HOME STUDY ORNITHOLOGY COURSE
"From seabirds to birds of prey - learn more!"
Explore a passion; Discover a hobby, Lay the foundation for a career or Expand your employment opprtunities -Whatever your reason for studying birds, this course is flexible in many ways, providing individualised guidence and feedback from highly qualified and experienced experts.
COURSE STRUCTURE
The course consists of nine lessons.
1. Classification and Introduction to Bird watching.
Nature and scope of ornithology (over 9,000 species)
Place of Birds in Nature
Bird Classification (Aves, Ratitae, Carinate)
Use of common names and scientific names
Fossil or Extinct Birds
Classes and Sub Classes
Comparing characteristics of different Super orders
Comparing characteristics of all major bird Families
Resources for further information
Bird Watching equipment
2. The Biology of Birds.
Anatomical features
Skeleton
Feathers
Feather Colour
Wings
Wing Types (elliptical, high speed, long soaring, high lift)
Legs and Feet
Beaks and Bills
Internal Structure
Excretion
Digestion
Circulation
Senses
Avian Behaviours (Flight, Diving, Reproduction, Courtship, Bonding, Territoriality, Nesting)
Formation of Eggs and Hatching
Feeding
Vocalisations
Migration
Habitats
3. Common and Widespread Land Birds.
Eagles and Relatives … Carthatidae ( New World vultures, condors)
Pandionidae (osprey)
Accipitridae (hawks, eagles, kites)
Sagittariidae (secretary bird)
Falconidae (falcons, caracaras)
Crows and their Relatives
Butcher birds, Currawongs and related birds
Pigeons (structure, feeding, breeding, types)
Doves
Cuckoos
Pest and Introduced Birds (for man countries) … Indian Mynah, Sparrow, Thrush, Starling, etc
4. Giant Birds and Long Legged Birds
Ratitites … Ostrich, Emu, Moa, Rhea, Cassowary, Kiwi, South American Tinamous, extinct giant Elephant bird and Dodo
Herons, Storks and relatives
5. Seabirds and Water birds.
Anseriformes … ducks, geese, swans etc
Gruiformes …cranes, coots, mud hens, rails
Charadriiformes … sandpipers, snipes, curlews, plovers, dotterels, etc
Gaviiformes … divers
Gulls, Skuas, Orks, Puffins, Terns
Tube Nosed Birds
Albatrosses
Petrels, Storm Petrels and Diving Petrels
Pelicans and Relatives
Gannets
Cormorants
Boobies, Frigate Birds, Tropic Birds
Penguins
6. Hunters -Birds of Prey, Owls, and Kingfishers.
7. Passeriformes.
Scope of "songbirds" or "perching birds".
Features common to Passeriformes
Varieties of Passeriformes (Primitive and Advanced)
Muscicapidae … thrush
Robins
Flycatchers, Larks, Pippits, Wingtails
Swallows and Martins; physical characteristics, breeding and nesting
Fringilllidae … finches
8. Other Birds.
9. Attracting, Feeding and Keeping Birds.
How plants benefit birds
Plants that attract birds
Feeding Birds
Bird Care …parasites, catching and handling, caring for a sick bird
Common Ailments
The aim of this course is to introduce the student to the many interesting and diverse bird species, and their physiology and habitats. You will learn a wide variety of things, through a combination of things such as reading, interacting with tutors, undertaking research and practical tasks, including observing birds.
Aims
Discuss the study of birds, including bird taxonomy
Describe anatomical and physical characteristics of birds.
Describe anatomical and physical characteristics of birds.
Discuss a range of different common and widespread land birds.
Discuss a range of different flightless and long legged birds including Ratites and Ciconiiformes.
Discuss and describe a range of water birds and sea birds.
Discuss and describe a range of hunting birds.
Discuss and describe a range of Passeriformes.
Discuss and describe a range of parrots and other birds..
Explain domestication of birds and the methodology and implications of attracting and feeding wild birds.
Duration: 100 hours
EXAMPLES OF WHAT YOU WILL DO IN THIS COURSE
Contact a Birdwatching Club or organisation in your own country, or region of the world, and find out what services and information they offer. You may locate groups on the internet, or listed under clubs and organisations in the Yellow Pages section of your phone book. You could contact them on the phone, or by email, by letter; or by attending a meeting.
Write a brief history of the evolution of birds (150-300 words). Include mention of species that have become extinct and give reasons as to why you think this occurred.
Discuss the breeding cycle of one particular bird species (of your own choosing). Identify any traits or behavioural patterns that are unique to this species
Select 6 different birds from groups studied in this lesson, and research each different bird using any resources you have available to you, such as textbooks, the internet, libraries, etc. Write a paragraph describing each of the six birds you selected, giving a detailed description of their external appearance, together with details of their distribution, structure, feeding habits and breeding. If possible, focus on any birds from each group that inhabit or regularly migrate to your region.
Frequently Asked Questions
See http://www.acsedu.co.uk/Info/Advice/Frequently-Asked-Questions.aspx or read on.
Who are our tutors?
Our tutors are all highly experienced and professional, knowledgeable in their field of study. We have staff from around the world, enabling us to gain a wide variety of perspectives. We have a school in the UK and in Australia. If you would like to have a look at our tutors, then click on the “The School” in the boxes above and choose “The Staff” option.
Sample Course Notes
Our courses are all written by highly qualified tutors and writers, who also teach on the courses, so know them well. We strive to update our courses and improve them with new information, methods and knowledge on an ongoing basis. If you would like to see examples of some of our courses, then choose the “Enrolment” option above, and then click on “Sample Course Notes”.
What learning method should I choose?
We offer three learning methods – e-learning, correspondence and online. If you are not sure which is the right choose for you, then click on the “Enrolment” box above, then “Learning Methods.”
How Long will it take to complete the course?
This obviously varies from student to student. Some students will have more time for study than others. Some students may work quicker than others, so it is an individual thing. We estimate that most students will take, for example, 4 – 6 months to complete a 100 hour individual module, but we allow up to 12 months for you to complete it.
Longer courses will obviously take longer. You can find more information on the length of time required and so on the “Enrolment” box, then selecting “Terms and Conditions of Enrolment.”
What Do Our Students think of us?
If you would like to read comments from our previous students, then choose the “Enrolment” option above, then “Student Testimonials”.
I don’t think this is the right course for me.
If you’re not sure about this course, then why not look at our wide range of other courses. Click on the “Courses” box above.
You may also wish to design your own course to fit in with exactly what YOU want. To do so, click on the “Enrolment” box, then “Design your Own Course”.
If you would like more advice on a course, then you can contact us and ask a tutor about the courses. You can contact us by calling 0800 328 4723 or +44(0) 384 442752 or emailing info@acsedu.co.uk
Recognition and Accreditation
For more information on our recognition and accreditation, click on “The School”, then “Recognition”.
Who is ACS Distance Education?
If you want to know more about ACS and our history, then please click on “The School”, then “About us.”
"From seabirds to birds of prey - learn more!"
Learn to identify and understand the habits of different birds, from water birds and parrots, to town birds and birds of prey.
Develop your passion for this fascinating field of study; and lay a foundation for lifelong learning.
