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Science and Nature

Song Bird Census: Fieldtrip

Course Times & Enrolment

This course is currently unavailable.

Course Summary

Birds have evolved incredible vocal repertoires that are a delight to listen to. In this short field trip, you will learn how to identify song birds by listening to the nature of their call. Using scientific field techniques, you will carry out a census of song birds at a local field site during the breeding season.

This field trip involves listening for song birds whilst walking on uneven surfaces for distances of up to 2 km.

Course Details

Pre-requisites for enrolment

The course is designed to suit anyone with an interest in birds, from beginners to those wishing to deepen their knowledge in avian diversity, evolution, behaviour, ecology and conservation.

Set your alarm! For this course, you’ll need to be an early bird!

Special Information

Suitable outdoor clothing, drinking water, binoculars, watch, torch, notebook and pencil.

Content of Course

At the field site, you will be walking along a line transect and identifying garden birds by song and sight. You’ll learn how to accurately record data in order to carry out a Song Bird Census.

Teaching method(s)

Working with your fellow students, you will become conservation scientists, gathering data to record the presence of songbirds.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this course, students will be able to:

  • Recognise the importance of monitoring wild birds;

  • Explain why a line transect is a suitable method for monitoring song birds.

Sources

Web Sources

Before arriving on the fieldtrip, you might find it useful to listen to some of the songs of common UK woodland birds, available on the following websites:

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2019/04/identify-bird-song

https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/identify-a-bird

Queries

If you have questions regarding the course or enrolment, please contact COL Reception at Paterson's Land by email or by phone 0131 650 4400.

Student support

If you have a disability, learning difficulty or health condition which may affect your studies, please let us know by ticking the 'specific support needs' box on your course application form. This will allow us to make appropriate adjustments in advance and in accordance with your rights under the Equality Act 2010. For more information please visit the Student Support section of our website.