Avian Sciences

(College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences)

James Murray Ph.D., Chairperson of the Department (Animal Science)

Department Office. 2223 Meyer Hall; 530-752-1250; http://animalscience.ucdavis.edu/

Faculty. http://animalscience.ucdavis.edu/faculty/index.html

The Program. The flexibility of the program and the close personal interaction between students, faculty, and specialists in the field give students a large role in selecting and designing their own course work.

Internships and Career Alternatives. Independent study, undergraduate research, and internships are emphasized in the Avian Sciences program. Birds for laboratory or special study are housed within the main building as well as at the research farm and the experimental aviary.

Advising Center for the minor and course offerings is located in the Animal Science Advising Center in 1202 Meyer Hall; 530-754-7915; http://asac.ucdavis.edu/.

Avian Sciences
Units: 18
Choose one:
2-3
AVS 011
Introduction to Poultry Science (Active)
3
AVS 013
Birds, Humans and the Environment (Active)
3
AVS 014L
Management of Captive Birds (Active)
2
AVS 015L
Captive Raptor Management (Active)
2
AVS 016L (Nonexistent)
 
Choose remaining units from:
15-16
AVS 100
Avian Biology (Active)
3
AVS 103
Avian Development and Genomics (Active)
3
AVS 115
Raptor Biology (Active)
3
AVS 121
Avian Reproduction (Active)
2
AVS 123
Management of Birds (Active)
3
AVS 149
Egg Production Management (Active)
2
AVS 150
Nutrition of Birds (Active)
1
AVS 160
Designing and Performing Experiments in Avian Sciences (Active)
2
ANS 143
Pig and Poultry Care and Management (Active)
4
NPB 117
Avian Physiology (Active)
3
WFC 111
Biology and Conservation of Wild Birds (Active)
3
WFC 136
Ecology of Waterfowl and Game Birds (Active)
4
Related Courses
 
ARE 130
Agricultural Markets (Active)
4
ANS 143
Pig and Poultry Care and Management (Active)
4
MCB 150
Developmental Biology (Active)
4
NUT 123
Comparative Animal Nutrition (Active)
3
NUT 123L
Comparative Animal Nutrition Laboratory (Active)
1
Total: 18
Courses in AVS:
AVS 011—Introduction to Poultry Science (3) Active
Lecture—3 hour(s). The mosaic of events that have tied poultry science to other scientific disciplines and poultry to humans. Poultry science techniques and production methods from the time of domestication to the present. One field trip required. (Letter.) GE credit: SE. Effective: 1997 Winter Quarter.
AVS 013—Birds, Humans and the Environment (3) Active
Lecture—2 hour(s); Discussion—1 hour(s). Restricted to students with lower division standing. Interrelationships of the worlds of birds and humans. Lectures, discussions, field trips and projects focus on ecology, avian evolution, physiology, reproduction, flight, behavior, folklore, identification, ecotoxicology and conservation. Current environmental issues are emphasized. Half-day field trip. (Letter.) GE credit: SE, SL. Effective: 2017 Winter Quarter.
AVS 014L—Management of Captive Birds (2) Active
Fieldwork—3 hour(s); Lecture/Discussion—1 hour(s). Prerequisite(s): Consent of Instructor. One weekly discussion and field trip to study practical captive management (housing, feeding, equipment, marketing, diseases). Visit facilities rearing birds such as commercial parrots, hobbyist exotics, ostrich, raptors, waterfowl, game birds, poultry and pigeons. (Letter.) GE credit: SE. Effective: 1997 Winter Quarter.
AVS 015L—Captive Raptor Management (2) Active
Laboratory—3 hour(s); Independent Study—3 hour(s). Hands-on experience handling birds of prey. Students are taught all of the skills required to handle and care for raptors, including husbandry, biology, habitat requirements, cage design, veterinary care, rehabilitation methods, research potential and long-term care requirements. One Saturday fieldtrip. (Letter.) GE credit: SE. Effective: 1997 Winter Quarter.
AVS 016LA—Raptor Migration and Population Fluctuations (2) Active
Fieldwork—3 hour(s); Discussion—1 hour(s). Prerequisite(s): Consent of Instructor. Identify raptors: study of effects of weather, crops, agricultural practices on fluctuations in raptor species and numbers. Familiarize with literature; design a project; survey study sites; collect, computerize, analyze data, compare with previous years. Species, observations, emphasis different each quarter. One Saturday field trip. (Letter.) GE credit: SE. Effective: 1997 Winter Quarter.
AVS 016LB—Raptor Migration and Population Fluctuations (2) Active
Fieldwork—3 hour(s); Discussion—1 hour(s). Prerequisite(s): Consent of Instructor. Identify raptors: study of effects of weather, crops, agricultural practices on fluctuations in raptor species and numbers. Familiarize with literature; design a project; survey study sites; collect, computerize, analyze data, compare with previous years. Species, observations, emphasis different each quarter. One Saturday field trip. (Letter.) GE credit: SE. Effective: 1997 Winter Quarter.
AVS 016LC—Raptor Migration and Population Fluctuations (2) Active
Fieldwork—3 hour(s); Discussion—1 hour(s). Prerequisite(s): Consent of Instructor. Identify raptors: study of effects of weather, crops, agricultural practices on fluctuations in raptor species and numbers. Familiarize with literature; design a project; survey study sites; collect, computerize, analyze data, compare with previous years. Species, observations, emphasis different each quarter. One Saturday field trip. (Letter.) GE credit: SE. Effective: 1997 Winter Quarter.
AVS 092—Internship in the Avian Sciences (1-12) Active
Variable—3-36 hour(s). Prerequisite(s): Consent of Instructor. Sophomore standing preferred. Internship on and off campus in poultry, game birds or exotic bird production, management and research; or in a business, industry, or agency concerned with these entities. Compliance with Internship Approval form essential. (P/NP grading only.) Effective: 1997 Winter Quarter.
AVS 098—Directed Group Study (1-5) Active
Variable. Prerequisite(s): Consent of Instructor. (P/NP grading only.) Effective: 1997 Fall Quarter.
AVS 099—Special Study for Undergraduates (1-5) Active
Variable—1-5 hour(s). Prerequisite(s): Consent of Instructor. (P/NP grading only.) Effective: 1997 Winter Quarter.
AVS 100—Avian Biology (3) Active
Lecture—3 hour(s). Prerequisite(s): BIS 002A; BIS 002B; ANS 002 preferred. Biology of domesticated poultry, specifically chickens and turkeys. Avian genetics, immunology, reproduction, growth and development, broiler and layer management. (Letter.) GE credit: SE. Effective: 2016 Spring Quarter.
AVS 103—Avian Development and Genomics (3) Active
Lecture—3 hour(s). Prerequisite(s): BIS 002A; BIS 002B. Unique features of avian development and genomics: Incubation; Staging; Egg Structure/Function; Fertilization; Pre-oviposital; Oviposition, Cold Torpor; Post-oviposital Development; Organogenesis, Growth; Sexual Differentiation; Extraembryonic Membranes; Mortality/Hatching; Genome Organization; Comparative Avian Genomics; Telomere Biology; Sex Chromosomes/Sex Determination; Advanced Technologies; Genome Manipulation; Mutations. (Letter.) GE credit: SE. Effective: 2016 Fall Quarter.
AVS 115—Raptor Biology (3) Active
Lecture—3 hour(s). Prerequisite(s): BIS 002A; Or equivalent. Study of birds of prey: classification, distribution, habits, migration, unique anatomical and physiological adaptations, natural and captive breeding, health and diseases, environmental concerns, conservation, legal considerations, rehabilitation, and falconry. Includes two Saturday field trips. (Letter.) GE credit: SE. Effective: 2016 Fall Quarter.
AVS 121—Avian Reproduction (2) Active
Lecture—2 hour(s). Prerequisite(s): BIS 002A; BIS 002B. Breeding cycles and reproductive strategies, egg and sperm formation, incubation, sexual development, imprinting, hormonal control of reproductive behavior and song. Species coverage includes wild and companion birds. Course has a physiological orientation. (Letter.) GE credit: SE, SL. Effective: 2016 Fall Quarter.
AVS 123—Management of Birds (3) Active
Lecture—3 hour(s). Prerequisite(s): BIS 002A; BIS 002B. Captive propagation of birds, including reproduction, genetic management, health, feeding, artificial incubation, artificial insemination, and related legal aspects, including trade and smuggling. Emphasis on exotic species and the role of captive propagation in conservation. (Letter.) GE credit: SE, SL, WE. Effective: 2016 Fall Quarter.
AVS 149—Egg Production Management (2) Active
Lecture—2 hour(s). Prerequisite(s): AVS 011; or Consent of Instructor. Management of commercial table egg flocks as related to environment, nutrition, disease control, economics, housing, equipment, egg processing and raising replacement pullets. Offered in alternate years. One Saturday field trip required. (Letter.) GE credit: SE. Effective: 2016 Fall Quarter.
AVS 150—Nutrition of Birds (1) Active
Lecture—1 hour(s). Prerequisite(s): ABI 103 (can be concurrent) or BIS 103 (can be concurrent). Principles of nutrition specific to avian species, including feedstuffs, feed additives, nutrient metabolism, energy systems, and nutritional support of egg production and growth. Use of computers for feed formulation to support production. (Letter.) GE credit: QL, SE. Effective: 2016 Fall Quarter.
AVS 160—Designing and Performing Experiments in Avian Sciences (2) Active
Laboratory—6 hour(s). Prerequisite(s): AVS 100 or WFC 111; or Consent of Instructor. Experiments in current problems in avian biology. Introduction to experimental design. Students choose a project, design a protocol, perform an experiment and report their findings. May be repeated for credit with consent of instructor. May be repeated for credit with consent of instructor. (Letter.) GE credit: SE. Effective: 2016 Fall Quarter.
AVS 170—Advanced Avian Biology (4) Active
Lecture/Discussion—3 hour(s); Project (Term Project)—1 hour(s). Prerequisite(s): AVS 100 or WFC 111. Ecology, behavior, functional morphology and lifehistory evolution of birds. Emphasis on the importance of body size as a principle determinant of most aspects of avian performance from lifespan to reproduction and species abundance. Analytical synthesis and critical thought emphasized. (Letter.) GE credit: SE. Effective: 2016 Fall Quarter.
AVS 190—Seminar in Avian Sciences (1) Active
Seminar—1 hour(s). Prerequisite(s): Consent of Instructor. May be repeated up to 3 Time(s). (P/NP grading only.) Effective: 2016 Fall Quarter.
AVS 192—Internship in Avian Sciences (1-12) Active
Laboratory—3-36 hour(s). Prerequisite(s): Consent of Instructor. Internship on and off campus in poultry, game birds or exotic bird production, management and research; or in a business, industry, or agency concerned with these entities. Compliance with Internship Approval form essential. (P/NP grading only.) Effective: 2016 Fall Quarter.
AVS 195—Topics in Current Research (1-3) Active
Variable—1-3 hour(s); Lecture/Discussion. Prerequisite(s): Consent of Instructor. Discussion of topics of current interest in avian sciences. May be repeated three times for credit. May be repeated up to 3 Time(s). (Letter.) Effective: 1997 Winter Quarter.
AVS 197T—Tutoring in Avian Sciences (1-3) Active
Tutorial—1-3 hour(s). Prerequisite(s): Consent of Instructor. Tutoring of students in lower division avian sciences courses; weekly conference with instructors in charge of courses; written critiques of teaching procedures. (P/NP grading only.) Effective: 2016 Fall Quarter.
AVS 198—Directed Group Study (1-5) Active
Variable—1-5 hour(s). Prerequisite(s): Consent of Instructor. Restricted to upper division students. Directed group study. (P/NP grading only.) Effective: 2017 Winter Quarter.
AVS 199—Special Study for Advanced Undergraduates (1-5) Active
Variable—1-5 hour(s). (P/NP grading only.) Effective: 1997 Winter Quarter.
AVS 203—Advanced Avian Development and Genomics (1) Active
Discussion—1 hour(s). Prerequisite(s): AVS 103 (can be concurrent); Graduate standing. In consultation with the instructor, students develop a lecture and associated instructional materials, i.e., lesson plan, including justification, reading and presentation and evaluation aids. The topic must complement a topic covered in Avian Sciences 103. (Letter.) Effective: 2013 Fall Quarter.
AVS 290—Seminar (1) Active
Seminar—1 hour(s). Reports and discussions of recent advances and selected topics of current interest in avian genetics, physiology, nutrition, and poultry technology. (Letter.) Effective: 1997 Winter Quarter.
AVS 290C—Research Conference (1) Active
Discussion—1 hour(s). Prerequisite(s): Consent of Instructor. Graduate standing. Major professors lead research discussions with their graduate students. Research papers are reviewed and project proposals presented and evaluated. Format will combine seminar and discussion. (S/U grading only.) Effective: 1997 Winter Quarter.
AVS 297T—Supervised Teaching in Avian Sciences (1-4) Active
Tutorial—1-4 hour(s). Prerequisite(s): Consent of Instructor. Graduate standing. Tutoring of students in lower, upper division, and graduate courses in Avian Sciences; weekly conference with instructor in charge of course; written critiques of teaching methods in lectures and laboratories. (S/U grading only.) Effective: 1997 Winter Quarter.
AVS 298—Group Study (1-5) Active
Variable—1-5 hour(s). Prerequisite(s): Consent of Instructor. (Letter.) Effective: 1997 Winter Quarter.
AVS 299—Research (1-12) Active
Variable—1-12 hour(s). Prerequisite(s): Consent of Instructor. (S/U grading only.) Effective: 1997 Winter Quarter.