BI 302 is taught in the Fall Semester by Steve Trombulak, of the Department of Biology.
Vertebrate Natural History (BI 302) is one of several field-oriented, techniques courses offered by the Department of Biology of Middlebury College. The focus of this course is on learning (a) the local natural history of vertebrates in the Champlain Basin of Vermont, (b) techniques for capturing, handling, and marking vertebrates to facilitate their study in the wild, and (c) how to design and conduct research on the behavior and ecology of vertebrates.
Each year, class work revolves around three key field projects. One of the three is always participation in a bird-banding program on the Otter Creek near the Middlebury College campus. The other two are chosen based on local opportunities and conservation needs. As a result of this focus on fieldwork, BI 302 is a very time-intensive course that regularly meets outside of the normal schedule. Bird banding takes place three days per week from 6 to 9 am. Other projects occur on weekends and evenings. By the end of the course students have developed an appreciation for the joys and value of knowing the natural history of one's local area. They are also well-qualified to conduct most kinds of field studies on vertebrates.