Lab #1, Intro to the lab

1. Lab #1, Intro to the lab Note: no true field identification today, it’s coming up though

2. Avian Biology Lab • Same information for instructor as from lecture • Lab TA – Aaron Holbrook • Same phone and office • aholbrook7@hotmail.com • Lab is Friday, 9-10:50am • Some Friday’s we will not have lecture, but a long lab instead • Some labs will be inside, others will be outside A non-breeding Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe), not a bird we’ll see (sigh). But, you will have to deal with breeding/non-breeding plumage issues

3. Avian Biology Lab • For labs where we go to the field you will need: • Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America • Binoculars – if you don’t have any they will be provided • Waterproof shoes, warm shirt/jacket, gloves, hat • Nothing obnoxious please (e.g., neon), this can detract from birding • Snacks and water/coffee/tea is fine • Any medications you need for allergies • For labs where we go out, BE ON TIME, we travel together and we cannot wait • When outside observe courtesy rules; don’t leave litter behind, be quiet, turn off phones, etc. so that birding opportunities are not lost, be helpful to lab mates in finding birds, etc.

4. Avian Biology Lab • Saturday Field Trips: • There will be 3 trips that occur on Saturdays • You are required to be at the Lake Thoreau trip on banding techniques (10) • Other two trips (10) • One will be required • Venice, LA • Dauphin Island, AL Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) this one we can see on campus

5. Avian Biology Lab • Semester research project • This is new (more in next slide) • Worth 100 points • We will have 1 test (final, 100 points) • Final will be all identification by sight or sound White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus) sitting on my hand. We will see these guys (and hear them more often) by the end of the semester. Note, birding will change with time

6. Avian Biology Lab • Research project • Working in pairs or trios (2 trio groups) • Choose a potential topic from what we have suggested • Randomly you will choose what you want to do • Aaron and I will help you with set up • You will collect data • Aaron and I will help you through analysis and interpretation • You will write up and present this • You will use guidelines from The Auk

7. Birds of the World – A quick review • All birds are in Class Aves • Most now include birds in the reptiles, history gives them their own class • Some diversity among researchers in what is included (e.g., lumpers and splitters) • Very diverse group • ~32 Orders • 193 Families • 2099 Genera • ~9700 Species Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum). We will see large flocks of these early in the semester

8. Birds of the World - Superorders Paleognathae Neognathae More species overall in this Superorder Hooded Merganser, Lophodytes cuculatus Emu, Dromaius novaehollandiae

9. Avian evolution Previous trees of relatedness have been reassessed using newer techniques (whole genome sequencing). Some outstanding reorganization and better resolution on extant birds and their associations.

10. Birds of the World • Order Passeriformes, 5,739 species, 70+ Families • Family Tyrannidae – Flycatchers • Family Alaudidae – Larks • Family Hirundinidae – Swallows • Family Laniidae - Shrikes • Family Bobycillidae – Waxwings • Family Mimidae – Thrashers, Mockingbirds • Family Turdidae – Thurshes • Family Troglodytidae – Wrens • Family Paridae – Titmice and Chickadees • Family Vireonidae – Vireos • Family Emberizidae – Finches and Sparrows • Family Parulidae – Warblers • Family Icteridae – Blackbirds and Orioles • Family Fringillidae – Finches • Family Passeridae – Sparrows • Family Sturnidae – Starlings • Family Corvidae – Crows and Jays • Family Cardinalidae – Grosbeaks and Cardinals • Family Thraupidae – Tanagers • Family Regulidae – Kinglets

11. Birds of the World