BIOLOGY 4142 -- ORNITHOLOGY LAB -- Dr. Remsen

Spring 2012

T.A.: César Sánchez (578-2855)

Schedule

1. Section 1 meets Thursday, 7:40-10:30 AM; Section meets Friday, 7:40-10:30 AM; you can attend only the section for which you are enrolled.

2. All labs meet in Foster 214, unless announced otherwise. All field trips meet in Foster Hall service drive. All labs and field trips begin promptly at 7:40 AM.

3. Weekly Schedule:

Jan. 19/20: LAB #1 (feathers & bones)

Jan. 26/27: FIELD TRIP (Capitol Lake)

Feb. 2/3: FIELD TRIP (local winter landbirds)

Feb. 9/10: Quiz on Lab #1. LAB #2 (predicting ecology from morphology: bills, part 1)

Feb. 16/17: FIELD TRIP (Richfield River Silt)

Feb 23/24: [no labs or field trips] – Mardi Gras week

March 1/2: Quiz on Lab #2. LAB #3 (predictions continued: bills, part 2)

March 8/9: Quiz on Lab #3. LAB #4 (predictions: wings, tails)

March 15/16: FIELD TRIP (South Farm) DEPARTURE TIME 06:30 AM

March 22/23: Quiz on Lab #4. LAB #5 (predictions: feet, coloration)

March 29/30: Quiz on Lab #5. LAB #6 (Museum collection tour; uses of bird specimens)

April 5/6: no labs because Spring Break begins on Friday 6 Apr.

Apr. 12/13: [Spring Break]

Apr. 19/20: LAB FINAL

Apr. 26/27: FIELD TRIP (local summer landbirds)

May 3/4: FIELD TRIP (Whiskey Bay Road) DEPARTURE TIME 05:45 AM

Grades

1. Lab quizzes: Five 20-point quizzes will be given, one at the start (7:40 AM) of each Lab. These quizzes will have 5 questions (10 points) from the focal point of the previous lab and 5 questions on identification of Louisiana birds from the previous week's lab (5 birds, 1 point for correct species identification, 1 point for correct family or order).

2. Lab Final: 100 points, half from focal points and predictions and half from bird identification. Cumulative. NOTE EARLY DATE.

3. Field Quizzes: At any time during a field trip, the leader may give you "pop" quizzes on bird identification -- bonus points only.

4. Absences: Five points are subtracted AUTOMATICALLY from your grade for each field trip absence, regardless of the reason. There are no make-ups for missed lab quizzes.

Recommendations

1. Bring your field guide both to field trips and labs.

2. Borrow or buy binoculars for field trips. Binoculars should be at least 6 power, and the lens diameter should be at least 5 times the power (e.g., 6 X 35 is OK, but 6 X 30 doesn't let in enough light). If you are going to buy binoculars, see course website for tips.

3. Dress warmly for winter field trips -- we will be outside for the entire three hours. On warm days, come prepared for mosquitoes. Wear shoes that you don't mind getting a little dirty.

4. Study your Louisiana bird identifications on your own using your field guide and the Public Exhibit area of the Museum (8 AM-4 PM weekdays).