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Check this site frequently for important information about our course, including assignments, and announcements.


BRIGHTSPACE

I will use the Announcements section of our class Brightspace page to communicate with you once the course begins.

Posted January 6, 2024


2024 ORNITHOLOGY CLASS

The 2024 Ornithology Class will begin on Monday January 8, 2024. The first class includes my first lecture and all sorts of important information. So if you plan to take this course I strongly encourage you to attend this first class. In addition to covering the first chapter of the textbook, we will discuss the course outline (download a draft of the 2024 course outline from the Ornithology Home Page, linked above).

Posted January 6, 2024


PURCHASING A FIELD GUIDE

There are many great field guides to the birds of North America. All students in this course must have a field guide starting with the first lab! Which one you use is up to you. Note: If you already own a field guide to the birds of North America or eastern North America, you do not need to purchase one of these books. Simply bring your book to the first lab and the GA's and I will assess if it is appropriate.

Recommendations:

1. The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America. The second edition called "Sibley BIrds East" and it is great. This book covers only birds of eastern North America. The plates are the same excellent plates as in "The Sibley Guide to Birds" (see below) but it is much smaller and fits in your pocket. Price is presently $32.

2. The Sibley Guide to Birds (2nd Edition). This book covers all birds in North America -- and it was recently updated (2014). The plates are amazing and depict each bird in several different plumages and poses. The only downside to this book, if there is one, is that it is larger than the average field guide and doesn't fit in your pocket. Price is typically double the Sibley East book. This would be a good choice if you also travel to the west coast of North America sometimes.

3. National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America. This book covers all birds in North America and is relatively small. The plates are very good. This was my first field guide.

4. The Peterson Field Guide to the Birds of Eastern and Central North America. This is the classic bird field guide and is still favoured by many ornithologists and birders.  It is a pocket sized book, like books 1 and 3 above, and the plates are very good.

There are many good bird guides for mobile devices. However, these are not appropriate for this class because I want to teach you how to birdwatch without the distractions of a connected device. Old school!

Posted  January 2024




All content copyright D. J. Mennill