Ornithologist in Training: Avian Field Research and Scientific Writing (Flex)

** Note: This is a flexible schedule class WITHOUT weekly pre-scheduled live meetings.  Course materials will be delivered via interactive lessons on Pear Deck, lab assignments, writing assignments with detailed instructor feedback, and through discussion boards that feature either a student video post and/or student comments and responses to other classmates.  This course includes a live, 60min bird banding demonstration on week 8 (to be scheduled at a time that works for all students in the section).  Each student will also have the option of scheduling 1-2 private, 30min consultations with the instructor to receive help identifying an independent research project and as-needed to assist with writing assignments and/or data analysis.  

This course may be used as a part of the “Ornithologist in Training Curriculum Series”.  Please see the section below entitled “About the Ornithologist in Training Curriculum Series” to learn how this curriculum series can provide your learner with a comprehensive multi-year curriculum in Ornithology culminating in the development of skills in independent ornithology field research and college-prep scientific writing. This course is typically offered only during the spring semester in February-May.   

Have you ever wondered how ornithologists research birds in the field?  Learn about avian research techniques from an ecologist experienced in a variety of avian research methods including point counts, transects, bird banding, and nest monitoring. In this career-oriented class, students will learn about and try out some of the skills of a field ornithologist.  


Course Components:

This class assumes students are beginning with some basic bird identification skills, so we'll begin with a series of 3 accelerated lessons in bird identification, firming up students' skills in identifying birds near them using shape, size, color pattern, sounds, habitat, behavior, and range. Then students will be introduced to 6 methods for avian research: 1) point counts, 2) transects, 3) spot mapping, 4) behavior observations, 5) bird banding, and 6) nest monitoring.  The last two weeks of class focus on citizen science and its impact on avian field research as well as identifying careers in avian research.  During the class, students will design and conduct their own independent avian field research project using point counts, transects, or bird behavior observations.  Students will also learn how to analyze their data and write up a full scientific manuscript (title, introduction, methods, results, discussion, and literature cited sections).  

Assignments for the first 3 weeks will be a "boots in the field, binoculars in hand" lab in which students will try out bird census techniques (point counts and transects) and practice recording bird observations using a Grinnell Field Journal and eBird. For weeks 4-11 homework will revolve around designing, conducting, and then writing up an independent avian field research project in the format of a scientific manuscript. Writing guidelines and expectations are modeled after college introductory-level biology course expectations for final project write-ups.  These expectations are also similar to weekly lab write-up expectations for many upper-level college biology courses.  The course is structured to provide "scaffolding" so that even students who are new to independent research projects will incrementally build the knowledge and skills needed to meet the project expectations. Heather will provide extensive individual feedback as students are guided through this writing process. Students who are able to invest the necessary time (typically about 3-4 hours weekly) into lessons and assignments will leave this class with a deeper understanding of avian research, a polished scientific paper, and the confidence to tackle field ecology research at an undergraduate level.  

Notes About Assignments and Grades:
All assignments submitted on time will receive individual feedback from Heather within 5 days after the assignment due date. Grades are optional in this course and the grading scale and grading methods are specified in the course syllabus. Students who wish to receive a grade (percentage and letter grade) should notify Heather by the start of the 2nd week of class. The full course syllabus will be provided on the first day of class and is available early upon request. Just message Heather if you would like to view the full course syllabus prior to registering.


Course Topic Outline:

Week 1: 
- Welcome and Syllabus Orientation
- Lesson: Bird ID by Sight 
- Lesson: Birding Then and Now: Introduction to Using a Grinnell Field Journal and eBird
- Assignment: Birding Lab 
- Discussion Board Topic: Birding by Sight

Week 2: 
- Lesson: Bird ID by Sound
- Lesson: Point Count Surveys
- Assignment: Point Count Lab
- Discussion Board Topic: Birding by Sound

Week 3: 
- Lesson: Bird ID Using Behavior, Habitat, and Range
- Lesson: Transect Surveys
-  Assignment: Transect Lab
- Discussion Board Topic: Bird ID Using Behavior, Habitat, and Range

Week 4: 
- Lesson: Introduction to Field Ecology Research
- Lesson: Independent Avian Research Project Orientation 
- Assignment: Independent Research Project Ideas Worksheet
- Discussion Board Topic: Field Ecology Research
- Optional: Schedule a 20min live consultation with Heather to help identify an independent project

Week 5: 
- Lesson: Writing a Methods Section
- Lesson: Bird Behavior Observations
- Assignment: Write Methods Section 
- Discussion Board Topic: Bird Behavior Observations

Week 6: 
- Lesson: Writing an Introduction Section 
- Lesson: Bird Banding Part 1 
- Assignment: Begin Collecting Data for Independent Project and Write Introduction Section
- Discussion Board Topic: Share research project design with the class

Week 7: 
- Lesson: Conducting Data Analysis
- Lesson: Bird Banding Part 2
- Assignment: Continue Collecting Data for Independent Project, begin Data Analysis
- Discussion Board Topic:  Bird Banding

Week 8: 
- 60 Minute Live Bird Banding Demonstration (date and time TBD by class) 
- Assignment: Finish Collecting Data for Independent Project and Complete Data Analysis
- Discussion Board Topic: Share Research Project Results

Week 9: 
- Lesson: Writing a Results Section 
- Lesson: Nest Monitoring
- Assignment: Write Results Section  
- Discussion Board Topic: Nest Monitoring

Week 10: 
- Lesson: Writing a Discussion Section 
- Lesson: Spot Mapping
- Assignment: Write Discussion Section
- Discussion Board Topic: Spot Mapping

Week 11: 
- Lesson: Citizen Science
- Lesson: Writing a Title and Literature Cited Section
- Assignment: Add Literature Cited and Title and Citizen Science Lab
- Discussion Board Topic: Citizen Science

Week 12:
- Lesson: Careers in Avian Research
- Extra Time for Final Paper Edits
- Assignment: Edit and Turn in Final Scientific Paper
- Discussion Board Topic: Careers in Avian Research


About the Ornithologist in Training Curriculum Series

This course is a part of the “Ornithologist in Training” curriculum series.  Each course may be taken as a stand-alone course, or in series using any order.  

Learners seeking a comprehensive multi-year curriculum in Ornithology may want to consider taking two courses that pair together in one semester.  Below is an example of how a learner could use the Ornithologist in Training curriculum series to take 3 full years of ornithology courses that culminate in the development of skills in independent ornithology field research and college-prep scientific writing.  

- Year 1, Semester 1: The Evolution of Birds
Ornithologist in Training: The Origin and Diversification of Birds (6 weeks, 1-2hr per week): 
Ornithologist in Training: Bird Evolutionary Biology and Systematics (6 weeks, 1-2 hr per week)

- Year 1, Semester 2: Bird Anatomy, Physiology, and Adaptations for Flight 
Ornithologist in Training: Bird Anatomy and Physiology (6 weeks, 1-2 hr per week)
Ornithologist in Training: Bird Feathers and Flight (6 weeks, 1-2 hr per week)

- Year 2, Semester 1: Bird Behavior
Ornithologist in Training: Bird Foraging Behavior  (not developed yet)
Ornithologist in Training: Breeding Biology of Birds (not developed yet)

- Year 2, Semester 2: Ecology of Birds
Ornithologist in Training: Bird Migration and Dispersal  (not developed yet)
Ornithologist in Training: Bird Population and Community Ecology (not developed yet)

- Year 3, Semester 1: Avian Research and Scientific Writing
Ornithologist in Training: Avian Research and Scientific Writing (12 weeks, 3-4hr per week)

- Year 3, Semester 2: After completing the course Ornithologist in Training: Avian Research and Scientific Writing, dedicated ornithology students often use subsequent semesters to refine their scientific writing/presentation skills and pursue research interests through the  1-to-1 independent research mentoring opportunities provided by the course Ornithologist in Training: Avian Field Ecology Project Private Mentoring 

If you are looking for additional, live support from the instructor as well as an opportunity to study and work on materials for this course in the company of other Ornithologist in Training students, please consider subscribing in one or more of my “open office hours” sections as you complete this course. This is a good option for students who enjoy live instruction, have a lot of questions for the instructor, need a little bit of accountability and motivation to work on course materials at a set time each week, and/or who want to get to know some other Ornithologist in Training students.  Additional details about what to expect during office hours are included in the listing. Link to available office hours: https://outschool.com/classes/ornithologist-in-training-open-office-hours-9mrHNp19?usid=jd8koNrm&signup=true&utm_campaign=share_activity_link