Intro to Ornithology

1. Intro to Ornithology Crystal Matthews Curator of Birds and Quarantine Supervisor Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center

2. Taxonomy • Classification by hierarchical system • Each species has its own two word scientific name --binomial nomenclature developed by Linnaeus • Example: American Crow • Kingdom: Animalia • Phylum: Chordata • Class: Aves • Order: Passeriformes • Family: Corvidae (Crows, Ravens, Jays, Magpies) • Genus: Corvus (Crows and Ravens) • Species Corvusbrachyrhynchos(always underline or italicized) • “King Philip Came Over For Good Spaghetti” • Classification in N.A. by AOU pub. 7th edition Checklist of North American Birds (1998)

3. Diversity of Birds in Virginia • About 380 bird species found in Virginia • Types of birds found in Virginia • Gaviiformes –loons=3 • Podicipediformes-grebes=5 • Procellariiformes- shearwaters, petrels, fulmars=11 • Pelicaniformes- pelicans, herons, egrets, ibis=16

4. Diversity of Birds in Virginia • Types of birds found in Virginia: • Ciconiiformes: storks=1 • Suliformes-cormorants, anhingas, gannets=5 • Phoenicopteriformes- flamingos=1 • Anseriformes- waterfowl (ducks, geese, swans)=37 • Accipitriformes- kites, eagles, hawks, vultures, osprey=16

5. Diversity of Birds in Virginia • Types of birds found in Virginia: • Galliformes- turkeys, quail and grouse=3 • Gruiformes- cranes, rails, coots and gallinules=10 • Charadriiformes- plovers, oystercatchers, stilts, avocets, sandpipers, skuas, jaegars, gulls, terns, skimmers, auks, murres and puffins=102 • Columbiformes- pigeons and doves=5

6. Diversity of Birds in Virginia • Types of birds found in Virginia: • Cuculiformes- cuckoos=2 • Strigiformes- owls=8 • Caprimulgiformes- nighthawks and nightjars=3 • Apodiformes- swifts and hummingbirds=3

7. Diversity of Birds in Virginia • Types of birds found in Virginia: • Coraciiformes- kingfishers=1 • Piciformes- woodpeckers=8 • Falconiformes- falcons=3 • Passeriformes- perching birds-flycatchers, vireos, jays, swallows, chickadees, warblers, thrushes, cardinals, sparrows, blackbirds, finches=159

8. Distribution of Birds in Virginia • Virginia is divided into 3 physiographic areas • Coastal Plain- Atlantic Ocean, Eastern Shore, Chesapeake Bay to the fall line • Piedmont-area west of the fall line to mountains • Mountains and Valleys- Blue Ridge and Appalachian mts, Shenandoah Valley and Appalachian Plateau

9. Distribution of Birds in Virginia • Coastal Plain: • Loons and Grebes • Waterfowl • Osprey • Herons • Shorebirds • Gulls and Terns • Pelicans • Pelagic Birds • Songbirds

10. Distribution of Birds in Virginia • Piedmont Region: • Barn Owl • Short-eared Owl • Northern Bobwhite • Whip-poor-will • Loggerhead Shrike • Eastern Meadowlarks • Prairie Warblers

11. Distribution of Birds in Virginia • Mountain and Valley Region • Peregrine Falcon • Ruffed Grouse • Northern Rough-winged Swallow • Rose-breasted Grosbeak • Black-throated Blue Warbler • Chestnut-sided Warbler

12. Natural History of Birds • Habitat- marshes, grasslands, forests, mountains • Foraging- what do they eat and how do they obtain-gleen leaves for insects, seed eaters, predators • Breeding-courtship, mating and nesting, raising young—chicks altricial or precocial • Flight- soar, fast, bursting flight, open areas, dense areas • Vocalization-songsand calls • Migration- long distance, short distance, timing, irruptions

13. Basic Biology • Characteristics of Birds • Vertebrates • Endothermic (warm-blooded) • Lay hard shelled eggs • Most capable of flight • Most efficient respiratory system of vertebrates • Highly developed eyesight—larger and sharper images and they see in color • Hollow bones—unique to birds • Feathers—unique to birds—made of keratin, molt

14. Basic Biology • Parts of a Bird

15. Adaptations • Bill Types

16. Adaptations • Wing Shapes • High speed wings—falcons, swallow, tern • Slotted high-lift wings—eagles, red-tailed hawks—static soaring • High-aspect-ratio wings-albatross- Soaring • Elliptical wings- crow, quail, sparrow- maneuvering in dense vegetation

17. Adaptations • Foot types

18. Roles of Birds in VA Ecosystems • Pollinators • Seed dispersal • Reservoirs for host specific parasites • Predators • Prey • Scavengers • Environmental engineers

19. Threats to Birds in VA • Habitat destruction • Habitat fragmentation • Climate change • Increase in predatory populations due to human impacts • Pollution—oil spills, pesticides, entanglement in garbage • Fishing nets, long-line by-catch • Glass collisions/communication towers/wind turbines

20. Birds as Bioindicators • Brown Pelicans— 70’s Pesticide DDT—egg shell thinning • Northern Bobwhite—declining population due to change in land usage—need early succession habitat—mgmt prescribed burning and mowing maintain fields • Osprey—determine health of waterways—near future studies look at mercury levels and prescription drug levels • Kentucky Warbler--population declines can be attributed to the overpopulation of white-tailed deer

21. Identifying Birds • Four Key Characteristics • Size and shape • Use sizes of birds familiar with—house sparrow, robin, crow • Become familiar with silhouettes • Color Pattern • Light and Dark, Faint and Bold, Outrageous color • Behavior • Posture, movement, feeding style, flock • Spend time observing birds • Habitat • Salt Marsh, Deciduous forest, Grassland • Geographic range and time of year

22. Studying Birds • Amateur studies: binoculars, spotting scopes, field guides, life history books, journals, life lists, participate in citizen science projects like Project FeederWatch, OspreyWatch, patience • Ornithologists: mist nests and other traps to capture and band birds, transmitters, extensive observations, population counts, nest monitoring, monitor chick survival, laboratory studies, publish work in scientific journals