An exploration of how birds and humans impact the lives of one another with an emphasis on the environmental contributions birds play in the ecosystem and how human perturbations of the environment alter avian evolution and sustainability. This course introduces students to avian biology and the husbandry of birds maintained in captivity.
Athena Title
Birds in Our Lives
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in POUL 1010
Non-Traditional Format
This course will be taught 95% or more online.
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall, spring and summer
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student Learning Outcomes
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.
Students will learn about environmental stewardship as a means to protect the vital interrelationship between birds and humans which has resulted in avian species becoming a key component of the global economy.
Students will gain a fundamental recognition of the importance of wild bird conservation to protect services that avian species provide for 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.
Students will learn about domesticated avian species such as parrots, pigeons, birds of prey, gamebirds, waterfowl, and ratites, which will allow them to gain an appreciation for 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.
Topical Outline
I. The importance of birds to the global ecosystem and humans
II. Bird evolution
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 regarding endangerment status
c. Factors that predispose animal species to endangerment
d. Factors that cause endangerment of animal species
e. Current threats to bird populations, including climate change and the biological adaptations of birds to climate change
f. Conservation of bird species including endangered species recovery programs
g. Extinction biology
IV. Avian biology
a. The avian skeleton
b. Flight and feathers
c. Avian senses
d. Avian respiration and circulation
e. Avian nutrition
f. Avian reproduction
IV. Avian biology
a. The avian skeleton
b. Flight and feathers
c. Avian senses
d. Avian respiration and circulation
e. Avian nutrition
f. Avian reproduction
V. Birds of economic importance
a. Parrots and other caged birds (illegal wildlife trade, natural history, unique biology, and pet husbandry)
b. Raptors and falconry (natural history, specialized anatomy, population carrying capacity, sensitivity to environmental chemical contaminants, and falconry)
c. Pigeons (natural history, unique biology, historical perspective, invasive species, lessons learned from the extinction of the passenger pigeon, biology of homing ability, and pigeon racing)
d. Waterfowl and landfowl (natural history, threats to wild populations, the role of hunting in conservation, domestication of the chicken and its role in world history, development of the poultry industry, and avian influenza)
e. Ratites (natural history, unique biology and commercial aspects)
VI. The value and future of birds
a. The quantifiable economic importance of birds (bird watching and ecotourism, agriculture and the pet industry)
b. Ecosystem service
c. Things people can do to conserve birds
