Ornithology 1B Spring 2004 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: There will be a special field trip tentatively scheduled for Point Reyes, Sunday June 6th at 8:30am. Cross the Golden Gate Bridge and head north on Hwy 101 to Sir Francis Drake Blvd. Go west through the towns of Kentfield, Ross, San Anselmo, and Fairfax to Olema. Turn right on Hwy 1 and then left, still on Sir Francis Drake through Inverness. Continue west out toward Point Reyes past the ranches and meet at the lighthouse parking area. Travel time about 2 hours. This will be a combined trip for all three classes. Lunch is optional. Please check back for possible last-minute changes.

Please consider enrolling in the Fall for either Ornithology II (Wednesdays) or Ornithology III (Thursdays). Further information is here. Registration begins July 1st.

• We finished the book, covering corvids, larks, wrentits, chickadees, verdins, bushtits, creepers, nuthatches, wrens, dippers, gnatcatchers, thrushes, mockingbirds, starlings, pipits, waxwings, phainopeplas, warblers, tanagers, sparrows, cardinals, blackbirds, finches and old world sparrows.
• 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.
• Causes of social plasticity in the Bushtit were discussed.
• 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.

• Families: trogons, kingfishers, woodpeckers, flycatchers, vireos, and corvids.
• Trogons were used to highlight a discussion on the ethics of song playback in birding.
• Niche partitioning in tropical kingfishers illustrated Gauss's Law of Competitive Exclusion.
• 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 "sibling 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.

• Families: cuckoos, owls, nightjars, swifts, and hummingbirds.
• We outlined the evolution of egg mimicry in the Common Cuckoo.
• Discussed feather ruffling, fluffing, and other mechanisms of thermoregulation.
• We discussed the nature and evolutionary implications of sexual size dimorphism in owls and other raptors. One explanation is related to the long incubation by female owls.
• Hibernation in the Common Poorwill was discussed.
• Mechanisms for backwards flight in the hummingbird were explained.
• The correct mixture for a hummingbird feeder is 1 part sugar to 4 parts water.

• Families: Alcids, pigeons & parrots.
• 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.

• Families: stilts, sandpipers & gulls
• 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 protracted first prealternate molt.

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April 13

• Families:coots,cranes, plovers, jacanas, oystercatchers, and stilts.
• 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 regulation of animal numbers a la Malthus and Lack. It's the carrying capacity of the environment that ultimately determines population levels.

  Note: There is no class next week because I will be out-of-town. Class resumes Tuesday, April 27th.

  Those interested in photos I took on our last field trip can find them here. Click on thumbnails to see them full size.

• Families:falcons, guans, grouse, quail, limpkins and coots.
• 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.
• Discussed regulation of animal numbers a la Malthus and Lack. It's the carrying capacity of the environment that ultimately determines population levels.

  Note: The first class for Part B was canceled because of the instructor's illness.

• Families: ibises, waterfowl, vultures, hawks and falcons
• White-faced Ibis decline as a breeding bird in the Central Valley impacted by water management practices.
• Eclipse plumage in ducks is actually equivalent to basic plumage.
• We speculated that 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.
• The use of thermals in raptors was discusses 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.

  Note: This was the last class for Part A. Please register as soon as possible for Part B which starts March 23rd. You can register online, or mail or fax this registration form.

• Families: cormorants, herons, storks and flamingos
• Discussed bird anatomy using a dead Pelagic Cormorant as an example.
• Discussed breeding success as correlated with age in cormorants.
• Niche partition in cormorants illustrated Gauss's Law of Competitive Exclusion.
• Discussed molt and morphology using a sunning Great Blue Heron as an example.
• Storks are actually 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.
• Photos of the controversial orioles from Middle Lake are here. They appear to be Orchard Orioles.

• Reviewed the general rules of geographic variation.
  1. Allen's Rule - an animal's extremities are shorter in colder parts of its range than in warmer parts.
  2. Bergman's Rule - geographic races of species with smaller body size are found in warmer parts and larger body size in colder parts of the species range.
  3. Gloger's Rule - dark pigments increase in warm and humid habitats.
• Reviewed the process by which a sighting can become a record for scientific purposes (peer review).
• Families: pelicans, anhingas and cormorants.
• Discussed the local decline in breeding Brown Pelicans as related to egg-shell thinning from DDT.
• Discussed molt in Anhingas.
• Assignment - Research the term ""Rassenkreis" or "Circle of Races." Be prepared to provide and critique examples in birds. Note: this may not be possible.

• Discussed 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). Eclipse plumage in ducks is the same as basic plumage.
• Plumage abnormalities such as schizochroism, albinism, and leucism were discussed.
• Families: storm-petrels, frigatebirds, tropicbirds, & boobies.
• Discussed post-breeding dispersal & vagrancy in boobies and other colonial waterbirds.
• Discussed bird anatomy using a dead Mallard and Song Sparrows as examples.
• Assignment - Study the general rules of geographic variation in warm-blooded vertebrates: Allen's rule, Berman's rule & Gloger's rule. Patterns of animal distribution within regions and habitats are the result of evolution. Several patterns have been observed and generalized into ecological rules.

• An account of our field trip to Lake Merrit and links to some photos is here.
• A couple additional photos from the trip are here and here.
• Families: Grebes, albatrosses, and shearwaters.
• 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.
• 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.
• Assignment - Study the section on plumage sequence and molt on pages 12-13 of National Geographic Guide.

• Discussed binoculars and optics.
• Some good sites that deal with optics for birding:
  • Better View Desired: http://betterviewdesired.com/
  • Optics for Birding: http://www.optics4birding.com/
  • New Jersey Audubon: http://www.njaudubon.org/NatureNotes/Optics.html
  • Eagle Optics: http://www.eagleoptics.com/
• Families: Loons.
• Assignment - Memorize the parts of a bird on pages 10-11 of National Geographic Guide and bring your questions to class.

• 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.
• Types of feathers - Vane, contour, down, semiplume, filoplume, aftershaft.
• Parts of a feather - Shaft or rachis, barbs, barbules.
• Earliest Bird - Archaeopteryx - Could it fly?
• Breeding strategies - Altricial, Precocial. Energetic costs and benefits of each strategy.
• World Diversity - Click here.
• The biological species concept was described.
• Bring binoculars to class next week, for optics discussion.