Ornithology and Diversity in Birding

Christian Cooper and J. Drew Lanham

  • Christian Cooper: A black birder whose story highlights challenges faced by people of color in nature after a confrontation with a woman threatening to call the police on him.

  • J. Drew Lanham: Another black birder, known for the "Rules for Black Birders" which includes:

    • Never bird in a hoodie.
    • Always carry three forms of ID.
    • Be prepared to be confused with other black birders.

Bird Naming and Colonialism

  • Current bird naming systems often rooted in colonialism.
  • Proposal by the American Ornithology Society to change names linked to problematic historical figures.
  • Emphasis on making birding more inclusive and welcoming for everyone.

Perception of Bird Color

  • Monotone and darker-colored birds (e.g., black birds) tend to receive less public attention compared to brightly colored counterparts.

Inclusivity in Ornithology

  • Importance of creating spaces for people of color in nature, both with and without white people.

Key Ornithological Terms

  • Zugunruhe: Migratory restlessness, internal urge to migrate.
  • Entrain: Getting pulled off course.
  • Circadian Rhythm: Biological clock for a 24-hour period.
  • Circannual Rhythm: Biological clock for a year-long period.
  • Photoperiod: Duration of light exposure affecting organism functions.
  • Photorefractory Period: Decreased photoperiod affecting breeding cycles and molting.
  • External Coincidence Model: Birds use light and time to maintain their biological clocks.

Bird Behavior and Energetics

  • Energetically Expensive Activities: Molting, migration, reproduction.
  • Temporal Separation: Seasonal differences affect birds in temperate versus tropical habitats.
  • Natural Circadian Cycle: Slightly longer than 24 hours, around 25 hours.

Circadian and Circannual Patterns

  • Disruptions from constant light lead to random behavioral patterns in birds.
  • Photorefractory Period: Important for behavioral and physiological changes throughout the year.

Reproductive Strategies

  • Capital Breeder vs Income Breeder:
    • Capital breeders arrive at breeding grounds with all fat reserves.
    • Income breeders feed while caring for their young.

Egg and Nesting Strategies

  • Altricial: Young cannot survive independently at birth; require extensive parental care.
  • Precocial: Young ready to leave the nest soon after hatching.
  • Brood Parasites: Lay eggs in the nests of other species to have them raised.
  • Use of various navigation cues:
    • Geographic Navigation, Olfactory Navigation, Solar Navigation, Geomagnetic Navigation, Stellar Navigation.
    • Cryptochrome: Light-sensitive protein aiding navigation.

Hatching and Nestling Care

  • Factors contributing to hatching synchrony or asynchrony.
  • Strategies employed for brood reduction (survival of the fittest).

Parental Investment Conflicts

  • The trade-off between feeding nestlings and ensuring future breeding success.
  • Tissue Allocation Hypothesis: Energy distribution varies based on developmental needs during early life stages.