Edward H. Burtt, Jr.

Contact Information

Office: CWSC 344
Phone: 740-368-3886
E-mail: ehburtt@owu.edu
Web Site: http://bio.owu.edu/ehburtt.html

Specialty

Scientific writing, editing

Education

Ph.D., M.S., University of Wisconsin-Madison
A.B., Bowdoin College

Biography

Professor Burtt teaches Writing for Sciences for the English as well as science departments.  He has edited as well as written books for both scientists and laymen, and has published over 60 papers on the behavior of birds, the evolution of coloration in birds, and the effects of bacteria that degrade the plumage of birds. His articles have appeared in newspapers, the Encyclopedia Britannica and World Book Encyclopedia, and he has edited and written books on animal coloration. In 1991 he was the North American author for A Photographic Guide to Birds of the World, which was revised for a second edition in 2005. Dr. Burtt is the former president of the Association of Field Ornithology the former editor of its journal, and is currently president of the American Ornithologists’ Union.

Courses Taught

ENG 312, Writing for the Sciences
ZOOL 102, Genes, Evolution, and Society
ZOOL 341, Ornithology
ZOOL 349, Island Biology
ZOOL 190.1, Honors Tutorial Avian Microbiology
BOMI/ZOOL 300.5, Tropical Biology

Major Publications

Saranathan*, V. and E. H. Burtt, Jr. 2007. Sunlight on feathers inhibits feather-degrading bacteria. Wilson J. Ornithol. 119: 239-245.

Burtt, E. H., Jr. and J. M. Ichida. 2004. Gloger’s Rule, feather-degrading bacteria, and color variation among Song Sparrows. Condor 106: 681-686.

Goldstein, G., K. Flory*, B. A. Browne*, S. Majid*, J. M. Ichida, and E. H. Burtt, Jr. 2004. Bacterial degradation of black and white feathers. Auk 121: 656-659.

Burtt, E. H., Jr. and J. M. Ichida. 1999. Occurrence of feather-degrading bacilli in the plumage of birds. Auk 116: 364-372.

Reneerkins, J., M. A. Versteegh*, A. M. Schneider*, T. Piersma, and E. H. Burtt, Jr. 2008. Seasonally changing preen wax composition: Red Knots flexible defense against feather-degrading bacteria. Auk 125: 285-290.

Schreiber, R. W., E. A. Schreiber, A. M. Peele*, and E. H. Burtt, Jr. 2006. Pattern of damage of albino Great Frigatebird flight feathers supports hypothesis of abrasion by airborne particles. Condor 108: 736-741.

Burtt, E. H., Jr. 1986. An analysis of physical, physiological and optical aspects of avian coloration with emphasis on Wood Warblers. Ornithol. Monogr. 38: x + 126 p.

*Ohio Wesleyan University students

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