This course will expose novice students to the fascinating world of avian biology and
aviculture by examining birds relationships with humans which has resulted in avian
species becoming a key component of the global economy. Students will gain fundamental 
knowledge and a comprehensive understanding of basic avian biology as it relates to: 
avian evolution, anatomy and physiology, sensory perception, nutrition, reproduction, 
and avian health. Additionally, students will recognize that basic avian biology 
principles and theories have direct application and relevance to understanding 
mammalian species. Students will gain hands-on research experience through the 
development of avian behavioral ethograms in which they will learn to collect and 
translate qualitative data into quantitative data to answer pertinent research 
questions. Students will be exposed to the latest behavioral data software and 
technology available for data collection in such studies. Fundamental recognition of 
the importance of wild bird conservation in order to protect services that avian 
species provide to humans through activities, such as plant pollination, seed 
distribution, scavenging, consumption of insect pests, and as indicator species to the 
health of virtually every ecosystem present in the world will also be gained by 
students. Finally, by learning about domesticated avian species such as parrots, 
pigeons, birds of prey, and chickens, students will gain an appreciation of the role
that birds play in human lives as pets, as animals of vital economic importance, as
origins of scientific discovery, and as sources of entertainment through hobbies such
as falconry and homing pigeon racing.

I. The importance of birds to the global ecosystem and humans
II. Bird evolution
	A. Modern definition of a bird
	B. Fossil dating and the scarcity of bird fossils
	C. Cladistics
	D. Convergent evolution
	E. Theropod dinosaurs and the origins of birds
	F. Evolution of feathers
	G. Arboreal and cursorial origins of flight
        H. Archaeopteryx and other early bird forms
	I. Anatomical differences between prehistoric birds and modern-day birds
	J. Controversies and unanswered questions related to birds evolving from
           theropod dinosaurs
	K. Modern bird phylogenetic relationships and taxonomy
III. The current state of birds
	A. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the IUCN 
           Red List
	B. Monitoring and classifying bird populations with regard to endangerment 
           status
	C. Extinction biology 
	D. Current population trends for birds
	E. Repercussions of reduced bird numbers
	F. Factors that predispose animal species to endangerment
	G. Factors that cause endangerment
	H. Current threats to bird populations
	I. Potential impact of climate change on bird numbers
	J. Endangered species recovery programs
IV. Bird biology
	A. Flight and feathers
	   1. Advantages and disadvantages of flight
	   2. Torpor in birds
	   3. Evolution of flightless birds and its advantages and disadvantages
	   4. The avian skeleton
	   5. The major anatomical and physiological adaptations for flight
	   6. The mechanics of flight and the anatomical structure of the wings that 
              create lift
	   7. Methods birds use to get into the air and economical flight
	   8. Hovering
	   9. Feather structure and growth
	  10. Types of feathers
	  11. Functions of feathers
	  12. Feather color
		a. Pigment biology
		b. Structural colors
	  13. Feather maintenance and molting
	  14. Bird migration biology
	B. Senses
	   1. Vision
		a. Eye structure 
		b. The importance of UV vision
		c. Visual acuity and motion detection
		d. Unihemispheric slow wave sleep
	   2. Auditory
		a. Ear structure and sound resolving ability
		b. The advantage of vocal communication over visual communication
	   3. Smell
		a. Olfactory structure and variation between species in the sense
                   of smell
  	   4. Taste
   	C. The mechanics of sound production in birds
	D. Respiration
	   1. Anatomy and functional efficiency for flight
	E. Nutrition
	   1. What birds eat
	   2. Acquisition of food through specialized anatomy, senses use of tools 
              and other animals
	   3. Anatomy and physiology of the gastrointestinal system
	   4. Comparative anatomy across species and implications for captive 
              management
	F. Reproduction 
	   1. Reproductive strategies
	   2. Anatomy and physiology of the male and female reproductive system
	   3. The evolutionary biology of intromittent organ retention and loss 
	   4. Cues for reproduction and hormonal control of reproduction
	   5. Sex ratio manipulation
	   6. Egg biology
	   7. Incubation, embryology and hatching biology
		a. Incubation strategies
		b. Precocious and altricious chicks 
		c. Synchronous and asynchronous hatching
	   8. Chick survival after hatch
V. Birds of economic importance 
	A. Parrots
	   1. Illegal wildlife trade
		a. Threats to the United States from illegal wildlife smuggling
		b. Methods used by wildlife smugglers
		c. Legal importation regulations
	   2. Natural history and unique biology
	   3. As pets
		a. Husbandry and behavioral basics
	   4. Parrots as cognitive models for humans
	   5. The pet food industry
	   6. The difficulty of captive breeding 
	   7. Other caged pet birds
	B. Raptors
	   1. Natural history, taxonomy and specialized anatomy
	   2. Carrying capacity limitations
	   3. Sensitivity to environmental chemical contaminates
	   4. Falconry
		a. History 
		b. Procedures for becoming a falconer
		c. Bird training
	C. Pigeons
	   1. Natural history and unique biology
	   2. Lessons learned form the extinction of the most abundant bird - the 
              Passenger Pigeon
	   3. Invasive bird species in the United States and their impact
	   4. Historical perspective (symbolism and use in wars)
	   5. The biological basis for homing ability
	   6. Captive husbandry and management of pigeons 
	   7. The sport of racing pigeons from million dollar purses to performance 
              enhancing	drugs
	D. Waterfowl and Landfowl
	   1. Natural history and classification
	   2. Threats to wild populations 
	   3. The role of hunting in generating revenue for wetland conservation
	   4. Domestication and the role of the chicken in world history
	   5. The development of the poultry industry in the United States into the 
              most successful component of animal agriculture 
	   6. The use of chickens in medical research
	   7. Chicken production and hormones
	   8. Avian influenza
	E. Ratites
	   1. Natural history and unique biology 
	   2. Commercial aspects of emus and ostriches
VI. The value and future of birds
	A. The economic importance of birds:
	   1. Bird watching and ecotourism
	   2. Agriculture (meat and eggs)
	   3. Pet industry
	   4. Ecosystem service
	B. Issues to be confronted in the future
	C. Things you can do to preserve birds
	D. The importance of education and research in preserving birds
VII. Conducting field studies on avian species
	A. Types of field studies
	B. Data collection methods & types of data
	   1. Qualitative data 
	   2. Quantitative data
	C. Technology and software utilized in qualitative data collection
	   1. Behavioral data recording devices
	   2. Behavioral data software packages