Bwanji!

In May and June of 2007, 13 undergraduate students from Northern Michigan University are taking a field course in Zambia. Most of the students are majors in the Biology department, and all of them will be doing short field studies of their own design while on the ground in Zambia. The group will be making a stop in London on the way, spending four days seeing Zambia/Africa-related British sites (Burton's tomb, Livingstone's artefacts at the Royal Geographic Society, the British Museum of Natural History, etc.) and adjusting to the time change. The course is being led by me, Dr. Alec Lindsay, a professor in the Department of Biology at NMU, and Dr. Jackie Bird - a parasitologist in our department. We have made this blog so students can hopefully post notes thoughts, pictures and discoveries to the world. This should allow classmates, teachers, family and friends to share in their insights and keep track of their travels. Not only that, but viewers of the blog can add comments to posts - please do! We would love to hear your thoughts. Zikomo!

10 May 2007

Bee-eater Behavior


What I Plan to Study: When in Zambia I plan on studying the Cooperative breeding behavior of Bee-eater's. I would like to find out if cooperative breeding birds have a higher fitness then non cooperative breeding birds in the area. But what I am most excited about is to find out how communication plays an effect in getting food within the cooperative breeding species. I will be observing the Bee-eaters in the South Luangwa National Park and possibly Kasanka National Park.


My Concerns: I am concerned about the timing of this study plan because I am afraid that the breeding season of the Bee-eater will be done before I arrive to study them. Also an other concern of mine is what I would like to accomplish in Zambia might take more time then we actually have in Zambia.

Images from the followin sites in order: http://gallery.photo.net/photo/3016373-lg.jpg
http://www.thejunglelook.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2709&g2_serialNumber=5
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4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Nick snd fellow travellers, hope you are enjoying our wonderful country - wish it was me back there eating decent bacon, Birds custard, Branston pickle and real sausages!! Worked the Linden Invitational today - brilliant as usual - we are the best hurdle crew ever!! Call cousin Peter if you have a chance. Can't wait to see some great pictures - Mum

19 May, 2007 19:03
Anonymous said...

Hi Nick,
Grandad and I are green with envy.Hope you get good results with your study. Enjoy yourself as well as working.
Love Nan and Grandad

21 May, 2007 03:02
Anonymous said...

Hello Nick, see from the other comments you are now in Zambia, hope you are having great fun. Taylor says hi. Hope you see some bee-eaters!!!!!

Mum

23 May, 2007 09:47
Anonymous said...

Hullo again Nick,
Have any bee eaters shown up?
Grandad has a new project. He and uncle Doug are renovating a veteran Dodge delivery van 1927 vintage.
Hope you are enjoying the trip.We will look for your next update. Love Nan and Grandad

27 May, 2007 03:57

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