Jan 12

Introduction: what makes a bird a bird? Origin of birds…

Ch. 1

Jan 15-17

Dinosaurs are not extinct: Origin of birds and flight. The fossil record. Evolution of flight and of flightlessness.

pp.22-35

Jan 22-26

Speciation and Hybridization: What is a species? Systematics and what the molecules tell us

Ch. 22; Ch. 3

Paper topics due 1/22

Jan 29-Feb 2

Convergent evolution, biogeography, and the origin of North Am. birds; Feathers and flight

Ch.4

Lit cited due

Feb 5-9

Flight, cont. Bone, muscle and blood; Respiration, energy and thermoregulation

Ch. 5

Feb 5

Paper discussion 1

article

Summary #1

2/12-16

Finish respiration etc.; Review for exam.

Ch. 6

Feb 14

*********EXAMINATION***********

Exam 1

2/19-23

Digestion, excretion. Brains and sense organs - what does it mean to be "bird-brained?"

Ch. 7-8

Papers due 2/21

Feb 26-Mar 2

Foraging behavior; Territoriality

Ch. 7, 14

Feb 28

Paper discussion 2

article

Summary #2

Mar 5-9

Nestbuilding, eggs, and clutch size

Ch. 15-16

rewrites due (optional) 3/9

3/12-16

SPRING BREAK

Mar 19-23

Mating systems: Sexual selection, monogamy, Extra pair copulations and other wrinkles.

Ch. 17

Mar 26-30

Mating systems continued; population biology

Ch. 17, 21

Mar 30

PAPER DISCUSSION 3

article

summary #3

2 April

TBA; review for exam

April4

*********EXAMINATION***********

Exam II

April 6

Molt

pp. 80-85

4/9-13

Migration, Navigation and Orientation

Ch. 12-13

4/16-20

Social Behavior and flocking

Ch. 14

4/23-27

Why do birds sing, and How do birds sing?

Ch. 10

April 26

Conservation; birds and man

Ch. 24

3 May

**FINAL EXAM*** - Th, 5/3, 11:00 AM

Final exam