BIOL 4763 Ornithology – 22 Jan 08 to 9 May 08

University of Minnesota Duluth

Department of Biology

SSB 115

Laboratory LSci 330

Instructor:               Dr Gerald J Niemi, 720-4270, gniemi@d.umn.edu

                                    Professor, Department of Biology

                                    Director, Center for Water and the Environment, Natural Resources Research Institute

Class hours:            8:00 to 8:50 am, Tuesday and Thursday

Lab hours:              9:00 to 10:50 am, Tuesday or Thursday

Office hours:          11:00 to 12:00pm, Tuesday on campus in LSci 315 or at NRRI 430B, arranged

Lab asst:                 Ms Heidi Seeland, Graduate Research Assistant, 726.6262, seel0083@d.umn.edu

Office hours:          LSci 339, arranged

Handouts: 

- Syllabus

- Spring 2008 Bird List

- Independent Field Trip Note Sheets

- Independent Field Trip Protocol

- Example Exam

- Research Paper Guidelines

Miscellaneous:

NOTE: Project reports, due on the day of final exams. 5 points will be deducted per day for each ‘working’ day (M-F) afterword

Required book:

Gill, Frank B. 2007. Ornithology. W.H. Freeman and Company, New York, 758 pp.

Suggested field guide:

National Geographic Society. Field guide to the birds of North America. 2002. 4th edition, Wash. D.C.

Optional field guides - If you are already familiar with another field guide, then you may certainly use it.

• Peterson, Roger T. 1998. A field guide to the birds east of the Rockies. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, MA.
• Robbins, Chandler S. 1983. Birds of North America. Golden Press, New York, NY.
• Sibley, David A. 2000. The Sibley Guide to Birds. National Audubon Society.

Additional projects: There are 2 options for additional projects:

• A research paper, OR  
• 10 additional field trips.

• Research paper

The research paper requires the development of a proposal for a field oriented research project that will be conducted during the semester. Proposals (1-2 pages including at least 5 citations) are due March 6, 2008. Proposals will be reviewed by the instructors and returned with comments and suggestions. The final paper is due by the day of the final exam on May 13, 2008. The paper is to be written in journal format (we will be using the journal The Auk format guidelines) complete with citations and data (see attachment).

• Field Identification

Besides your regularly scheduled weekly field trip, you can turn in a summary of one field trip per week of the bird species that you observed. The field trip can be to any location but should be a minimum of 2 hours in duration and I suggest that most of them be in the morning. The attached field sheet summarizes each of the field trips that must be turned in on the following days (note all on Tuesday): February 19, March 4, March 11, March 25, April 1, April 8, April 15, April 22, April 29, and May 6. Please note that details for those species listed with an asterisk need to be provided. We also strongly urge you to be cautious about your observations.

Laboratory field trips:

Field trips will begin promptly at 8:00am - except for the all-day field trip when we will leave on Monday, May 5, 2008.

We strongly urge you to be on time. An instructor will be in the lab no later than 7:45 am Please dress appropriately for the weather.

• *20 points of extra credit for attending the Sax-Zim Festival of Birds – Feb. 15-17, 2008 –
•                                     (http://moumn.org/sax-zim/)
• *Up to 20 points extra credit for bird quiz on Crex Meadows field trip.

Promotion of bias-free instruction:

The University of Minnesota is committed to the policy that all of its students shall have equal educational opportunities. Individuals who have any disability, either permanent or temporary, which might affect their ability to perform in this class, are encouraged to inform the instructor at the start of the semester. Adaptation of methods, materials or testing may be made as required to provide for equitable participation. The University also expressly forbids discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, disability, veteran's status, ethnicity, religion, creed, national origin, or marital status. If you believe that your instructor has not upheld this policy, you are invited to bring it to the confidential attention of the biology department head (207 SSB, 726-7263) or the associate dean of the College of Science and Engineering (140 Engineering, 726-7585).

Access for students with disabilities:

Individuals who have any disability, either permanent or temporary, which might affect their ability to perform in this class are encouraged to inform me at the start of the semester.  Adaptation of methods, materials, or testing may be made as required to provide for equitable participation.

Bird Songs: