Species Monitoring and Conservation: Migratory Birds
- The biology of migratory birds, including their ecology, evolution, and diversity
- The development of hypotheses and appropriate predictions for addressing questions about migratory birds and their populations
- Proper field techniques for mist-netting, measuring, and banding live birds
- Appropriate analytical procedures for field and lab data collected from migratory bird populations, including mark-recapture, distance sampling, and tracking data
- Preparation of bird study skins for long-term curated storage in a natural history collection
- Central issues in conserving and managing migratory bird populations, and the areas of greatest research need
Participants must be familiar with basics of programming in R and should have completed college-level courses in General Biology, Introductory Statistics, and Ornithology.
- Dates
September 17 – 28, 2018
- Available Formats
Graduate (CONS 630, 3 credits)
Professional Training (MCCS 0528, 8.8 CEUs)- Cost
Graduate: $2516 – $3279.50 | See Mason’s graduate tuition rates
Professional Training: $2025 – 2,925.50*
*Includes registration, lodging, and meals
- Deadlines
Apply by June 9, 2018 for first consideration
Payment Deadline: July 23, 2018
Meet the Faculty
Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center
Curriculum
Migratory birds travel annually between breeding and wintering locations, often covering thousands of kilometers. The biology behind these behaviors encompasses some of the most complex and exciting, yet least understood phenomena known to science. Understanding the links between these seasonal events can have important implications for population dynamics, as well as conservation and management strategies.
This 2-week course capitalizes on the research and expertise of scientists from the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center at SCBI, who will lead field sessions and lectures. Regular morning mist-netting sessions will increase your familiarity with capture and handling of birds, while substantial computer time will focus on key analytical approaches in R, including distance sampling, survival estimation, and tracking analysis.
The research programs of the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center at SCBI cover the ecology and evolution of migration, migratory connectivity, breeding and non-breeding life history, population dynamics, and the ecological services that migratory birds provide. This course is designed to teach conservation professionals and field scientists the most current methods in the research of bird migration, including theoretical concepts, field and laboratory methods, data analysis, and applied conservation strategies.
What’s Included
Total cost includes:
- Instruction, course manual, and other course materials
- Airport pick-up and drop-off shuttle service at Dulles International Airport (IAD) at pre-arranged times. We do not provide ground transportation shuttle service to or from any other airports in the Washington, DC, region
- Transportation for course activities
- Daily full-service buffet at the SMSC Dining Commons.
- Housing at the SMSC Residential Facility, including a shared room with bathroom (single rooms available at extra cost)
Acceptance does not guarantee you a seat in the course. Seats are allocated as registration payments are received, and early registration is strongly encouraged to ensure you get a spot.
Interested in Commuting?
Due to early morning and late evening field activities, commuting to this course is not encouraged. With the course coordinator’s written approval in advance of registration/payment, local participants may elect to stay off campus and commute. Meals in the Dining Commons can then be purchased individually as needed.
