BIRDS OF UTAH SPECIES463 OBJECTIVES 1 Field Identification

BIRDS OF UTAH SPECIES=463

OBJECTIVES Ø 1. Field Identification Ø What kind of bird is that? Ø 2. Understanding birds Ø Ecology-habitat+food+breeding=NICHE Ø Taxonomy-evolutionary relationships

WHAT TO EXPECT Ø Ø Ø Introduction to bird ID. Only experience and independent study can lead to true mastery. Even the most experienced birders see birds they can’t ID. Deductive reasoning skills-learn the possibilities and use process of elimination to ID birds Materials Needed: Ø‘The Sibley Guide to Birds’ �e. Bird �Birds of North America online �utahbirds. org Ø Binoculars

What is a Bird? � Wings and Feathers � Beak-no teeth � Flight � Hallow Bones

Evolution-Archosaurs? Ø Ø Birds Evolved From Theropod Dinosaurs 120 Million Years ago Dinosaurs Ø Warm Blooded Ø Many had Feathers Ø Made nests and cared for young Ø Birds are the only living DINOSAURS! DINOSAURS

Closest Living Relative to Birds!!

Birds Ø 10, 000+ Worldwide Ø Most widespread and diverse terrestrial vertebrates Ø Inhabit every continent and all oceans of the world Ø Occur in nearly every habitat on the planet Ø Have been recorded at 50, 000 ft soaring, and 1000 ft below the ocean!

Flight! Ø Adaption for exploiting temporary resources Ø Allows birds to move long distances in short periods of time efficiently Ø Makes it possible to colonize new areas with suitable habitat quickly

Utah Ø 4 major eco-regions Ø Great Basin Ø Rocky Mountains Ø Colorado Plateau Ø Mojave Desert

Great Basin Ø Ø Basin and Range Broad flat valleys separated by many short, discontinuous by rugged mountain ranges Very arid-in rain shadow of Sierra Nevada Mountains Very little running surface water, however many warm springs create numerous wetlands, but….

GREAT BASIN WETLANDS Ø Ø Many endothermic wetlands as all water in the region cannot drain off into the ocean. This creates a variety of wetlands, from salty to fresh water and from small and seasonal to several huge lakes and marshlands Extremely important migratory stop over for millions of birds, as well as important breeding and wintering habitats

Southern Rocky Mountains Ø Ø Wasatch and Uinta Mountains, plus Mountains and Plateaus of Central Utah Continuous high elevation mountains with diverse montane habitats from Scrub-oak to Alpine Mesic(wet) conditions as mountains collect snow and create summer thunderstorms Many western montane endemic species

Colorado Plateau Ø Ø Ø Surrounded by high mountains, which create many rivers that have cut deep complex canyons Unique geology and arid conditions create many scenic areas and unique flora and fauna Many high elevation plateaus and mountains within the region create surprising diversity of montane forests

Mojave Desert Ø Ø Ø Barely enters Utah in Southwest Corner, part of much larger “Warm Deserts” of Arizona, California, Nevada, Texas, New Mexico and Mexico Surprisingly diverse because of mild subtropical climate, despite harsh arid conditions More species of birds than any other part of Utah, many species reaching their northern most limit here and occur nowhere else in Utah

Bird anatomy and terminology