Ornithology 1B Spring 2009 Calendar
If you miss a class, please check this page and study the listed topics in your field guide or in "The
Birder's Handbook" by Ehrlich et al. ( Fireside, 1988). Many of the essays and species accounts from that
book are available online.
I also recommend visiting field trip sites on your own if you can't make the actual
trips. The class calendar from last fall is available here.
Note: We have moved to room 139!
May 19
- We finished the book, covering: creepers, nuthatches, wrens, dippers, kinglets, gnatcatchers, thrushes. mockingbirds,
starlings, pipits, waxwings, phainopeplas, warblers, tanagers, sparrows, cardinals, blackbirds, finches and old
world sparrows.
- Niche partitioning in the nuthatches of the San Francisco Bay area is based mostly on geography with White-breasted
in the interior, Pygmy on the coast and Red-breasted in the mountains. But in the Sierra, these three coexist by
partitioning the resources within the same tree. Pygmy on the outer branches and cones, White-breasted on the main
trunks and Red-breasted on the larger limbs.
- Wrens are diverse in North and South America, but only one species is found in Eurasia. We hypothesized that
the Winter Wren may be a fairly recent arrival to Eurasia from North America. We also suggested that polygeny,
rather than predator avoidance, may be reasons for the evolution of multiple nest building in wrens.
- Geographic variation in the American Dipper was used to illustrate neoteny (retention of juvenile characters
into adulthood) as an evolutionary mechanism.
- Gloger's rule of geographic variation can be seen in the race "caurinus" of the American Robin.
A very dark form from the Pacific Northwest which winters in small numbers in California.
- Mockingbirds sing to attract females. Those with larger repertoires are more successful at breeding.
- The invasion of the European Starling in North America and its consequence to native species was discussed.
The success of the American introduction while the native European population is declining may be caused by the
small genetic sample size of the original introduced population.
- Flocking behavior in the Cedar Waxwing can be linked to its food requirements which are unreliable as it is
an obligate frugivore.
- The relationship of the Brown-headed Cowbird and its hosts was discussed. Recent increases in cowbird numbers
in California can be traced to clearing of the land for cattle. California's native species are less able to cope
with parasitism than their Eastern counterparts because they have not had time to evolve protective mechanisms.
- Selander's findings on the geographic variation in the House Sparrow was discussed as illustrating the relatively
rapid change in populations in the face of various climatic conditions.
This was the last class for the semester. Please preregister if you plan to enroll in
the Spring. Click here for details.
Registration is available starting July 1st. Thank you for your interest and support.
May 12
- Families: trogons, kingfishers & woodpeckers, woodpeckers, flycatchers, shrikes, vireos, corvids, larks,
swallows, babblers, chickadees, verdins & bushtits.
- Trogons were used to highlight a discussion on the ethics of song playback in birding.
- We discussed the nature of the hybrid zone between two races of Northern Flicker and the possible evolutionary
basis for the divergence of the two races. The vicariance model was compared with the Founder Principal. Geographic
isolation caused by past ice-ages was suggested as a mechanism for the evolutionary independence of the two
lineages. The different wing colors may be a consequence of genetic drift rather than natural selection.
- Male mimicry in juvenile woodpeckers was assigned as a topic for further research.
- The Western Flycatcher has recently been split into the Pacific-coast Flycatcher and the Cordilleran Flycatcher.
These are examples of "cryptic species," i.e. biological species which do not differ morphologically.
- Shrike diversity in North America is less than in Eurasia. The Loggerhead Shrike is probably an evolutionary
offshoot of the Northern Shrike after the latter species invaded North America prior to recent glaciations.
- The ability of a raven to seemingly count up to six was discussed in terms of the dangers in methodology of
measuring intelligence.
- The Horned Lark illustrated the differences in diversity of larks in North America vs. Eurasia. Why are there
many species of larks in Eurasia and only one in North America?
- We postulated that the Horned Lark was a relatively recent immigrant to North America which has not had time
to diversify into multiple species.
- Geographic variation in the Chestnut-backed Chickadee has given rise to three isolated populations which are
named as subspecies. The dividing lines are areas of unsuitable habitat, "Cristo's Line" between Petaluma
and Bodega Bay and the Golden Gate are boundaries to gene flow between these subspecies.
May 5
- Families: cuckoos, owls, nightjars, swifts & hummingbirds.
- Discussed feather ruffling, fluffing, and other mechanisms of thermoregulation.
- Asymmetrical ears in owls enable the birds to accurately locate prey by hearing.
- Mechanisms for backwards flight in the hummingbird were explained.
- The correct mixture for a hummingbird feeder is 1 part sugar to 4 parts water.
April 28
- Families:alcids, parrots, cuckoos.
- Discussed the historical dynamics of the population of Common Murres.
- Discussed the origins and identity of the various parrot populations in San Francisco. More information is
available here.
- We outlined the evolution of egg mimicry in the Common Cuckoo.
April 21
- Families:jacanas, oystercatchers, stilts, sandpipers & gulls.
- The wing-spur of the jacana was discussed. I have researched this and found that ornithologists distinguish
between "wing-claws" such as found on Archaeopteryx and "spurs." Spurs are used in combat and
differ in structure from claws. Spurs are on the radial side of the carpus. Spur-winged Goose, Spur-winged Plover,
Black-necked Screamer, and Sheathbill all have carpal spurs. Digital wing-claws persist into adulthood in the Secretary-bird,
Black-necked Screamer, three species of finfoots and are found on the juveniles of the Hoatzin and a few other
species.
- We discussed the possible evolution of distraction displays in shorebirds.
- Discussed instinctive behavior in terms of "releaser" stimuli in the Oystercatcher where the egg
provides a stimulus to incubate and contrasted that with gulls where the nest itself is the focus of incubation
behavior.
- Discussed plumage maturation and molt in shorebirds.
- Discussed the role of the red spot on the mandible of gulls as part of a complex series of behavioral releasers.
- Outlined molt in the Western Gull pointing out the preformative molt.
- The "Morlan Method" gull identification key with full text is here.
Adobe acrobat reader required. An abridged html version is here.
April 14
- Families: limpkins, coots, cranes, and plovers.
- Duscussed the relation between Bell's Vireo and Brown-headed Cowbird populations.
- Discussed variability in the pattern of frontal shield in the American Coot.
- We discussed the possible evolution of distraction displays in shorebirds.
March 24
- Families: vultures, hawks, falcons.
- The use of thermals in raptors was discussed as was visual acuity in the Golden Eagle.
- We discussed the success of the Peregrine Recovery Program and causes of the species decline. We outlined the
causes and consequences of eggshell thinning in the Peregrine Falcon noting that the banning of DDT has not resulted
in significant increases in shell thickness.
March 17
- Families: Cormorants, herons, storks, flamingos, ibises & vultures.
- Discussed breeding success as correlated with age in cormorants.
- Niche partitioning in cormorants illustrated Gause's Law of Competitive
Exclusion.
- Discussed molt and morphology using a sunning Great Blue Heron as an example.
- Storks may be related to vultures; we discussed water levels and water quality in relation to breeding success
or failure in the Wood Stork.
- Most North American sightings of flamingos are escapes. Filter feeding.
- White-faced Ibis decline as a breeding bird in the Central Valley impacted by water management practices.
- The apparent increase in the Turkey Vultures in the East may be related to increases in forest habitat, rather
than global warming or increases in road-kill..
March 10
- Families: Tropicbirds, boobies, pelicans & anhingas.
- Reviewed molt and plumage
terminology. Natal down, juvenal, basic, alternate plumages. Prebasic, prealternate molts. Prebasic molts are complete;
prealternate molts are partial. Basic plumage = winter; alternate plumage = summer (usually).
- We discussed external bird topography using an Anhinga as an example.
- Discussed post-breeding dispersal & vagrancy in boobies and other colonial waterbirds.
- We discussed factors contributing to bird abundance and the attributes of a healthy ecosystem.
- Discussed the local decline in breeding Brown Pelicans as related to egg-shell thinning from DDT.
- Click here for a diagram showing the annual cycle of breeding, molt, and
migration of the Anhinga in North America. Thick lines indicate peak activity; thin lines, off-peak. Daigram taken
from the Birds of North America account (Frederick, P. C., and D. Siegel-Causey. 2000. Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga).
In The Birds of North America, No. 522 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia,
PA.)
March 3
- Families: albatrosses, shearwaters, storm-petrels & frigatebirds.
- Dynamic soaring and Bernoulli's Principle,
how birds fly and soar. Dynamic
soaring in the albatross was demonstrated.
- Discussed polymorphism in the Northern Fulmar and the distinction between polymorphism and other types of plumage
variation.
- Geographic variation and the subspecies concept were assayed. Although much variation is clinal, subspecies
still have a place in ornithological taxonomy.
February 24
- Discussed the recent split of the Cackling Goose from the Canada Goose.
- Families: loons and grebes.
- The biological species concept was reviewed and the situation with Clark's and Western grebes was used as an
example. Positive assortative mating prevents gene flow between the populations.
- Discussed polymorphism and the distinction between polymorphism and other types of plumage variation.
- Abundance terminology: Abundant, common, fairly common, uncommon, rare, casual and accidental.
- Introduced molt and plumage
terminology. Natal down, juvenal, basic, alternate plumages. Prebasic, prealternate molts. Prebasic molts are complete;
prealternate molts are partial. Basic plumage = winter; alternate plumage = summer (usually).
February 17
- The "Morlan Method" gull identification key with full text is here.
Adobe acrobat reader required. An abridged html version is here.
- Discussed binoculars and optics.
- Some good sites that deal with optics for birding:
- Click here for my brief
review of new entry level binoculars from Bushnell.
- Click here for my tips on digiscoping.
- Families: guans, grouse and quail.
- We discussed the evolution of leks using the Sage Grouse as an example. Advantages and disadvantages of this
breeding strategy were discussed.
- The decline of California Quail in Golden Gate Park was correlated to increases in feral cat colonies in the
park. For information on the American Bird Conservancy's "Cats Indoors!" program, click here.
- In the event of rain, check back here to see if there has been a change in schedule for this Saturday's field
trip.
February 10
- A dead Song Sparrow illustrated various feather tracts and anatomical features of birds.
- Feather examples illustrated various feather structures and various ways feathers can be colored.
- Breeding strategies
- Altricial, Precocial. Energetic costs and benefits of each strategy. Herons are "Semi-altricial 1".
- World Diversity - Click here.
- Families: Waterfowl.
- We discussed the possible reasons that male ducks are in bright plumage in the winter and drab in the summer.
- Bring binoculars to class next week, for optics discussion.
February 3
- We start at 7pm sharp with your observations and questions.
- Theme of class- What are the factors contributing to avian diversity in the face of Natural Selection?
- Definition of "bird" - Feathered vertebrate. Five major vertebrate classes.
- Naming Birds - Hierarchical categories, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species, etc.
- The taxonomic implications of avian
hybridization was outlined with special emphasis on "hybrid zones" and "zones of overlap and
hybridization." See article by Short
for full details.
- The biological
species concept was discussed.
- Types of feathers - Vane,
contour, down, semiplume, filoplume, aftershaft.
- Parts of a feather - Shaft
or rachis, barbs, barbules.
- Earliest Bird - Archaeopteryx
- Could it fly?
- Assignment - Memorize the parts of a bird on pages 10-12 of the National Geographic Guide (5th edition)
and bring your questions to class.