Coastal Birds Written Exam

John James Audubon

Ornithologist who planned to paint all bird species of North America

Importance of Birds to Humans

Economics, health, safety

Pittman-Robertson Fund

tax on hunting equipment that helps fund birding, hunting, etc. opportunities

Culture and Art

Symbolism, Poetry, Music

Robert McArthur and E.O. Wilson: Theory of Island Biology

the bigger an island and closer to mainland, the more species there is

Regulating Services

Seed dispersal, pollination, pest control, scavenging

Larder Hoarders

Keeps food supplies all in one place

Scatter Hoarders

Scatters food supplies

Supporting Services

Nutrient Dynamics, Ecosystem Engineering

Bird Watching

Largest group of ecotourists

Bird Watching Benefits

Commodification, increased value of locales, bird-watching guides

Bird Watching Problems

disturbance, indirect impacts

Bird Species Worldwide

10900

Bird Species in North America

2185

Bird Species in Alabama

439

Bird Orders in Alabama

22

Bird Families in Alabama

65

Uropygial Gland

secretes waterproof oil

Calamus

hollow beginning of feather

Vane

outer part of feather

Rachis

middle hard part of feather

Barbules

tiny velcro-like ends of barbs

Barb

hair-like strands of a feather

Vaned Flight Feathers (Primaries)

flight

Contour Feathers

thermoregulation, camo, smooths body

Down Feathers

thermoregulation

Semiplume Feathers

thermoregulation, sensory mode

Filoplume Feathers

sensory mode

Bristle Feathers

sensory mode

Regimes (Primary & Secondary)

flight feathers

Rectrices

tail feathers

Bones

pneumatized (air filled)

Keeled Sternum

sternum protrudes outwards

Synsacrum

fused lower spine

Phalaropes

reversed sexual dimorphism

Pin Feathers

grows folded sheath-like

Uncinate Process

backwards pointing extention on the ribs

Main Flight Muscles

Pectoralis Major & Minor

Bernoulli’s Principle

slower moving air pushes under the wing with greater force than the fast moving air above the wing creating lift

4 Forces of Flight

Thrust, Lift, Drag, Weight

Migrant Benefits

Increased reproductive performance, increased survival

Extrinsic Factors

weather, time, accessibility, evolutionary history

Intrinsic Factors

food, predators, competition, parasites & disease

Lack of teeth

reduces overall body weight to aid in flight

Fused Bones

creates a lightweight yet rigid framework for flight

Keeled Sternum

serves as primary anchor for flight muscles

Centralized Body Mass

enhances arial stability and flight efficiency