As part of the Lifelong Birding Series we are pleased to offer Specialty Workshops, which focus on identification details for specific groups. These classes are open to all. Unless otherwise noted, each two-day class is comprised of one Wednesday lecture, 5:30pm - 8:30 pm and one Saturday field trip, 7am - 5pm; each class is limited to 10 participants. Transportation to the field trip sites is the responsibility of the participant; carpooling is highly recommended.
Register online for any of these classes by clicking the link below. Please call Bete Pfister at 629-0510 x7012 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you have questions regarding classes and workshops.
REGISTER ONLINE FOR ANY OF THESE CLASSES
Sign up for classes and workshops from January 1 – May 1, 2012 and receive gift certificates from our Nature Shop! Gift certificate amount is based on 10% of the cumulative cost of your classes and will be awarded on May 1, 2012. For example, spend $700 on classes/workshops and receive a $70 gift certificate. Minimum cost to qualify for a gift certificate is $100. eBird and IDE are not included in this offer. Non-members pay a one-time membership fee when signing up for multiple classes! Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information.
Raptors - February 8 & 11, 2012 - SOLD OUT!
With Homer Hansen
A favorite among birdwatchers, raptors impress us with their size and speed. Though there are not many species of raptors, identification challenges arise from variations in their plumages due to age, sub-species or color morphs. In this workshop, you will learn to recognize species apart from their plumages and learn behaviors that aid in their identification. The importance of a raptor’s wing shape and its influence on flight and behavior and other physiological features will be presented. This workshop covers 28 species of raptors that can be found in the southwest.
- Classroom session: Tucson Audubon, Wednesday, February 8, 5:30-8:30 pm
- Field trip: Saturday, February 11, time to be announced
Cost of the workshop: $110 for members, $145 for non-members which includes a year membership in Tucson Audubon.
Protecting the Health and Habitat of Hawks and Owls in Urban Tucson
March 21 & 24, 2012 - SOLD OUT!
With Dr. Bill Mannan
In this workshop we will cover the basic biology and ecology of the large predatory birds that live in Tucson — the Cooper’s Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Harris’s Hawk and Great Horned Owl. During the classroom session we will focus on the challenges that predatory birds face when they live in urban areas; the timing of nesting activities; how to locate nests; and the field methods for capturing and marking predatory birds for the purpose of monitoring populations. The workshop will include a field component during which we will take participants out to 4–5 sites where we will demonstrate field methods. We will also provide participants with opportunities to collect useful data for a local, long-term ongoing raptor monitoring program.
- Classroom session: Tucson Audubon, Wednesday, March 21, 5:30-8:30 pm
- Field trip: Saturday, March 24, time and place to be announced
Cost of the workshop: $55 for members, $90 for non-members which includes a year membership in Tucson Audubon.
Cost for both raptor workshops: $148 for members, $211 for non-members which includes a year membership in Tucson Audubon.
Other Spring Workshops
Sparrows, Their Habits and Morphology - February 1 & 4, 2012
ONLY ONE SPACE AVAILABLE! REGISTER TODAY- JANUARY 26!
![Sparrow, Brewer's [Elaine R. Wilson, www.naturespicsonline.com]](/images/stories/edu/Sparrow,%20Brewer%27s%20%5BElaine%20R.%20Wilson,%20www.naturespicsonline.com%5D.jpg)
Southeast Arizona hosts an incredible diversity of wintering sparrows. This detailed workshop about their behavior, structure and identification characteristics will have you checking the “LBJs” on your life list with confidence. The class takes the form of a three-hour classroom lecture and a one-day field trip. Taught by Homer Hansen.
- Classroom session: Tucson Audubon, Wednesday, February 1, 5:30-8:30 pm
- Field trip: Saturday, February 4, time to be announced
Cost of the workshop: $110 for members, $145 for non-members which includes a year membership in Tucson Audubon
Ducks and Geese - February 15 & 18, 2012
SIX SPACES AVAILABLE! REGISTER TODAY- JANUARY 26!
Southeastern Arizona hosts many species of waterfowl in the winter months, and many of them can be confusing in their drab winter plumage. Join Larry Liese as he guides you with humor and wisdom through the complex world of waterfowl.
- Classroom session: Tucson Audubon, Wednesday, February 15, 5:30-8:30 pm
- Field trip: Saturday, February 18, time to be announced
Cost of the workshop: $55 for members, $90 for non-members which includes a year membership in Tucson Audubon.
eBird - March 24, 2012
You’ve probably been hearing a lot about eBird (www.ebird.org) lately, the website and online birding tool that is changing the face of modern birding. eBird is an internet-based checklist program built for birders by birders, whose goal is to harness the power of both birding and science. It allows you to keep track of your bird records online and share them with the birding community, while making them available for science and conservation efforts. eBird allows birders to post sightings, keep life lists, and manage their personal records. This workshop will teach you what eBird is and why it’s important that you contribute, show you what it can do for you as a birder, and teach you how to get started. Join eBird Project Leader Brian Sullivan for a look at this remarkable tool, and get empowered to make your observations count!
- Location and Time: Pima Community College NW Campus, 9 am - 1 pm
Cost of the workshop: $25 REGISTER ONLINE FOR THE EbIRD WORKSHOP
Birding By Habitat for All Birders: Birds of Mt Lemmon - April 21 & 28, 2012
Our Sky Islands provide elevation contrasts that result in a great diversity of animals and plants. Educator Lynn Hassler will teach a one-hour classroom session on the habitats of the Santa Catalina Mountains, describing the varied cast of avian characters. We will bird our way up the Mt. Lemmon Highway on our Saturday field trip, stopping to experience the birds associated with assorted habitats.
- Classroom session: Tucson Audubon, Saturday, April 21, 9am - 10am
- Field trip: Saturday, April 28, 7am - 3pm
Birding By Ear - May 2 & 5, 2012
FIVE SPACES AVAILABLE! REGISTER TODAY- JANUARY 26!
Taking birding beyond the basics requires learning to use your ears as much as (if not more than) your eyes. This class will delve into the world of bird vocalizations and give you a framework for learning the voices of our master singers. The evening classroom session will introduce you to sonograms and vocalization types, as well as work on comparisons between similar sounding Arizona species. The field trip will give students a chance to use these skills in the field. Vocalizations will be recorded and brought back to the classroom to analyze. Limited to ten participants. Taught by Homer Hansen.
- Classroom session: Tucson Audubon, Wednesday, May 2, 5:30-8:30 pm
- Field trip: Saturday, May 5, time to be announced
Cost of the workshop: $110 for members, $145 for non-members which includes a year membership in Tucson Audubon
Note to Teachers: 12 hours of Professional Development Credit available for this program. The Tucson Unified School District neither endorses nor sponsors the organization or activity represented in this document. The distribution of this material is provided as a community service.
REGISTER ONLINE FOR ANY OF THESE CLASSES
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