ENV706. Wildlife Surveys
“A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions.” – Oliver Wendell Holmes
Seventeen spotted salamanders (Ambystoma maculata) were captured and measured during the 2015 Wildlife Survey’s salamander survey.
Course Description
This course introduces students to wildlife survey skills through both classroom lectures and field experiences. We look at the practical application of wildlife surveys in research and management, as well as the limitations and advantages of various field monitoring techniques. Real-world data collection provides structure for the course: Students participate in acoustic bird surveys, salamander monitoring, deer spot-lighting, amphibian calling surveys, small mammal collection, bat counting, and bird-window collision surveys. Guest wildlife professionals assist in the demonstration of some of the survey methods. Lectures address post-data collection processing and additional survey skills. We will also learn the common winter birds, herpetofauna, and mammals of the North Carolina Piedmont. This class complements the skills learned in tools courses such as Fundamentals of GIS, Conservation GIS, Forest Measurements, and Landscape Analysis. This course has achieved Duke’s Green Classroom Certification.
News articles and broadcasts from Wildlife Surveys research projects:
- Duke University’s Bird Window Collision Problem (broadcast on WNCN 17 22 May 2015)
- Duke Chronicle Duke’s Bird Safety (22 May 2015)
Student blog posts about Wildlife Surveys:
- Wonderful World of Wildlife Surveys by Erika Zambello (2014)
- Night and Day at Sandy Creek Park by Erika Zambello (2014)
- Duke Gardens and Wildlife Surveys by Erika Zambello (2014)
- Birding, Lemurs, & Taxidermy by Kati Moore (2015)
- My Wild Life in Wildlife Surveys by Kati Moore (2015)
Interested in resources supporting diversity & inclusion in wildlife fields? Check out these links: