September-December 2022
The main course site for students will be on Canvas. For those who are not yet enrolled in the course, you can download the syllabus here and Lecture 1 slides here and Lecture 2&3 slides here.
Registered and waitlisted students must either attend the first week of classes or contact the course instructor, as otherwise you may be de-registered from the course or waitlist.
However, please do not attend if you have any symptoms that could be related to Covid-19, or if you have been exposed recently. The lectures will be recorded such that you can watch them later. (do however email Dr. Irwin to explain that you weren’t there but still want to take the course)
If you do attend the lecture, please wear a mask.
Please note that this course is now primarily about birds, with amphibians and reptiles covered only briefly. If you are looking for a course that features herpetology, you might be disappointed.
Instructor: Darren Irwin (Professor of Zoology; web site, email). Office: Biodiversity 209.
TA: Claudie Pageau (graduate researcher, Dept. of Zoology)
Lab support: Ildiko Szabo (Assist. Curator, Cowan Tetrapod Coll., Beaty Biodiv. Museum)
Lectures: MW 9:00-9:50 a.m.; Food, Nutrition and Health Building, room 50, starting 7 Sept.
Labs: M 2-5pm or T 3-6 p.m., starting the second week of class (Sept. 12/13), mostly in Biodiversity 060.
Course objectives
Note that birds are the primary focus of this course, with amphibians and reptiles referred to only briefly. We will discuss a wide variety of topics in ornithology, including avian ecology, evolution, physiology, behavior, and conservation, with particular attention to species from British Columbia. Students will learn: (a) how to identify species in the field under fall/winter conditions and in the laboratory using prepared specimens, (b) how to conduct field inventories of birds and to present scientific surveys, and (c) general knowledge regarding the evolutionary history, taxonomy, ecology, behavior, and conservation of birds. Field research will take place in Pacific Spirit Park or other areas chosen by students. The practical skills taught in this course will be useful for working as a naturalist, field ecologist, conservation biologist, or environmental consultant. We also hope that this course enriches the lives of students by generating enthusiasm and interest in biodiversity and natural history.
Note: This course requires much fieldwork outside of class time. Students who are uncomfortable outdoors in challenging weather or who do not have a strong interest in field observation might not find the course suitable. We do welcome motivated students who have unusual needs (please talk to the instructor).
Required materials
- Enthusiasm!
- A good field notebook and pencil or pen.
- Any good field guide to the birds of western North America. Make sure that you get a guide which includes all species that are likely to be observed in British Columbia. My top four recommendations, all of which are excellent guides:
National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, Seventh Edition, by Jon L. Dunn and Jonathan Alderfer (2017): Includes all species in North America, in a reasonably compact and easy-to use book, and updated with recent taxonomic changes. This is my favorite guide, and page numbers used in the course refer to this guide. (Available at the UBC Bookstore)
The Sibley Guide to Birds, Second Edition, by David Sibley (2014): Includes all species in North America, but in a rather large book that would be hard to carry as a field guide. Would be an excellent reference in the lab or at home. Incorporates taxonomic changes up to 2014.
The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Western North America: Second Edition, by David Allen Sibley (2016): Another excellent guide to birds in western North America, in a nicely shaped book. Would also work well for this course. You would need a different guide if you go east.
National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of Western North America, by Jon L. Dunn and Jonathan Alderfer (2008): Includes all species in western North America, so more compact and easier to use in that region. You would need a different guide if you go to Alberta or further east. Getting a bit dated (does not have recent taxonomic changes).
Optional materials
- The Handbook of Bird Biology, a textbook produced by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, edited by Irby Lovette and John Fitzpatrick, 2016.
General course information:
- Course syllabus (containing the lecture and lab schedules)
- List of species to learn: pdf or excel format
General phylogeny links:
Tree of Life web project: A large collaborative effort to construct the phylogeny of life.
Animal Diversity Web: Another good source of phylogenetic relationships between major taxonomic groups.
UCMP Taxon Lift: Run by the University of California Museum of Paleontology, this site has good information regarding relationships of modern and extinct taxa.
Birdy links:
eBird Canada: A site where you can enter your own bird observations, see your life list, and see range maps and summaries of observations submitted by other people. Very fun!
Birds of North America: An excellent source of detailed information on all the birds of North America. There is a print version at the Woodward Library, and UBC students also have access to the online version.
A.O.U. Checklist of North American Birds: The official list of North American Birds, as kept by the American Ornithologists’ Union.
Birding in British Columbia: A nice site with information on birding in B.C., complete with a Rare Bird Alert.
The Internet Bird Collection: A huge collection of videos of more than 6000 bird species!
Conan O’Brien goes birding: For some good laughs.
Amphibian and Reptile links: