|
We are pleased to partner
with Acteva.com to offer convenient, secure
online registrations for field seminars.
Acteva is a low-cost e-commerce solution
that allows nonprofits to conduct online
transactions, without the expense of setting
up a full e-commerce site. If you would
like to take advantage of online registration,
you will see a "Register Now"
button (like the one below) at the end
of each seminar description. Just click
on it to register. A minimal processing
fee will be charged.
You can also call us to register for classes at (415) 663.1200, extension 373 or click here to print a registration form that you can mail or fax to us.
Please Note:
Our birding seminars usually sell out.
Don't be left out of the fun! Register
early to secure spots in the seminars
of your choice.
Josiah Clark
Saturday, August 14 • 9 AM - 3 PM • $60 ($50 members)
Bird migration is like a tide that washes over us twice per year, bringing both abundance and diversity. Unlike the ephemeral movements of spring when the birds are racing to be the first to set up territories on newly-leafed and thawed habitats, in fall, with the breeding season behind them, birds are content to move south more slowly. We will visit several habitats and study numerous bird guilds, discussing when, why and where each group may be coming from and going to. Josiah will also teach us about general weather patterns and how they affect bird migration in our area. We will also study plumages of immature sparrows and other breeding songbirds and listen for the late summer and fall begging calls that can confuse even experienced birders. We will be looking to find and acquaint ourselves with the first passing fall migrants as they come into basic plumage.
David Wimpfheimer
Saturday, August 21 • 8:30 AM - 3 PM • $60 ($50 members)
Come spend the day looking for and observing migrant shorebirds that have traversed thousands of miles from their Arctic breeding areas. Some may stay within the rich habitats well into the winter. Others will pause only briefly before traveling south. Join David for a hike out Limantour Spit or around Abbotts Lagoon, based on where the birds are. Both are wonderful places to learn the difference between a plover and a phalarope, or how to tell sanderlings from other sandpipers. We will focus on identification and behaviors of shorebirds and other avian residents.
Lisa Hug
Sunday, Septemer 5 • 9 AM - 3 PM • $60 ($50 members)
*Please note, this date has changed since the printing of the brochure*
Are you confused and frustrated with trying to learn about the process of feather molt in birds? Are you intimidated by the words used to describe different molts and plumages? Come to this class and get the help you need! This is an intermediate-to-advanced birding class that focuses on learning how to use the modified Humphrey-Parkes molt and plumage terminology correctly. We will spend a few hours in the classroom viewing a PowerPoint presentation on “Feather-Watching” and studying museum specimens. Then, we’ll head out to various areas of Point Reyes National Seashore, where we’ll apply this knowledge directly to the birds we find.
Back to Top
Lisa Hug
Saturday, September 18 • 9 AM - 3 PM • $60 ($50 members)
West Marin is a very special area, endowed with a variety of natural habitats that invite human exploration. From Douglas fir forests to open woodlands, to mudflats and the rocky coast, each of these very special habitats is utilized by many kinds of birds in different ways. Join naturalist Lisa Hug to explore a variety of habitats in and around Point Reyes, with an emphasis on discovering which birds prefer to live in each kind of habitat.
David Wimpfheimer
Sunday, September 19 • 9 AM - 3 PM • $60 ($50 members)
Fall and winter are actually the seasons of greatest abundance for many birds at Point Reyes. Coastal estuaries such as Limantour Estero are extremely rich feeding areas for thousands of ducks, shorebirds, grebes and other waterbirds. Over ten species of hawks, falcons and other raptors occur in large numbers due to these rich feeding conditions. Warblers, thrushes, kinglets, flycatchers and other landbirds are also found here in huge numbers. The annual Christmas Bird Count often records more individuals of many species than any other location in the country. This class will cover the basics of field identification in a fun, relaxed atmosphere. While observing birds in a variety of habitats, this program will offer insights into the use of binoculars, scopes and field guides. David will share techniques that will enhance your birding skills. Come discover why birding is one of the most popular pastimes in the country, and why Point Reyes is one of the best locations to enjoy it.
David Wimpfheimer
September 25 - 26 • 9 AM Sat - 4 PM Sun • $150 ($135 members)
By focusing our visit on the Point Reyes Headlands and staying overnight at the Historic Lifeboat Station, we’ll have a unique opportunity to experience this special area and its avian inhabitants. On Saturday, a series of short walks may take us to the Lighthouse, Chimney Rock and Drakes Beach. Depending on weather patterns, many migrant warblers, sparrows and other passerines concentrate in the surrounding cypress groves and willow patches. Ranch ponds and marsh habitat hold shorebirds while scoters, loons and other waterbirds rest on Drakes Bay...there is almost always a surprise. We’ll spend the night in this dramatic setting and watch a digital presentation on the birds of Point Reyes. Sunday morning may find us visiting some of the same locations as the previous day, but we may also take a walk at Abbotts Lagoon. The variety of sandpipers, ducks, terns and other waterbirds there in the fall can be dramatic. Many raptors take advantage of this rich feeding area, as well. Accommodations, with optional Friday evening arrival, are included at the Historic Lifeboat Station at Chimney Rock
Eddie Bartley
Sunday, October 3 • 10:30 AM - 3 PM • $65 ($55 members)
Each fall, up to nineteen species of diurnal raptors ride the winds of the Coast Ranges toward their winter homes. We will visit the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory in the Marin Headlands for a slide show covering the identification and life histories of these hawks, eagles, vultures, osprey, harriers, falcons and kites. Next, we’ll put our new skills to the test in the field on Hawk Hill, where raptor numbers may reach 100 hawks per hour! This is a unique opportunity to study raptor identification during peak migration at the premier raptor migration site in the west.
David Lukas
October 23 - 24 • 9 AM Sat - 4 PM Sun • $165 ($150 members)
This class combines two very popular programs into one fun weekend learning about birds. Have you ever wondered about the inner workings of birds and how they behave? Our first day focuses on bird structure and function as we examine bones, feathers and anatomy, and talk about muscles, metabolism, and digestion in preparation for a hands-on dissection of a pigeon. On the second day, we build on our exploration of anatomy to learn why birds behave in the ways they do, from the minutia of daily grooming to the global sweep of migration. When not in the classroom, we will venture into the natural laboratory around Limantour Beach to apply our knowledge and enjoy the world of birds in a new light. Accommodations, with optional Friday evening arrival, are included at the Environmental Education Center.
Trinka Marris & Alex Godbe
Saturday, November 13 • 6 PM - 10 PM • $55 ($50 members)
Owls are creatures of rare beauty and unique biological interest. They play an enormously important role in keeping the balance in nature. Come spend an evening with these large-eyed, silent-flying creatures, and learn why they are so magical. In this class, we will learn about the local owls of the Bay Area, along with their habitat requirements and how to identify the hoots of individual species. After learning a brief natural history of each owl, we will get up-close and personal with an Olema barn owl pair and their fledglings through “owlcam” footage from their nest box. We will also get the rare treat of meeting live owls in person before heading out into the field to explore some of their preferred habitats.
John Klobas & Sarah Klobas Brooks
Sunday, November 21 • 9 AM - 4 PM • $145 ($130 members)
San Francisco Bay, the largest and one of the most important estuaries along the Pacific Flyway, is right in our own backyard. Join John, Sarah, and Dolphin Charters as we cruise from Berkeley to Point Bonita and north into San Pablo Bay, hugging the shorelines that are home to thousands of wintering birds. Leaving from Berkeley, we will pass Alcatraz and head toward Point Bonita, where we will tour the southern edge of the MarinHeadlands and, weather-permitting, travel under the Golden Gate Bridge to the point. Continuing on our exploration, we will travel along the shore of Angel Island, under the Richmond/San Rafael Bridge, past the Marin Islands, the Brothers and Sisters Islands, over to Red Rock and back down along the Richmond Shoreline. This trip offers views of hundreds of scaup, scoters and other waterfowl in stunning locations, many of which can only be viewed by boat. In addition to the many ducks, loons, grebes and gulls that come into the Bay for the winter, we can also expect to see resident cormorants, pelicans and murres. We will also find seals and sea lions feeding and basking and, with luck, an occasional porpoise.
Lisa Hug
Saturday, December 4 • 9 AM - 3 PM • $60 ($50 members)
Many birders find identifying gulls an intimidating process, but it doesn’t have to be! Join Lisa to learn some simple strategies that can take the intimidation and frustration out of gull identification. You won’t become an expert overnight, but you may become more courageous! We will start in the classroom with slides and discussion, and then head outdoors to practice identifying gulls in the field and on the fly. A great way to practice for the upcoming Christmas Bird Count.
David Wimpfheimer
Saturday, December 11 • 9 AM - 3 PM • $60 ($50 members)
This class will expand on the concepts and skills covered in Birding 101. Participants will learn ecological associations—why certain birds are found in specific habitats and not others. Identification of more challenging groups including distant raptors, female ducks, and shorebirds, as well as sparrows, thrushes, and pipits (LBJs or “little brown jobs”) will also be a focus. This class will visit a variety of West Marin habitats that were not explored during the first class. Behaviors and calls of forest and other birds will also be covered. Registration in Birding 101 is not necessary to enjoy this fun and informative day of birding in Point Reyes.
Eddie Bartley
Sunday, December 12 • 9 AM - 4 PM • $60 ($50 members)
The Point Reyes area is an amazing place to look for hawks and falcons in winter. A combination of mild temperatures and productive sources of food make this area such an ideal destination that some years it feels like every fence post and telephone pole has its own hawk. It’s also possible to find species that are not common in spring and summer. After a brief presentation on the life histories and identification of our wintering raptors, we will venture out to the fields and shore, where, with a little patience and luck, we might even see a golden eagle.
Back to Top
This page last
modified
July 12, 2010
|
