Courtship and Rivalry in Birds
Course ID: CLO501 This course will start and end with bird behaviors you have seen or could see in nature. Our goal is to enhance your observations of bird behaviors in the field by building skills and understandings about why birds do what they do. We will learn about how scientists study behavior, and work through interesting scenarios that will help you understand the roles that kinship, sex, and the distribution of resources often play in behavior. |
Description
Have you ever observed birds doing something puzzling or noticeable, like calling loudly to each other or bobbing their heads in sync? Are they communicating to each other? What does this behavior mean? How can you go about starting to figure out why birds do what they do? Can you take data on it?
You may already know how to identify birds, keep a list of species seen, or submit your bird counts to projects or databases. But what can you do with behavioral observations of birds? How can you even begin to keep track of the constant stream of things that birds seem to be doing during their waking hours? Is there a better way to know what to pay attention to, or predict the times of day or situations in which you might see certain bird behaviors, in order to enhance your own enjoyment or to teach others?
To get a sense of the diversity of bird behaviors, we’ll explore stunning video examples from the archive of the Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Then, we’ll focus in on social and mating behaviors of a few key species you might see, like waterfowl and blackbirds. Finally, we’ll explore the case studies of John Fitzpatrick and Edwin Scholes III, two Cornell Lab of Ornithology scientists who have delved deeply into the riddles of bird behavior from their initial observations of weird courtship dances or several birds feeding young at a nest.
You’ll leave with the skills to make sense out of behaviors you see in bird species near and far, and the tools to find more information and continue learning about and participating in the study of bird behavior.
Who Should Enroll in This Course?
Birders, the interested general public, educators, nature center or zoo program staff, or anyone interested in learning about birds in a self-paced, non-credit bearing environment.Requirements
Due to the rich media of this course, students will need Broadband internet access. Dial-up is strongly discouraged.Enrollment
To register, contact an Enrollment Counselor at info@ecornell.com or 1-866-326-7635 (+1-607-330-3200 from outside the United States).August 29, 2012
October 10, 2012
Click 'Enroll Now' to see available dates beyond October 10, 2012.
Additional Information
Benefits to the Learner
In this course, you will have the opportunity to:- Learn about bird behavior through guided presentations including bird sounds and videos.
- Practice your observation skills through photo and video tutorials designed by behavior researchers.
- Ask your instructor questions and receive feedback.
- Join in online discussions with your classmates.
- Explore case studies about scientists whose observations of birds have led to lifelong careers studying the species that sparked their interest.
Authoring Faculty
Colleen M. McLinn, Ph.D. Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Kevin J. McGowan, Ph.D. Cornell Lab of OrnithologyTotal Learning Time
5 weeksYou May Be Interested In...
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