Upper Level Biology students in Dr. Clay Corbin’s Ornithology course, took a camping trip over the weekend of September 29th through October 1st.
Corbin’s course is concentrated on the scientific study of birds and Conservation Ornithology this semester. Students are finding primary literature, leading discussions with said articles and creating their own research projects. The course highlights a field component, a laboratory component and a lecture/discussion.
“Birds are indicators of ecosystem health and conspicuous models for studies of ecology and evolution,” Corbin said. “Hence, studying birds can give us insight to most other disciplines of biology.”
The camping trip was set at Pocomoke River State Park in Snow Hill Maryland. Dr. Corbin, along with ten of his students pitched tents and went “birding” or watching and identifying different types of birds. The trip included different location stops to discover birds and learn about the areas in which they habitat and why.
“While on the way to our campsite on Friday, we stopped at Bombay Hook National Wildlife refuge [located in Smyrna, Delaware], where we saw many resident and migrant birds,” Corbin said. “At night we surveyed owls around the camp where we stayed.”
Students who attended were able to detect an Eastern Screech Owl, a Barred Owl and a Great Horned Owl by using call methods.
“On Saturday we drove to Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge [Virginia] and Assateague National Seashore [Maryland],” Corbin continued. “Sunday, we stopped at Cape Henlopen State Park [Delaware] where we hiked back a dune habitat down to Gordon Lake. We had excellent observations at this location, foraging Herons, Egrets and Ibis.”
Maya Berger, a senior Biology major, was one of the ten students who set up camp.
According to Berger, in total, the class observed over 50 different species of birds while visiting the refuges and national parks.
“I felt like a kid on Christmas when spotting all the interesting birds.I got to see many different types of birds I never thought I would see,” Berger said. “It was also a great way to bond with my fellow classmates and professor. I would love to go on this trip again to see what else we can observe.”
