| Course Title: | Ornithology | BL220 |
| Instructor: | Barry J. McPhail | |
| Office: | S 306 | |
| Office Hours, Schedules, Contact Information | Weekly Schedule Communications Page |
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| Course Description and Goals: | This course will introduce major concepts of anatomy, physiology, systematics, ecology, evolution, and conservation through the study of birds. The field portion of the course will concentrate on the observation, identification, and appreciation of birds. In this way, we hope to improve your general observational skills, your appreciation of nature, and to lay the basis for a potential lifelong interest in birds and birding. | |
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Textbooks:
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Podulka, S., R. W. Rohrbaugh, Jr., and R. Bonney (eds). 2004. Handbook of Bird Biology, 2nd. Ed. Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Princeton University Press Peterson, R. T. 191980. A Field Guide to the Birds of Eastern and Central North America. Peterson Field Guide Series. Houghton Mifflin Co., NY, NY, Together with numerous field guides, manuals, and readings as provided by the instructor. |
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| Required Materials: | Each student should obtain and keep a field notebook. See the provided information about taking field notes. | |
| Field Trips: |
Field trips will be birdwatching expeditions. I expect students to participate and to keep a good set of field notes. You need to be prepared to get wet and dirty. I have provided a list of recommendations for preparing for field trips. Each student is expected to attend a minimum of two Saturday field trips. These will be announced as soon as possible so that all can adjust their calendars. |
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| Attendence: | Absences will be promptly reported. The ASMS absence policy will be enforced. In addition, I will not allow makeup of bird recognition quizzes or reading tests to students who missed them due to unexcused absences. As the bird recognition quizzes are frequent and sum to a major test grade, zeros due to unexcused absence will have a strong impact on your grade. | |
| Testing/Grading: |
40% Content Tests
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| Makeup Work | Makeup work will be allowed with an excused absence. This work must be completed in a timely manner as agreed upon by student and instructor. | |
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Tests:
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Content Tests: Tests will be open-book and
based on readings in the Handbook of Bird Biology and on material
delivered in lecture. Content tests will be distributed at the beginning
of the week and collected at the end of the week. |
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| Seminars and Seminar Materials |
Each student will conduct 3 seminars. These will include 1. a seminar on a major bird order; 2. a seminar on a family within the order Passeriformes; and 3. a seminar on an assigned bird-related topic. At least 3 days in advance of all three seminars you must submit seminar materials to the instructor for editing and approval. These seminar materials include 1. an abstract, 2. an outline of your presentation, 3. a powerpoint file of your presentation, and 4. five review questions. See the provided instructions for conducting a seminar. In the case of the third seminar on a bird-related topic the abstract must be expanded into a full 5-page paper with attached 10-item bibliography. You must submit a complete first draft of the term paper with bibliography 7 full days in advance of your seminar. Incomplete work on the paper will not be accepted. After the seminar is presented, you will be expected to correct the term paper bibliography and re-submit them for a final grade. |
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| Student Responsibility: | YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONTENTS OF THIS SYLLABUS. This syllabus and calendar and linked web pages are to be considered sufficient notice of major course requirements and deadlines. Unless dates are changed by the instructor, you should be prepared to take tests or perform duties on the days scheduled. | |