Meets: Virtually via Internet

Instructor: Dan Tallman,  Tallmand@northern.edu (homepage: http://danerika.googlepages.com/home)

Description: Biology and classification of birds: bird ecology and identification in the field. Lecture-laboratory, six hours per week. Prerequisite: BIOL 153-153L. 4 credits. The prerequisite may be waived for internet students with permission of the instructor. The course is graded on an A through F basis.

Texts:

1. The Ornithology textbook of your choice (Two of the better ones are Welty, J. C. and L. Baptista. 1988. The Life of Birds. W. B. Saunders; and Gill, F. 1995. Ornithology. W. H. Freeman Co., New York) . Both of these books are available through http://www.amazon.com You may also use the CD, Guide to Birds of North America.

2. A field guide to the birds, with approval of the instructor (good choices include the Peterson field guide appropriate to your part of the country or The Sibley Field Guide to North American Birds. Field guides are available at local bookstores and through http://www.amazon.com.

The course will consist of a series of Internet lectures with links to the Internet.. Each student will be required to write a term paper on the natural history of any bird species. Students are asked to submit weekly lists of birds they have identified, as a fulfillment of the laboratory aspect of the class. Also required will be an annotated list of at least 20 Internet sites visited by the student. In addition each student will be required to take three essay exams during the course. 

Student's Responsibilities:

The student is responsible to have access the Internet..

The student must have a personal e-mail account and sufficient proficiency to send and receive files from the instructor.

The student must locate a proctor willing to verify the students identity and monitor tests. (Recommended individuals include faculty or staff of an educational institution, others will be considered on a case by case basis.) Any expenses or fees associated with the work of the proctor will be the student's responsibility.

Students should pay close attention to institutional and financial aid requirements for finishing the course.  Many students on financial aid are required to finish the course in one academic semester.  All students should complete the course within a calendar year of beginning the course.