SYLLABUS
IB 461
Ornithology
http://www.life.uiuc.edu/ib/461/
11:00 – 11:50 (Monday, Wednesday, & Friday)
162 Noyes Lab
Instructor:
Dr. Michael P. Ward
N415 Turner Hall
244-4089
mpward@illinois.edu
Lab (8:00 or earlier – 10:50)
Monday & Tuesday
TA:
Nicole Davros
408 NHB (Lab)
201 Vivarium (Office)
333-2235
ndavros2@illinois.edu
Description: This course includes lectures, laboratories, and field trips. The lecture will cover
topics from the evolution of birds to the conservation of local species. The labs and field trips
will introduce students to the birds of Illinois.
Text:
Ornithology, 3nd ed. 2006. F. B. Gill
Field Guide: Birds of Eastern and Central North America 5th ed. 2002
Peterson or Sibley Guide
Date
1/19
1/21
1/24
1/26
1/28
1/31
2/2
2/4
2/7
2/9
2/11
2/14
2/16
2/18
Topic
Introduction
The Diversity of Birds
Origin & Evolution of Birds
Origin & Evolution of Birds
Phylogenetics / Systematics
Feathers & Flight
SNOW DAY
Feathers & Flight
Physiology
Physiology
Brain, intelligence, & senses
Brain, intelligence, & senses
Annual Cycles
Exam 1
Text Chapters
1
2
2
3
4&5
4&5
6
6
7
7
9
2/21
2/23
2/25
2/28
3/2
3/4
3/7
3/9
3/11
3/14
3/16
3/18
3/28
3/30
4/1
4/4
4/6
4/8
4/11
4/13
4/15
4/18
4/20
4/22
4/25
4/27
4/29
5/2
5/4
5/13
Speciation (Balakrishnan)
Social Behavior
Social Behavior
Breeding System
Vocal Communication (Enstrom)
Breeding Systems
Nests
Migration
Navigation
Stopover Ecology
Communities
Populations
Population Dynamics
Application of Population Dynamics
Exam 2
Species Conservation
Cowbirds (Dr. Hoover)
Behavioral Conservation
100-year Bird Survey
Habitat specific Issues
Ag Policy and Bird Conservation
Local Grassroot Conservation
Global Conservation
Future and Careers in Ornithology
Presentations
Presentations
No class
Presentations
Presentations / Review
Final Exam @ 8:00 AM
Grading
3 lecture exams @ 100 point each
2 lab exams @ 100 points each
1 field practical
1 field journal
Review (Presentations)
11
11
12
8
12
12
10
10
11
20
17
17
18
19
21
300
200
50
50
50
Review – Teams of two (only one grad student per team) will write a paper no longer than five
pages (single spaced, not including references), reviewing a topic in ornithology. Examples of
these topics: local conservation issues, the evolution of birds, sexual selection, speciation in
galliformes, intelligence in birds, skewed sex ratios in birds. I will provide future direction in late
February.