2024 SACAJAWEA AUDUBON Society SPRING BIRDING WORKSHOPS
Birds inspire curiosity and a sense of wonder. Ever wonder who exactly is whistling “Hey Sweetie!” outside your window in the wee hours of the morning? Or how to identify a bird based on a flash of yellow feathers? Or what the little brown bird in the woodpile is called? Or why she’s there in the first place? To help you answer all these questions and more, Sacajawea Audubon Society is offering a series of classes with experienced naturalist and educator Ashley Martens (plus Cedar Mathers-Winn co-teaching Bird Language).
Register at: https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/GSwwoopGXdP0HnoA4QMYKQ
BEGINNING BIRDING IN FOREST AND FIELD WORKSHOP
Participants will be introduced to the basics of birding through three evening classroom sessions and three field trips to a variety of habitats in the valley. We will cover bird families, common birds in our region, and what to look and listen for when seeking out the identity of a bird. Sections A & B will meet together for classroom sessions. Section A will have field trips on Friday mornings and section B will have field trips on Saturday mornings. Maximum of 9 students per section.
Classroom Sessions – Sections A & B: Wednesdays
May 8, May 29, June 19
5:30-7:00 pm | Hope Lutheran Church
Field Trip – Section A: Fridays, May 10, May 31, June 21
7-10 am | Various Locations
Field Trips –Section B: Saturdays/Sunday,
Sat. ,May 11; Sun., June 1; Sat.,June 22
7-10 am | Various Locations
Cost: $100 for Sacajawea Audubon Society members; $120 for non-members.
Supply lists will be provided upon registration.
INTERMEDIATE BIRDING SHORT COURSES
These are the perfect classes for birders who want to boost their skills up a notch and start studying more details of plumage, bird behaviors, and more sight and sound identification tips for specific bird families or groups.
CAVITY NESTERS
Together we’ll explore the ecology of birds in our region who either excavate their own cavities (like woodpeckers and nuthatches) or nest in existing cavities (like bluebirds, chickadees, and some owls). We’ll also focus on how to identify woodpeckers by calls, drums, and more. This trip happens early because most of these species breed early – and there are not so many leaves out so we can spot them easily!
Classroom Session: Thursday, May 2nd 5:30-7:00 pm |
Hope Lutheran Church
Field Trip: Saturday, May 4th 7-10 am | location TBA
Cost: $50 members and $60 nonmembers.
ART & SCIENCE OF BIRD LANGUAGE
Birds are the true messengers of the forests. They can tell us if there’s a fox hiding in the brush, a person about to run down the trail, or an owl about to fly through. Bird language can also open a window into the lives of birds as individuals, from the intimacy of courtship to the drama of territorial duels. Come learn the ancient art of bird language paired with modern scientific studies in animal communication. In class, we’ll explore each of the five voices of the birds, and learn some alarm patterns. Then we’ll practice identifying these voices and patterns in the field. Awareness of bird language also inevitably leads to a deeper awareness of self. Join naturalists Ashley Martens and Cedar Mathers-Winn for our complimentary collaboration!
Classroom Session: Thursday, June 6th 5:30-7:30 pm | Hope Lutheran Church
Field Trip: Satruday, June 8 7-10 am | location TBA
Cost: $60 members; $70 nonmembers.
WARBLERS
What is better than yellow feathers?! Well, maybe orange ones! We’ll learn to identify differences between these wonderfully little flashy, fidgety birds and sort them out with plumage, song/call, and habitat clues.
Classroom Session: Thursday, June 13th 5:30-7:00 pm | Hope Lutheran Church
Field Trip: Saturday, June 15 7-10 am | location TBA
Cost: $50 members and $60 nonmembers.
SPARROWS & ALLIES
Those little brown birds can be difficult to tease apart. We’ll focus on plumage, habitat, songs, calls and clues for the sparrows of our region so that we can begin to appreciate their subtle beauty and differences.
Classroom Session: Tuesday, June 4 5:30-7:00 pm | Hope Lutheran Church
Field Trip: Sunday, June 9th 7-10 am (location TBA)
Cost: $50 members and $60 nonmembers.
THRUSHES & OTHER SONGSTERS: BIRDING BY EAR
The songs of the thrushes are some of the most magical sounds of summer. We’ll learn to identify these birds by sight and song, as well as the many other lovely songsters in our region. This class will focus more on birding by ear than by sight, but of course we will take some time to explore and enjoy visual identification as well. Other birds/families we will be sure to include are: vireos, flycatchers, grosbeaks, and the Western Tanager.
Classroom Session: Thursday, June 27th 5:30-7:00 pm | Hope Lutheran Church
Field Trip: Saturday, June 29th 7-10 am | Location TBA
Cost: $50 members and $60 nonmembers.
NEW!!! BIRDING BY EAR BY HABITAT 3-FIELD TRIP SERIES
You asked for it! This class will help you make more connections between the birds, their songs & calls, and their habitats. We’ll visit sagebrush steppe, riparian forest, and montane forest.
Field trips: Tuesdays, May 21st, June 11th, and June 25th 7:30-9:30 am
Cost: $60 members and $70 nonmembers.
DEEP NATURE CONNECTION SERIES
For four weeks, we will gather in community and practice routines to develop a deeper understanding of and connection to wild nature and natural cycles. We will investigate nature through mindfulness practices, play, observation, and inspiring instructions. We will learn about edible and medicinal plants and mushrooms (and even make some tea and/or tinctures), animal tracking, bird language, and the many ways we can learn from nature.
Field Trips: Wednesdays 9 am-11am on May 22; May 29; June 5; June 12 | Near-town location TBA.
Week 1 – Observing & Sit Spot
Week 2 – Wandering & Edible/Medicinal Plants
Week 3 – Listening & Bird Language
Week 4 – Connecting with Natural Cycles
Course Materials: Blank journal and writing utensils, bag or backpack for collecting, and binoculars if you have them (not required).
Cost: $95 members; $125 nonmembers for the series. Maximum 9 students.
Register at: https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/GSwwoopGXdP0HnoA4QMYKQ
