BIOL - 270. Ornithology

(3 hours lecture)
3 credit(s)
Birds (Aves) are perhaps the best-studied class of organisms on earth. Indeed, bird research has brought about many of the major advances in ecology, evolution, behavior and conservation. This course provides a comprehensive overview of bird biology, emphasizing the evolutionary origins and early radiation of birds, molecular systematics, behavior, ecology, communication and conservation. The laboratory will combine comparative studies of bird specimens with field investigations. Students will also design and conduct individual research projects. If taught in the spring, the laboratory portion of the course will be conducted as an off-campus field course (10-12 days) involving intensive outdoor research projects at various field stations, and will have a separate field trip fee. Written permission of the instructor is required when offered in the spring semester. Note - if taught in the spring, the field trip takes place after Commencement, so seniors would not be able to use this course to meet graduation requirements. Seniors can take this course in the spring if they 1) meet all graduation requirements without this course, or 2) are willing to postpone their official graduation until the next semester (they would still be able to walk in their graduation ceremony).

Prerequisite(s): BIOL 110 and BIOL 120; OR BIOL 110 and BIOL 140; OR BIOL 170 and BIOL 180.
Attribute: ARTS, CFN, ORPO