| Course ID: | WILD(ECOL) 4060/6060-4060L/6060L. 4 hours. 3 hours lecture and 3 hours lab per week. |
| Course Title: | Ornithology |
Course
Description: | Familiarizes students with avian biology, including anatomy and
physiology, behavior, ecology, evolution, and conservation. Lab
and field exercises will emphasize taxonomy and identification,
ecology, and behavior of North American birds. A semester-long
research project emphasizing experimental design and field data
collection is required. |
| Oasis Title: | Ornithology |
| Nontraditional Format: | Overnight field trip required. |
| Prerequisite: | (BIOL 1104 and BIOL 1104L) or BIOL 1108-1108L or permission of school |
Semester Course
Offered: | Offered spring semester every year. |
| Grading System: | A-F (Traditional) |
|
| Course Objectives: | To familiarize students with avian biology, including anatomy
and physiology, behavior, ecology, evolution, and
conservation. Lab exercises will emphasize taxonomy and
identification of North American birds through use of field
labs and study skins. |
| Topical Outline: | Introduction/General avian characteristics
Feathers
Avian skeleton and muscles, flight physiology
Digestive system and feeding
Origin and evolution of birds
Darwin’s finches
Speciation
Systematics
Song & communication
Annual cycles
Migration & navigation
Social behavior
Reproduction
Mating systems
Habitat relationships
Demography
Population ecology
Community ecology
Tropical ornithology
Agriculture and birds
Forest management and birds
Monitoring bird populations
Avian disease issues
Value of birds
Partners in flight |