BIOEE 264 - TROPICAL FIELD ORNITHOLOGY
(2-16 January 2008; not in 2009)
André Dhondt aad4@cornell.edu
3 credits

This course is based at the magnificent CENTER FOR BIODIVERSITY AND SUSTAINABILITY run by the Puntacana Ecological Foundation at Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. It provides students with the opportunity to study birds intensively in a neotropical environment. Students will learn observational and field techniques, design and implement independent research projects and participate in daily seminars. Study topics may include winter ecology, foraging and social behavior, migration, biogeography, phylogeny, avian diseases, conservation, etc.

Enrollment: The course is appropriate for all students who have a strong interest in birds and field biology. Enrollment is limited to 12-14 students on a first-come-first-serve basis. Students should register through the School of Continuing Education and Summer Sessions, B20 Day Hall; 607-255-4987. Email: cusce@cornell.edu. EARLY ENROLLMENT IS STRONGLY ENCOURAGED because travel costs can be reduced with early booking and flights to Punta Cana fill up rapidly at that time of year. Tuition is the cost of 3 credits Cornell winter-session, plus a $200 fee. This covers air travel from Ithaca to the Dominican Republic, travel within the Dominican Republic, and room and board at the Punta Cana field station.

The Program: Students will learn observational and field techniques, participate in group discussions and in daily seminars, and design and carry out an independent project. During the day, students will learn to observe birds, identify the local avifauna, and participate in mist-netting. In the afternoon/evenings we will discuss the days' observations and discuss scientific publications following a reading-seminar format. During the second week, students will carry out projects of their own design.

At the end of the course students will have learned how to find and identify birds and understand some of their behaviors and should be able to go out and guide new visitors on a bird walk. Students will also have acquired an understanding of diverse fields of biology through the discussions and through the reading of the papers. The course is primarily for non-biology majors, although an interest in birds and biology is required.

The instructor is André Dhondt, Edwin H. Morgens Professor of Ornithology and Director of the Bird Populations Studies program at the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, and a graduate student TA.

Evaluation: Letter grades will be based on a combination of the written project report and participation in (1) group field activities, (2) independent field research, and (3) evening discussions.