Bird Ecology and Conservation WF-OB-SUBE

Lecture:
1. The organization of classes. What is the breeding ecology of birds. Basic concepts of ecology and behavior of birds. Conservation issues for birds.
2. Methods of field work with birds – ethical and legal issues, safety in the field
3. Bird census or surveys – why do we count birds?
4. Biology and ecology of breeding birds - the methods of field research
5. Why and how do we catch birds, handling
6. Why do we band birds - metal rings and colour bands and other methods of individual marking
7. Why do we take blood, methods of collection and preservation
8. Diet and foraging – the methods of feeding ecology research
9. Habitat selection and nest-site selection – the methods of field research
10. Behavioural research of birds - what can we observed in the field?
11. Conservation management of endangered birds
12. Habitat management
13. Life in the colonies of gulls and terns
14. Active protection of gulls and terns at the middle Vistula River - a case study
15. Summary of the course
Laboratory:
During exercises two field excursions within the Vistula River Valley are planned (near Łomna and in Warsaw) to compare bird species diversity between country and urban landscapes; or parks and urban forests.

Lecture:
1. The organization of classes. What is the breeding ecology of birds. Basic concepts of ecology and behavior of birds. Conservation issues for birds.
2. Methods of field work with birds – ethical and legal issues, safety in the field
3. Bird census or surveys – why do we count birds?
4. Biology and ecology of breeding birds - the methods of field research
5. Why and how do we catch birds, handling
6. Why do we band birds - metal rings and colour bands and other methods of individual marking
7. Why do we take blood, methods of collection and preservation
8. Diet and foraging – the methods of feeding ecology research
9. Habitat selection and nest-site selection – the methods of field research
10. Behavioural research of birds - what can we observed in the field?
11. Conservation management of endangered birds
12. Habitat management
13. Life in the colonies of gulls and terns
14. Active protection of gulls and terns at the middle Vistula River - a case study
15. Summary of the course
Laboratory:
During exercises two field excursions within the Vistula River Valley are planned (near Łomna and in Warsaw) to compare bird species diversity between country and urban landscapes; or parks and urban forests.

1. The organization of classes. What is the breeding ecology of birds. Basic concepts of ecology and behavior of birds. Conservation issues for birds.
2. Methods of field work with birds – ethical and legal issues, safety in the field
3. Bird census or surveys – why do we count birds?
4. Biology and ecology of breeding birds - the methods of field research
5. Why and how do we catch birds, handling
6. Why do we band birds - metal rings and colour bands and other methods of individual marking
7. Why do we take blood, methods of collection and preservation
8. Diet and foraging – the methods of feeding ecology research
9. Habitat selection and nest-site selection – the methods of field research
10. Behavioural research of birds - what can we observed in the field?
11. Conservation management of endangered birds
12. Habitat management
13. Life in the colonies of gulls and terns
14. Active protection of gulls and terns at the middle Vistula River - a case study
15. Summary of the course

The lecture focuses mainly on breeding season of birds. Students will be acquainted with several techniques that can be useful in the field and help to manage conservation projects. They will be acquainted with the ethical and legal aspects of working with birds in the field; with the risks associated with field work and the safety principles. At the end we will focus on some examples of the bird conservation management as well as the habitat management. A case study for the Middle Vistula River will be presented. Students will become familiar with scientific literature on biology, ecology and bird conservation, practicing their English language skills in this field.

Lecture:
1. W. J. Sutherland, I. Newton, R. Green. 2004. Bird Ecology and Conservation: A Handbook of Techniques. Oxford UP
2. Williams D.R., Pople R.G., Showler D.A., Dicks L.V., Child M.F., Erasmus K.H.J. zu Ermgassen E.K.H.J., Sutherland W.J. 2013. Bird Conservation: Global evidence for the effects of interventions. Exeter, Pelagic Publishing.
3. Perrins C.M., Lebreton J.D., Hirons G.J.M. 1991. Bird Population Studies. Relevance to Conservation and management. Oxford University Press.
Articles concerning the birds’ ecology research, bird behaviour studies and active protection of birds
Laboratory:
Articles concerning the birds’ ecology research, bird behaviour studies and active protection of birds
For field trips:
Bruun B.1970. Birds of Europe. McGraw-Hill Book Company or other field guide for European birds
Articles concerning the birds’ ecology, bird diversity in rural and urban environments, in parks and urban forests

Lecture:
1. W. J. Sutherland, I. Newton, R. Green. 2004. Bird Ecology and Conservation: A Handbook of Techniques. Oxford UP
2. Williams D.R., Pople R.G., Showler D.A., Dicks L.V., Child M.F., Erasmus K.H.J. zu Ermgassen E.K.H.J., Sutherland W.J. 2013. Bird Conservation: Global evidence for the effects of interventions. Exeter, Pelagic Publishing.
3. Perrins C.M., Lebreton J.D., Hirons G.J.M. 1991. Bird Population Studies. Relevance to Conservation and management. Oxford University Press.
Articles concerning the birds’ ecology research, bird behaviour studies and active protection of birds
Laboratory:
Articles concerning the birds’ ecology research, bird behaviour studies and active protection of birds
For field trips:
Bruun B.1970. Birds of Europe. McGraw-Hill Book Company or other field guide for European birds
Articles concerning the birds’ ecology, bird diversity in rural and urban environments, in parks and urban forests

1. W. J. Sutherland, I. Newton, R. Green. 2004. Bird Ecology and Conservation: A Handbook of Techniques. Oxford UP
2. Williams D.R., Pople R.G., Showler D.A., Dicks L.V., Child M.F., Erasmus K.H.J. zu Ermgassen E.K.H.J., Sutherland W.J. 2013. Bird Conservation: Global evidence for the effects of interventions. Exeter, Pelagic Publishing.
3. Perrins C.M., Lebreton J.D., Hirons G.J.M. 1991. Bird Population Studies. Relevance to Conservation and management. Oxford University Press.
Articles concerning the birds’ ecology research, bird behaviour studies and active protection of birds

Williams D.R., Pople R.G., Showler D.A., Dicks L.V., Child M.F., Erasmus K.H.J. zu Ermgassen E.K.H.J., Sutherland W.J. 2013. Bird Conservation: Global evidence for the effects of interventions. Exeter, Pelagic Publishing.

Bukaciński D., Bukacińska M. 2015.Key Species of Waders on the Middle Vistula River: biology, ecology, conservation and occurrence. Monographs. STOP, Warsaw, 128 s.
Bukaciński D., Bukacińska M., Buczyński A. 2018. Threats and the active protection of birds in a riverbed: postulates for the strategy of the preservation of the middle Vistula River avifauna. Studia Ecologiae et Bioethicae 16: 5-23
Bukacińska M., D. Bukaciński. 1993. The effect of habitat structure and nest density on territory size and territorial behaviour in the black headed gull (Larus ridibundus). Ethology 94: 306 316.
Bukaciński D., Bukacińska M. 1993. Colony site and nest site selection in the Black headed Gull (Larus ridibundus) at the middle course of the Vistula River. Ring 15: 208-215.
Bukaciński D., Bukacińska M., Spaans A.L. 1998. Experimental evidence for the relationship between food supply, parental effort and chick survival in the Lesser Black backed Gulls Larus fuscus. Ibis 140: 422-430.

Other articles concerning the birds’ ecology research, bird behaviour studies and active protection of birds

basic knowledge of zoology and ecology of animals, knowledge of English terms in the field of zoology and ecology