01Department of Humanities and Sciences
(310) 825-7093
Spring 2014
Biology X 401.20
Reg # Z 7639
2 units
Instructor : Callyn Yorke, Ph.D.
Day of the Week/Inclusive Dates : Saturday/April 5 – May 31, 2014
Time : 9am-12pm
Location : UCLA/field
Office Hours : By arrangement
Course Description : An introductory course in Ornithology, focused primarily on the naturally occurring avifauna of Southern California. Emphasis is placed on bird identification, behavior, distribution, ecology and conservation. Course objectives include applying basic skills of bird identification in the field, maintaining a field notebook, and describing the behavior, ecology and distribution of at least fifty species of bird native to Southern California. The class will alternate with a series of Saturday morning lectures and field trips.
Specific Learning Objectives :
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
1) Apply basic skills of bird identification in the field.
2) Demonstrate the proper use of optical equipment, e.g. binocular and spotting scope, in the field.
3) Demonstrate how to use the internet for finding information about the birds of Southern
California.
4) Develop and maintain a well-annotated field notebook containing first-hand observations of the birds of Southern California.
5) List at least fifty species of bird native to Southern California.
6) Outline the geographic distribution of at least twenty species of bird native to Southern
California.
7) Describe the feeding behavior of at least twenty species of bird native to Southern
California
8) Locate on a map, five principal areas where the greatest bird species diversity is found in
Southern California.
9) Compare and contrast five distinct ecological communities in Southern California, including bird species typically associated with those communities.
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10) List at least ten species of bird in Southern California considered sensitive, rare, threatened or endangered by resource agencies.
11) Describe how wetlands in Southern California have declined over the past century and the resulting impacts on birds requiring those particular habitats.
12) Establish and maintain a personal life list of birds.
Required Text : Dunn, Jon L. 2011. The National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North
America. 6 th
Edition. ISBN 1426208286
Web Enhanced Course:
This course will use a password-protected internet site on Blackboard to post course materials and announcements. Course materials can include the syllabus, handouts and internet links referenced in class. (no hard copies of course materials will be made available in class; please print any reference materials you would like to have in class). At a minimum, instructors will post their contact information and a course syllabus. Here are some important points about webenhanced courses:

Students must have basic computer skills, including the use of word processing, email and the ability to use internet browsers such as Internet Explorer or Netscape. Completion of the Blackboard Student Orientation is recommended.

Course materials will become available two days before the beginning date of the course.

Discussion forums on the course website can be used to interact with your fellow students. Participation in forums is optional and the instructor will not be interacting on these forums. All official course discussion will be conducted in the classroom for the benefit of all students.
UCLA Extension Administrative Contact for this Course : Linda Polin (310 825-7093.
Student Records : Students can access and update student records online by visiting: www .
uclaextension.edu
and clicking on My.Extension
on the left navigation bar, selecting
Student's Course Essentials , and following the directions to log in.
Student's Course Essentials lets you view your grades, request an official transcript, change credit status on a current course, obtain enrollment verification, update your personal information, and much more.
Student Conduct :
By enrolling in this course, all students are expected to comply with the UCLA Extension
Student Conduct Guidelines provided in the current Quarterly catalog (print or online) under
“General Information.”
Please silence all cell phones and refrain from texting during class lectures.
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Resources for Students with Disabilities: If you need any accommodations for a disability, please contact the UCLA Extension Services for Students with Disabilities at: (310) 825-7851 or via e-mail access@uclaextension.edu
Grading : Course grades will be based on the following:
Breakdown of Points for Each Assignment/Exam:
3 Quizzes (short answer essays)
One @ 20 points, two @ 10 points 40 Points
Field Notebook (4 field trips) 100 Points
Final Exam (comprehensive, short answer essay) 100 Points
Total Points for the Course : 240
Letter
Grade % # Points
A
B
C
D
F
(90-100%) 216-240 points
(80-89%) 192-215points
(70-79%) 168-191 points
(60-69%) 144-167 points
(<60%) < 144 points
All grades are final when filed by the instructor on the Final Grade Report.
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Date
Week 3: April 19, 2014
Lecture Topic
Week 1: April 5, 2014
Week 2: April 12, 2014
Lecture: UCLA Bird identification; bird communities
Field Trip: Malibu
Lagoon
Lecture: UCLA:Land birds of Southern
California
Readings
Dunn, J.L 2011
Yorke, C. 2011-13
Yorke, C. Field
Notes 2011-13;
Dunn, J.L 2011.
Dunn, J.L 2011
Yorke, C. Field
Notes 2010-2013
Quizzes/Exams and
Assignment Due Dates
Reading: Coastal Birds:
Malibu Lagoon. Due Apr. 12,
2014.
Reading: Land birds of
Southern California: Field notebook entries: Due Apr.
19, 2014.
Quiz #1 (20 points) from meetings # 1 and 2.
Week 4 April 26, 2014
Week 5: May 3, 2014
Week 6: May 10, 2014
Week 7: May 17, 2014
Field Trip: Oak
Woodland and Riparian
Birds: Placerita Canyon
Lecture UCLA:
Montane Birds
Field Trip: North
Slope of the San
Gabriel Mts.
Field Trip: Desert Oasis
Migratory Birds:
California City and/or
Antelope Valley
Dunn, J.L. 2011
Yorke, C. Field
Notes, 2014.
Reading: Review field notebook; Due May 3, 2014.
Dunn, J.L. 2011
Yorke, C. Field
Notes, 2014
Dunn, J.L. 2011
Yorke, Field Notes,
2010-2014
Dunn, J.L. 2011
Yorke, Field Notes
2010-2014
Reading: Review field notebook; Yorke, field notes on montane birds; Quiz #2
(10 points).
Reading: Review field notebook and field notes on
Desert Oasis Migratory Birds
Due May 17, 2014.
Quiz #3 – Take Home: (10 points); Due May 31, 2014.
Review field notebook; recopy field notebook for final submittal.
Review field notebook and lecture notes; recopy notebook for final submittal.
Week 8: May 24, 2014
Memorial Day
Holiday
Week 9: May 31, 2014
NO MEETING
Lecture UCLA: Avian
Ecology and
Conservation; course summary
Dunn, J.L. 2011
Yorke, C. Field
Notes 2010-2014
FINAL EXAM (100 points);
Quiz #3 Due.
FIELD NOTEBOOK DUE
(100 points).
It is estimated that students will spend approximately six hours outside class each week to complete class assignments, readings and preparation for exams. Depending on the extent of your academic preparation and recent college-level coursework in this topic area, the amount of study time needed may vary considerably.
Course Syllabus Subject to Update by the Instructor
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