Ornithology
The Ornithology ( ancient Greek ὄρνῑθ- órnῑth- , strain of ὄρνις Ornis , Bird, 'and λόγος lógos , teaching') or Ornithology is the branch of zoology that deals with the birds concerned (Aves), with around ten thousand species one of the most biodiverse Forming classes of vertebrates . Ornithology includes physiology , taxonomy , ecology and research into the behavior (including calls and migratory behavior) of birds. A special area of work is the investigation of bird migration , for example with the help of ringing . In Germany at least in the 20th century, the history of scientific ornithology is closely linked to bird protection and nature conservation .
In ornithology, in addition to full-time scientists, there are also numerous amateur ornithologists who have made and still make significant contributions to the understanding of the biology of individual species , species groups or regional faunas.
Fields of work in ornithology
In ornithology there are a large number of fields of work and research. In the field of the systematics and taxonomy of birds one deals with the establishment and revision of the ornithological systematics, taxonomy and cladistics . Systematic sequences, groupings and lists of species should reflect current knowledge of natural development ( phylogenesis ) and relationship. The systematics of birds has long been uncertain and is still controversial today, especially with regard to the relationship to the related class of reptiles . The methods developed from morphology , molecular biology and DNA hybridization to the DNA sequencing used today . This research area also includes the museological organization of ornithological museums, where the theoretical bases and practical procedures, methods, techniques and aids are usually available.
The research area of palaeornithology deals, among other things, with fossils and the evolution and development of birds as well as with the origin of bird flight and brood care .
Further fields of work and research deal with the anatomy and physiology of birds and their behavior as well as with the various bird flight techniques.
Applied ornithology deals with the use of birds, such as bird farms in the food industry , birds in business, for example the trade in birds, imports and exports or the use as carrier pigeons . Another branch is veterinary medicine , where bird diseases and their prevention and cure are researched.
Avi faunistics and ecology as well as nature conservation and bird protection are other important areas of work . Bird populations and their dynamics are researched here, the results of which are incorporated into the theoretical and practical application of bird protection. This involves measures that are suitable for the conservation, promotion or settlement of birds.
History and organization of ornithology
In the 13th century wrote Emperor Frederick II. With De arte venandi cum avibus ( "chasing On the art with birds"), a textbook on falconry and ornithology.
One of the larger printed works on ornithology was created by Conrad Gessner at the end of the 16th century . Johann Friedrich Naumann (1780–1857) from Köthen (Anhalt) is considered the founder of ornithology in Europe with his 12-volume main work " Natural History of the Birds of Germany " (1820–1844). This basis of modern ornithology describes and classifies all field , forest and water birds in the Duchy of Anhalt and beyond.
Even Christian Ludwig Brehm (1787-1864), known as the "Bird's Pastor" and father of Alfred Brehm , contributed in the middle of the 19th century with its collection of 9,000 copies much on the taxonomy of birds. These experiences and the son's expedition results were also included in the 10-volume standard zoological encyclopedia of Brehms Tierleben .
Bernard Altum (1824–1900) was the first to formulate a theory of territory formation in birds and their territorial behavior , whereby he also took into account the function of bird song .
Hans Freiherr von Berlepsch (1857–1933) founded scientific bird protection. He systematically optimized artificial nest boxes with regard to the microclimate and the reduction of pollution and damage caused by water and proposed the creation of bird protection trees.
Ornithology organizations
- German Ornithological Society
- American Ornithologists' Union
- British Ornithologists' Union
- Society for Tropical Ornithology
- Ornithological museums (Hanover, Köthen and others)
- Ornithological departments at natural science museums
- Ornithological departments at University - Institutes of Zoology
- Ornithological departments of zoological gardens
- Bird parks (Marlow, Walsrode)
- Bird observatories , projects in nature parks or national parks
- EU and state nature conservation
- Ornithological associations , bird zoological societies such as BirdLife or the umbrella organization of the respective state
Eminent ornithologists
- Bernard Altum
- John James Audubon
- Florence Augusta Merriam Bailey
- Johann Matthäus Bechstein , "Father of German Ornithology"
- Hans Freiherr von Berlepsch (see web links)
- Hans Hermann Carl Ludwig von Berlepsch (see web links)
- Peter Berthold
- Hans von Boetticher
- Charles Lucien Jules Laurent Bonaparte
- James Bond . His book "Birds of the West Indies" is still an important work in the professional world.
- Christian Ludwig Brehm
- William Brewster
- Pierce bread basket
- Jean Louis Cabanis
- Frank Michler Chapman
- Rudolf Drost
- Ferdinand von Droste zu Hülshoff
- George Edwards is known as the "father of British ornithology" . His main work: A natural history of Birds
- Wolfgang Fiedler
- Kurt Floericke
- Max Fürbringer
- Heinrich Gätke
- Conrad Gessner
- Josef Gengler
- Eberhard Gwinner
- Karel Johan Gustav Hartlaub
- Ernst Hartert
- Katharina Heinroth
- Oskar Heinroth
- Carl Eduard Hellmayr
- Otto Henze
- Ottó Herman
- Andreas Johannes Jäckel
- Lukas Jenni
- İlhami Kiziroglu
- Maria Koepcke
- Frédéric de Lafresnaye
- David Lack
- René Primevère Lesson
- Philipp Lienhardt
- Hans Löhrl
- Konrad Lorenz
- Wolfgang Makatsch
- Johann Friedrich Naumann
- Adolph Nehrkorn
- Max Nicholson
- Günther Niethammer
- Rodolphe Meyer de Schauensee
- Harry Church Oberholser
- Claës Christian Olrog
- James Lee Peters
- William Henry Phelps
- Leonid Alexandrovich Portenko
- Anton Reichenow
- Jean Pierre Ribaut (father of the Bern Convention on the Protection of Birds)
- Robert Ridgway
- Paul Robien
- Karl Russ
- Tommaso Salvadori
- Osbert Salvin
- Hermann Schlegel
- Siegfried Schuster
- Philip Lutley Sclater
- Richard Bowdler Sharpe
- Maria Emilie Snethlage
- Erwin Stresemann
- Hugh Edwin Strickland
- Robert Stroud
- Coenraad Jacob Temminck
- Gerhard Thielcke
- Johannes Thienemann
- William Thorpe
- Walter Edmond Clyde Todd
- Levent Turan
- William Turner
- Jules Verreaux
- Louis Pierre Vieillot
- Wolfgang Wiltschko
- Michael Wink
- John Todd Room
- Marcus to the lamb
See also
- Systematics of the animal kingdom
- Bird observatory
- Feathered dinosaurs
- Songbirds , migratory birds
- Birdsong
- Ornalyzer , online data acquisition system for field ornithology
- Bird park
- Oology , bird egg science
Web links
- Max Planck Institute for Ornithology
- German Ornithological Society
- Committee against Bird Murder e. V. Association for bird and species protection
- Information from the bird world
- BirdLife International
- Ornithology: The Science of Birds
- Dr.phil.hc Parakeet Hans Freiherr v.Berlepsch ( Memento from June 3, 2016 in the Internet Archive )
- Hans Hermann Carl Ludwig Graf von Berlepsch ( Memento from January 29, 2015 in the Internet Archive )
- Naturschutzbund NABU / BirdLife Germany
- German youth association for nature observation
- ornithologie.net - portal for ornithology and bird watching
- ornitho.ch - portal for Swiss bird watchers
- ornitho.de - portal for German bird watchers
- Swiss Ornithological Institute in Sempach
- Swiss bird protection / BirdLife
- DFG Science TV: Duck Stop Bodensee - 260,000 water birds foraging for food - Video series about the way of life of 260,000 water birds and the impact on the entire ecosystem of Lake Constance
Magazines
- Journal of Ornithology
- DER FALKE - The journal for bird watchers . ISSN 0323-357X
- Feathered World & The Aviary . ISSN 1865-3723
- VÖGEL - The magazine for bird watching . ISSN 1862-8397
Individual evidence
- ^ Conrad Gessner: Historia animalium lib [er] III, qui est de avium natura. Christoph Froschauer, Zurich 1555; German translations: Perfect bird book, depicting a true and life-torn illustration of all […] tame and wild birds and feathered cattle […], translated […] by Georgium Horstium […]. Wilhelm Serlin, Frankfurt am Main 1669; Reprint Hanover 1994; Bird book […]. Translated by Haußlein. Frankfurt am Main 1600.