ZOOL 4408/5408 - Ornithology

Spring 2007

 

Lecture:

Tues & Thurs, 9:30-10:50 a.m., 106 Biology Bldg.
Lecture professor:       

Dr. Nancy McIntyre

420A Biology Building
Tel. (806) 742-4113
Email: nancy.mcintyre@ttu.edu

Office hours: Tues 11:00-noon or by appointment

 

Lab:

Wed or Thurs, 2:00-4:50 p.m., 406 Biology Bldg.
Lab T.A.:    

John Hanson

Tel. (806) 549-4669

Email: jdelton.hanson@ttu.edu

Office hours: by appointment

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Note: internet links are in blue, underlined font.

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Expected learning outcomes: Birds have delighted and fascinated humans throughout recorded history (and presumably before).  Texas has more bird species than any other U.S. state, so we will go on several field trips to gain a sense of this diversity and to study birds in their natural setting.  Students will study the phylogenetic origins, taxonomy, anatomy, physiology, behavior, and ecological importance of this unique, abundant, and widespread class of animals.  Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to identify locally abundant species by sight and sound, recognize features that allow taxonomic identification to Order (all species worldwide) and Family (local songbirds), understand the unique physical and behavioral traits of birds, and understand the evolutionary linkage of birds to other animals.  There are required field trips.  Methods for assessing expected learning outcomes: (1) lecture tests, (2) lab exams, (3) student performance on identification exercises in lab and field, (4) student participation in lab field trips, (5) cumulative final lecture exam.

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 Syllabus

Required texts and supplies:

  

 

1) Textbook:  Gill, F.B. 2007. Ornithology (3rd ed.).

2) Lab manual:  Proctor, N.S., and P.J. Lynch. 1993.

Manual of Ornithology.

 
3) Field guide:  Dunn, J.L. 2006. National Geographic

Field Guide to the Birds of North America (5th ed.). 

(Other equivalent field guides [e.g. Sibley] may be permitted by the lab T.A.)

4) Binoculars (there are some in the lab that are available

for loan).

5) Small field journal.

Helpful resources:

The TTU library has many relevant books (including The Birder’s Handbook, The Encyclopedia of Birds, The Encyclopedia of North American Birds, Attenborough's The Life of Birds, and others) and scientific journals (Auk, Condor, Ibis, Wilson Bulletin, Journal of Field Ornithology). There are also countless websites devoted to birds and ornithology, including the following links:

·        National Audubon Society

·        Llano Estacado Audubon Society chapter (Lubbock's local chapter)

·        LEAS rare bird alert (a listing of rare [and not so rare] species seen locally; updated daily)

·        Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology

·        Birding.com

·        Ornithology.com

And for learning to ID birds by sight and sound:

• enature.com's online field guide
• Learning to identify birds
• Beginning birding (10 tips for novices)
• Birding basics 
• IDing birds of North America
• IDing bird songs
• Bird song mnemonics
• Quiz yourself online
• Thayer birding software

The course grade is composed of the following:

15% on exam I
15% on exam II

15% on exam III
15% on final exam – Friday, May 4, 7:30-10:00 a.m.
40% on laboratory – all students must register for lecture and 1 lab section

 

Graduate students will have different exams from undergraduates; grad students will be expected to display a more thorough mastery of the subject.

 

Topics to be covered in lecture:

 

Day	Date	Topic	Textbook reading (Gill, 3rd ed.)
Th	Jan 11	Introduction: humans’ fascination with birds	pp. xxi-xxvi; additional fun info may be found at this entry from Wikipedia
Tu	Jan 16	Avian characteristics	Chapter 1
Th	Jan 18	Evolutionary origins of birds	Chapter 2; additional info may be found at the Univ. of California Museum of Paleontology's website
Tu	Jan 23	Avian phylogeny	Chapter 3
Th	Jan 25	Nonpasserines	Table 1-1, p. 12; click here for a primer on avian taxonomy
Tu	Jan 30	Passerines I	Table 1-1, p. 12
Th	Feb 1	Passerines II	Table 1-1, p. 12
Tu	Feb 6	Brain and sensory systems	Chapter 7
Th	Feb 8	Visual and vocal communication	Chapters 8, 12; check out this scientific article about birds seeing in UV
Tu	Feb 13	Adaptations for feeding	Chapter 6
Th	Feb 15	EXAM I	-
Tu	Feb 20	Origins of flight	Chapter 5; additional info may be found at this website from the BBC, this website from birding.com, and this website from UC-Berkeley
Th	Feb 22	Physics of flight	Chapter 5; additional helpful info on flight (and not just birds) may be found at this website and at this website from UC-Berkeley; and more than you'll ever  want to know about Bernoulli's principle may be found here
Tu	Feb 27	Feathers	Chapter 4; additional info may be found at this website from Wikipedia
Th	Mar 1	Other adaptations for flight	Chapter 6
Tu	Mar 6	Migration	Chapter 10; additional helpful info may be found at the USGS's Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
Th	Mar 8	Orientation and navigation	Chapter 10
Tu	Mar 13	SPRING BREAK	-
Th	Mar 15	SPRING BREAK	-
Tu	Mar 20	EXAM II	-
Th	Mar 22	Mating systems	Chapters 12-13
Tu	Mar 27	Reproductive physiology	Chapter 14
Th	Mar 29	The egg	Chapter 14; check out this website and this one, both from Canada
Tu	Apr 3	Clutch size	Chapter 14
Th	Apr 5	Nesting and incubation	Chapter 15
Tu	Apr 10	Raising young	Chapter 16
Th	Apr 12	Brood parasitism	Chapter 13; click here for more info in general and here for more info about Brown-headed Cowbirds
Tu	Apr 17	Nest predation	Chapter 15
Th	Apr 19	EXAM III	-
Tu	Apr 24	Birds in peril: endangered and extinct species	Chapter 21; click here for info on the Heath Hen, here for info on the Passenger Pigeon, here for the Ivory-billed Woodpecker (and here for various videos about its rediscovery in 2004!)
Th	Apr 26	The future: a silent spring?	Chapter 21; more info about birds and climate change, including range shifts; click here for info on ecosystem consequences of bird declines
Tu	May 1	Review and evaluations	-
Fr	May 4	FINAL EXAM (7:30-10:00 a.m.)	-

 

Lab:

Lab will comprise 40% of your final grade.  You will be expected to be on time for labs and field trips. Attendance is mandatory.  Missed labs cannot be made up.  Grades are based on your performance on three exams, an out-of-town field trip, a journal, and class participation in lab and on in-town field trips.  Exam I will be an in-lab exam over anatomy in a practical format.  Exam II will be an in-lab exam over taxonomy and identification of specimens (including sounds) in a practical format.  Exam III will consist of sight and sound identification in the field.  Students will also have to go on at least one of two out-of-town weekend field trips; if you are unable to attend either of these trips, an out of class assignment (likely doing specimen prep at the museum) will be given to make up the points.  A journal listing the sites visited and the birds seen for all of the field trips will be turned in at the end of the semester.  You will be required to visit three sites on your own.  Guidelines for the journal will be provided in lab.  The lab grade is composed of the following:

            Exam I = 100 points (in-lab practical)
            Exam II = 100 points (in-lab practical)

            Exam III (final) = 100 points (field identification)

            Out-of-town field trip = 100 points (Fri/Sat/Sun)
            Journal = 50 points

            Participation = 50 points

            Total = 500 points

 

Attendance is mandatory on all Wednesday / Thursday (i.e., in-town) field trips.  Wear sensible shoes (closed-toe shoes or boots are best; flip-flops, mules, or heels are unacceptable).  All cell phones and pagers must be turned off during lab and on field trips.  During our field trips, will follow the American Birding Association's Code of Birding Ethics.  Because we will be trying to spot and hear birds, disruptive behavior will not be tolerated and will result in loss of points. 

 

Handling of bird specimens in lab:  You will be given the opportunity to study birds "in the hand" by using specimens borrowed from The Museum of TTU.  These specimens are unique, fragile, and highly valued.  Please handle all specimens with the utmost care and consideration.  Follow these guidelines:

    -absolutely NO food or drinks are allowed in lab (this includes drinks with resealable tops);

    -do NOT pick specimens up by the feet, tail, beak, or wings;

    -do NOT handle the specimens roughly;

    -place specimens down on their flat side (usually the back);

    -make sure that no part of the bird is hanging over the lip of the table.

Mishandling of specimens will not be tolerated and will result in the loss of points. 

 

Here are the bird sounds that you are required to know for lab (exam II).  These are all species common in the Lubbock area (although not all species are present throughout the entire year):

1.      American Robin (example 1 and example 2); HINT: it sounds happy

2.      Belted Kingfisher; HINT: rattle

3.      Blue Jay (example 1 and example 2); HINT: says its name

4.      Brown-headed Cowbird (example 1 and example 2); HINT: bubbly "glug glug glee"

5.      Burrowing Owl; HINT: "coo hoo"

6.      Cedar Waxwing (example 1 and example 2); HINT: thin, high-pitched whistles

7.      Curve-billed Thrasher; HINT: "whip-whip"

8.      Eastern Meadowlark (example 1 and example 2); HINT: tumbling whistles

9.      Eastern Screech-owl; HINT: whinny and trill

10.  Eurasian Collared-dove; HINT: "coo hoo-hoo"

11.  European Starling; HINT: crackling, almost electronic sounds

12.  Great Horned Owl duet; HINT: "hoo hoo-huh-hoo hooooo hooooo"

13.  Great-tailed Grackle; HINT: loud squawks and squeals

14.  House Finch (example 1, example 2, example 3); HINT: gives a Bronx cheer at end

15.  House Sparrow (example 1 and example 2); HINT: cheeps

16.  Inca Dove; HINT: "whirl-pool"

17.  Killdeer (example 1 and example 2); HINT: says its name

18.  Ladder-backed Woodpecker (call and drumming); HINT: squeaky

19.  Mourning Dove (call example 1, call example 2, and sound of wings); HINT: sad

20.  Northern Cardinal (example 1 and example 2); HINT: piercing, clear whistle

21.  Northern Flicker (call, drumming, and duet); HINT: sounds like laughter

22.  Northern Mockingbird; HINT: repeats phrases at least 3 times

23.  Red-winged Blackbird (example 1 and example 2); HINT: "cong-a-ree"

24.  Sandhill Crane guard call; HINT: rattling "karoo"

25.  Western Kingbird; HINT: sounds like a squeaky toy

26.  Western Meadowlark (example 1 and example 2); HINT: less structure than E. Meadowlark; sounds a little like R2D2

27.  White-winged Dove; HINT: "who cooks for you"

 

 

Topics to be covered in lab:

 

Date	Topic
Jan 10 / 11	No lab
Jan 17 / 18	Introduction / External Anatomy / Skeleton
Jan 24 / 25	Skeleton / Internal Anatomy
Jan 31 / Feb 1	EXAM I (LAB PRACTICUM)
Feb 7 / 8	Specimens
Feb 14 / 15	Specimens (meet at The Museum)
Feb 21 / 22	Specimens
Feb 28 / Mar 1	EXAM II (LAB PRACTICUM; includes sounds)
Mar 7 / 8	Field Trip
Mar 14 / 15	SPRING BREAK
Mar 21 / 22	Field Trip
Mar 23-25	Weekend Field Trip - TTU's Junction campus
Mar 28 / 29	Field Trip
Mar 30 / Apr 1	Weekend Field Trip - Devil's River State Natural Area
Apr 4 / 5	Field Trip
Apr 11 / 12	Individual Trip
Apr 18 / 19	Field Trip
Apr 25 / 26	JOURNAL DUE and EXAM III (FIELD EXAM)

 

Some useful websites for lab:

• Bird ID (body)
• Bird ID (wing)
• Bird topography
• Bird topography online quiz 1
• Bird topography online quiz 2 
• Avian skeleton
• Photo of the avian brain (labeled)
• Photo of the avian body cavity (labeled)
• Photo of the avian throat area (labeled)
• North American bird sounds

 

Weekend field trips: you must sign up to go on at least one.  If you cannot make either field trip, you must arrange an alternative assignment with John Hanson or Dr. McIntyre to make up the points. 

 

Some photos of our trips from 2007 (Junction, L top and below; Devil’s River, R top and below):