ESRM 452ESRM 452

Field OrnithologyField OrnithologyProfessor: John MarzluffProfessor: John MarzluffOffice: 123 E Anderson HallOffice: 123 E Anderson HallPhone: 206 616 6883Phone: 206 616 6883Email: Email: corvid@u.washington.educorvid@u.washington.edu

TA: Lauren SeckelTA: Lauren SeckelOffice: 111 WinkenwerderOffice: 111 WinkenwerderEmail_ lseckel@u.washington.eduEmail_ lseckel@u.washington.edu

Class BasicsClass Basics

►Web siteWeb site http://courses.washington.edu/vseminarhttp://courses.washington.edu/vseminar

►Follow links to ornithology (field and lecture)Follow links to ornithology (field and lecture)

►Class email listClass email list Important to monitor your u. account for Important to monitor your u. account for

announcements related to field trips, etc.announcements related to field trips, etc.►esrm452a_au09@u.washington.eduesrm452a_au09@u.washington.edu

Date / (Time)Date / (Time) Meeting PlaceMeeting Place EventEvent Notes, HandoutsNotes, Handouts AssignmentsAssignments

Monday, Oct. 5 Monday, Oct. 5 (8:20)(8:20)

Burke ClassroomBurke Classroom Common Birds of Common Birds of Campus; Bird Campus; Bird Walk with Dr. Walk with Dr. Dick Hutto, U. Dick Hutto, U. MontanaMontana

IntroductionIntroduction Birds of UW CamBirds of UW Campuspus

Monday, Oct. 12 Monday, Oct. 12 (8:20)(8:20)

Burke ClassroomBurke Classroom Preview of Preview of Cascade Cascade Mountain BirdsMountain Birds

Orders AnseriforOrders Anseriformes, Galliformes,mes, Galliformes, Gaviiformes, Po Gaviiformes, Podicipediformes, Pdicipediformes, Procelleriformesrocelleriformes

Saturday Oct. 17 Saturday Oct. 17 (6:30)(6:30)

Greenlake Park Greenlake Park and Ride (6601 and Ride (6601 88thth Ave NE) Ave NE)

Field Trip to Field Trip to Cascade Cascade Mountain Loop; Mountain Loop; Net gun Net gun demonstrationdemonstration

Monday Oct. 19 Monday Oct. 19 (8:20)(8:20)

Burke ClassroomBurke Classroom Cryptic Species Cryptic Species Guest Discussion Guest Discussion with Dr. Craig with Dr. Craig Benkman, U. Benkman, U. WyomingWyoming

Orders Orders Pelicaniformes, Pelicaniformes, Ciconiformes, Ciconiformes, Falconiformes, Falconiformes, Gruiformes, Gruiformes, CharadriiformesCharadriiformes

Monday Oct. 26 Monday Oct. 26 (8:20)(8:20)

C10 Parking Lot C10 Parking Lot (Forestry (Forestry Building Lot)Building Lot)

Birding Around Birding Around Lake Washington Lake Washington and Arboretumand Arboretum

First Few Weeks

Assignments and GradesAssignments and Grades

►3 Field Exams (150 pts)3 Field Exams (150 pts)►1 Lab Final (200 pts)1 Lab Final (200 pts)►Field Journal (30 accounts; 60 pts)Field Journal (30 accounts; 60 pts)►1 Life History Report (50 pts)1 Life History Report (50 pts)►1 Field Study (100 pts)1 Field Study (100 pts)

Some Fundamentals of Bird IDSome Fundamentals of Bird ID

What You NeedWhat You Need

►Binoculars!Binoculars!►Field Guide (Sibley) and Audio Guide Field Guide (Sibley) and Audio Guide

(Keller and Vyn)(Keller and Vyn) Ibird and other new electronic guidesIbird and other new electronic guides

►Good eyes and earsGood eyes and ears►PatiencePatience►CuriosityCuriosity

Strategies of BirdwatchingStrategies of Birdwatching

1.1. Before you look, know what you are Before you look, know what you are looking for.looking for.

2.2. Know the key characters of orders and Know the key characters of orders and likely suspectslikely suspects

  3.3. What you don't see is as important as What you don't see is as important as

what you do seewhat you do see..

  4.4. It probably is what it appears to be!It probably is what it appears to be!

  

Theory of EliminationTheory of Elimination

►Briefly stated, it is that you should Briefly stated, it is that you should eliminate as many species as possible eliminate as many species as possible from consideration before you attempt from consideration before you attempt to identify anythingto identify anything

Some Basic Tests of IDSome Basic Tests of ID

There are three basic tests you can perform There are three basic tests you can perform when you encounter an unidentified bird:when you encounter an unidentified bird:

  Test 1. LocationTest 1. Location

  ► You can eliminate all birds not found You can eliminate all birds not found

in your geographic area, elevation, season in your geographic area, elevation, season or habitat. Obviously, this is not foolproof or habitat. Obviously, this is not foolproof because occasionally a bird does occur because occasionally a bird does occur where or when it isn't supposed to but this where or when it isn't supposed to but this is a good general rule to use in the is a good general rule to use in the beginning of your adventure with birds.beginning of your adventure with birds.

Some Basic Tests of IDSome Basic Tests of ID

Test 2: Characters of the Order or Test 2: Characters of the Order or FamilyFamily

  ► By using the general appearance By using the general appearance

of the body shape, size of bill, legs, of the body shape, size of bill, legs, behavior etc. you can eliminate certain behavior etc. you can eliminate certain families of birds from consideration.families of birds from consideration.

Ratites and Tinamous

Nightjars, owlet-nightjars, potooes, oilbird, frogmouths, hummingbirds, swifts

Shorebirds, gulls, auks

Pelicans, cormorants, herons, storks, cranes, rails, loons, penguins, albatrosses, cuckoos, turacos, bustards

Parrots and Passerines

Accipitrid diurnal raptors, osprey and secretarybird, rollers, woodpeckers, trogons, mousebirds, owls

Pheasants, quails, currasows, ducks, geese, swans

Heterogeneous assemblage of enigmas

Some Basic Tests of IDSome Basic Tests of ID

Test 3: Characters of the SpeciesTest 3: Characters of the Species  ► A species can now be identified by A species can now be identified by

looking at specific details of a group of looking at specific details of a group of species. For example, look at color species. For example, look at color patterns, wing bars, eye-rings, etc. The patterns, wing bars, eye-rings, etc. The field guides are good for this level of field guides are good for this level of identification.identification.

Lets Start with What You Lets Start with What You KnowKnow

►Common birds of campusCommon birds of campus►Historical perspective (Miller and Historical perspective (Miller and

Curtis reading)Curtis reading)►Lets get outsideLets get outside