BIOLOGY 4142 -- ORNITHOLOGY LAB -- Dr. Remsen

Spring 2009

T.A.: Luciano Naka (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:

January 15/16: LAB #1 (feathers & bones)
Jan. 22/23: FIELD TRIP (local lakes)
Jan. 29/30: FIELD TRIP (local winter landbirds)
Feb. 5/6: LAB #2 (predicting ecology from morphology: bills, part 1)
Feb. 12/13: FIELD TRIP (St. Gabriel Ag. Station)
Feb. 19/20: LAB #3 (predictions continued: bills, part 2)
Feb. 26/27: [no labs or field trips]
March 5/6: LAB #4 (predictions: wings, tails)
March 12/13: FIELD TRIP (Aquaculture Research Center)
March 19/20: : LAB #5 (predictions: feet, coloration)
March 26/27: LAB #6 (Museum collection tour; uses of bird specimens)
Apr. 2/3: Quiz on Lab 5 and Review Lab for Final
April 9/10: [Spring Break]
April 16/17: LAB FINAL
April 23/24: FIELD TRIP (local summer landbirds)
April 30/May 1: 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 web-site 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 (8-4 weekdays).