NTRES 2300 - Field Methods in Bird Banding

Spring. 3 credits.

Permission of instructor required.

D. N. Bonter.

Students will gain experience with techniques employed to safely capture, handle, mark, and track wild birds for scientific research. The course focuses on small songbirds and all students will handle birds and learn specialized techniques for identifying and ageing birds in the hand. The course also includes a classroom component where we explore the legal and ethical implications of handling wildlife. Students will become versed in the life history strategies employed by focal species and will present findings of peer-reviewed scientific papers to their peers.

Outcome 1: To learn and practice a variety of field techniques used for safely capturing, banding, and studying wild birds.

Outcome 2: To accurately identify local birds, understand methods for determining the age, sex, and condition of captured birds, and maintain detailed records.

Outcome 3: To understand and appreciate the diversity of life-history strategies pursued by these birds.

Outcome 4: To understand the conservation challenges facing bird populations and learn approaches used to study free-living populations.

Outcome 5: To keep an appropriate and detailed field journal.

Outcome 6: To critically analyze scientific research that utilizes our focal research techniques and orally present summaries of this research.

Outcome 7: To explore the legal and ethical implications of handling wildlife, and be able to explain the motivations, methods, and benefits of handling wildlife to your peers and the public.

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