2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog

EESC 483 Ornithology Field Methods - Geese and Waterfowl

Students will participate in banding waterfowl such as Ross's Geese, lesser Snow Geese, Canada Geese and Common Eiders, approved by BBL, USFWS and CWS. There will be opportunities to partner with Canadian agencies conducting research on nesting densities, peak hatch, survival rates, etc. Eider and Lesser Snow Goose research will be conducted at LA Perouse Bay field research station on Cape Churchill Peninsula. Students will be part of a long-term study (>50 years) of Lesser Snow Geese and Common Eiders. Course may be repeated.

Credits

2

Prerequisite

Majors: Admission to program, Non-Majors: Instructor permission

Offered

Summer

Student Learning Outcomes

  1. Students will become familiar with all aspects of banding waterfowl including the code of ethics and discussing banding with the public.
  2. Students will be familiar with identification of common waterfowl and species-specific nest site attributes.
  3. Students will gain experience in band placement, band correction, recording and reporting involved in bird banding.
  4. Students will gain experience in identifying and locating target species nests.