Ornithology Lab. Name____________________________ Due Date_________
Ornithology is the study of
birds.
Birds belong to the Animal Kingdom just as we do, meaning that
they are
not Plants, Fungi, Protists or Monera. Birds are classified in
the Phylum
Chordate (they have a back bone and/or a notochord) and their Class
is
Aves, meaning that birds are a group of creatures sharing common
characteristics all their own, such as feathers. Their Order
and Family
will vary depending on the bird and you will list the Genus and
species
of each of the birds you observe as part of your data.
This lab will help you practice your observation
skills
using real live creatures under field conditions. You will
observe the
great diversity of birds and record your observations. You will
also
create a data chart and use the bird field guides to identify and learn
more
about the 25 species you observe. You must use a bird field
guide as
you observe the birds in order to count them as your 25 data
species.
Procedure:
1. Observe 25 species of wild MT birds. On the field trip, you
must
individually confirm each observation with your teacher.
You must make these observations after the
lab has started with a bird book in hand.
2. Make a chart (be creative, have fun!) or use the chart provided to
record your data and information about each species of bird observed.
3. Your chart will include the following data and information:
-number the species (1-25) in order
-date of observation
-book used and page number (s) including map #, of bird
-common name
-scientific name (do not forget to underline! or if
typed, italicize!!)
[or loose 25 points!!]
-location and habitat observed
-description of birds behavior
-Migrates out of Montana?: Y = yes the bird completely
migrates
out of Montana, and N = no the bird
does not completely migrate out of Montana
(i.e.. at least part of its winter range occurs in Montana).
Hypothesis: Where (in what habitat) do you think, will
you find
the most birds and why?
Data: see chart.
Results: (what
happened?)
Discussion Items: [answer
in Discussion with at least 5 complete sentences for each].
1. Yours: (you write one)
2. List 10
characteristics that the class Aves share, that all other types of animals
do not posses (hint: feathers is acceptable because only birds have
them but,
wings are not because insects and bats also have wings).
3. Give the bibliographical (source) entry for the field guide you used
(using
MLA). Describe why you feel this was a useful/not useful guide
for this
lab.
4. List and describe each of the five Kingdoms of life [a, pl, f, pr
and m].
Use your class textbook.
5. Describe how you would do this lab differently if you were the
teacher (or
why you would leave it the same).
6. For two different birds of your choice from your data
list/describe:
1) the field guide you used, 2) the pages the bird was listed on, 3)
the Genus,
common and scientific names, 4) describe the bird, 5) draw the
range of
the bird, 6) describe the call of the bird, and 7) several interesting
facts
about this bird and/or its Genus.
Scoring:
Hypothesis.................._____/2pts.
Discussion Item..........._____/2
Data............................_____/50pts. (Don’t
forget to italicize! -25 if not...)
Results........................._____/2
Discussion items answered in 5 or more complete sentences
1)................................._____/3pts.
2)................................._____/5
3)................................._____/3
4)................................._____/5
5)................................._____/3
6)................................._____/8
Conclusion...................._____/2pts. (6
sentence minimum)
Total Score..................._____/85pts.
Discussion and
Conclusion: on your own paper,
attached to this lab.