TTC Video - The National Geographic Guide to Birding in North America

TTC Video - The National Geographic Guide to Birding in North America
.MP4, AVC, 1280x720, 30 fps | English, AAC, 2 Ch | 12h 31m | 12.2 GB
Lecturer: James Currie, Safari Guide National Geographic | Course No. 7782

• the essentials of bird anatomy and taxonomy, and how this knowledge helps you critically in the field;
  
• a thorough study of how to identify birds, plus related topics such as birding by ear, and birding at night;
  
• key optical equipment for birding, highlighting binoculars and spotting scopes, and how to use them; and
  
• the exciting activity of locating, approaching, and observing birds in the field.
  

• Bird Identification–In building bird identification skills, learn to recognize orders, families, and species of birds by specific physical characteristics, such as their shape or silhouette, size, color, and anatomical features; additionally, study many other factors which aid in the challenges of identification, encompassing birds' flight patterns, habitats, geographic ranges, feeding habits, and more;
  
• The Roles and Dazzling Variety of Bird Plumage–Investigate the functions and different types of bird feathers and plumage variations; observe how many species pass through multiple plumage phases within their lifetime; how others undergo radical seasonal changes in plumage; and how evolution produces the shimmering colors of species such as the green jay, the eared quetzal, and the roseate spoonbill;
  
• The Extraordinary Phenomenon of Birdsong—Learn how to recognize bird calls, and about the astonishing ways birds vocalize to communicate; discover how many melodic bird songs are actually "boasts"; how some birds have a repertoire of different alarm calls; and how specific species actually develop regional "dialects";
  
• Avian Migration—Study the remarkable story of migration, as it manifests in numerous bird species; investigate awe-inspiring examples, from the 25,000-mile seasonal flight of the arctic tern to the spring roosting in Nebraska of half a million sandhill cranes;
  
• The Marvel of Bird Behavior—Grasp how knowledge of bird behavior aids identification; take account of striking behavioral features such as the western grebe's dramatic, synchronized mating ritual; the white pelican's group "herding" of fish; and the mockingbird's ability to learn over 200 different songs, mimicking other species and environmental sounds;
  
• Encountering Birds in the Field—Learn key field methods for observing birds; stealth techniques for tracking and approaching birds; ways to attract birds by mimicking bird calls and predators; and how to bring birds into your own yard or surroundings.