| || || ||  ||  ||  ||  ||
 
|-  
 
|-  
| April 22|| ||  || Brad, Michael||Brad, Michael ||Brad, Michael ||Brad, Michael || || ||
 
|-
 
| April 29|| Joe (starting at 8)||Joe  ||Joe || || || || || ||
 
|-
 
 
|-}  
 
|-}  
  
  
 
[[Category:EEB Courses]]
 
[[Category:EEB Courses]]

Latest revision as of 13:44, 15 April 2015

Wesahead.JPG


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; 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 Coastal Birding; Avery Point Campus
April 3 Proctor & Lynch p. 266-273; and this Overview of Birds on Radar Weather and Bird Movements: Go Outside to EXPERIENCE both! Birds and Weather worksheet & eBird exercise (to be done in class)
April 10 Handouts Field Techniques: Survey methods Come dressed to bird! And arrive on time, we'll be leaving to walk to the HEEP site.
April 17 Handouts HEEP Site Points tour – outside all four hours MEET AT THE END OF NORTH HILLSIDE ROAD! Don't come to Torrey!
April 24 Handout Field Techniques: Behavioral observations
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

Bird songs online!

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)

iCTBirds: an app for finding birds in CT using the Connecticut Ornithological Association's CTBirds listserv

A webpage that shows recent sightings from birding hotspots around Storrs (for free!), 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. No collections work during spring break this year (2015).

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.
Mar 12 Megan T
Mar 19 Spring Break No Collections Work
Mar 26 Kali Kali, Andrew Kali, Megan L. Jaron, Andrea
April 2 Aaron Aaron Aaron, Andrew Aaron, Andrew Megan L. Jaron, Andrea
April 9 Eric Darren, Eric Darren, Eric Megan L., Eric Jaron, Andrea
April 16 Darren Darren Megan L. Jaron, Andrea
April 23