online birding classes
check out our 2024 classes!
BIRDING BY EAR: PNW MIGRANT BIRDS — MAY 19, 2024
SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2024
6:00PM - 7:30PM PACIFIC TIME
VIA ZOOM (CLASS WILL BE RECORDED AND AVAILABLE FOR ONE WEEK)
Laura Whittemore brings her incredible knowledge and passion for birding to this wonderful online class that will help you identify birds by their distinct voices. Meet some of the widespread songbirds of the Northwest, hear their unique songs, and get tips on how to listen and how to retain birdsongs. Learning birdsong will take your nature awareness to a new level, sparking your curiosity and allowing you to find more birds and be more confident in your identification.
You’ll practice around your home and supplement with online resources. This class focuses on spring migrants such as Swainson's Thrush, Western Tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak, and several warbler and flycatcher species.
TUITION: $10 - $20 SLIDING SCALE (PLUS PROCESSING FEES)
BIPOC SCHOLARSHIP TUITION: $0
(BIPOC: BLACK, INDIGENOUS, AND PEOPLE OF COLOR)
The link to the Zoom meeting will be sent out to attendees the day or two before class.
FOUR SEASONS OF BIRDING — JUNE 9, 2024
SUNDAY, JUNE 9, 2024
6:00PM - 7:30PM PACIFIC TIME
VIA ZOOM (CLASS WILL BE RECORDED AND AVAILABLE FOR ONE WEEK)
What does a year in the life of a birder look like? Which seasons bring which birds? What habitats are best at what time of year? What time of day should you go birding? Get to know the flow of a birder’s year and be prepared to meet the latest arrivals!
TUITION: $10 - $20 SLIDING SCALE (PLUS PROCESSING FEES)
BIPOC SCHOLARSHIP TUITION: $0
(BIPOC: BLACK, INDIGENOUS, AND PEOPLE OF COLOR)
The link to the Zoom meeting will be sent out to attendees the day or two before class.
TEN BIRDS TO KNOW — JUNE 30, 2024
SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2024
6:00PM - 7:30PM PACIFIC TIME
VIA ZOOM (CLASS WILL BE RECORDED AND AVAILABLE FOR ONE WEEK)
Getting interested in birds? Here are ten species that are easily found and will give you practice in observation and listening. Meet backyard birds like the Song Sparrow, Northern Flicker, and California Scrub-Jay along with further afield species like the Great Blue Heron, Osprey, and Red-winged Blackbird. We’ll also discuss field guides, apps, and other ways to learn.
TUITION: $10 - $20 SLIDING SCALE (PLUS PROCESSING FEES)
BIPOC SCHOLARSHIP TUITION: $0
(BIPOC: BLACK, INDIGENOUS, AND PEOPLE OF COLOR)
The link to the Zoom meeting will be sent out to attendees the day or two before class.
ALL ABOUT HUMMINGBIRDS — JULY 28, 2024
SUNDAY, JULY 28, 2024
6:00PM - 7:30PM PACIFIC TIME
VIA ZOOM (CLASS WILL BE RECORDED AND AVAILABLE FOR ONE WEEK)
Who doesn’t love a hummingbird? Their flight appears to defy the laws of physics, their iridescent feathers resemble precious gems, and they seem to survive on nothing but flower nectar. But there is more to the story! Attend this presentation to learn about our Pacific Northwest hummingbirds as well as other North and South American species. You’ll come away with an even greater appreciation for these tiny birds, plus tips on how to invite them to your own garden.
TUITION: $10 - $20 SLIDING SCALE (PLUS PROCESSING FEES)
BIPOC SCHOLARSHIP TUITION: $0
(BIPOC: BLACK, INDIGENOUS, AND PEOPLE OF COLOR)
The link to the Zoom meeting will be sent out to attendees the day or two before class.
LET’S HEAR IT FOR THE GIRLS: DEMYSTIFYING FEMALE BIRDS — AUGUST 11, 2024
SUNDAY, AUGST 11, 2024
6:00PM - 7:30PM PACIFIC TIME
VIA ZOOM (CLASS WILL BE RECORDED AND AVAILABLE FOR ONE WEEK)
In many bird species, the sexes look pretty much the same to us: think sparrows, wrens, crows, jays, herons, gulls, most hawks, and more. And in the species that do look different, females often sport plain plumage designed to keep them camouflaged on the nest. Thus our eye is drawn to the flashy male and we write off the female as “hard to ID” or “confusing,” or we think “just look for the male to figure out who she is.”
Join this class to study female birds on their own terms, not in comparison to male representatives of the species. We’ll take a look at several western North American species of finch, grosbeak, woodpecker, hummingbird, duck, hawk, and maybe a few surprises.
TUITION: $10 - $20 SLIDING SCALE (PLUS PROCESSING FEES)
BIPOC SCHOLARSHIP TUITION: $0
(BIPOC: BLACK, INDIGENOUS, AND PEOPLE OF COLOR)
The link to the Zoom meeting will be sent out to attendees the day or two before class.
Here’s a sneak peek at the rest of the 2024 lineup!
Woodpecker Wonderland - September 8th
Birds of Prey Part 1 (common species) - September 22nd
Birds of Prey Part 2 (uncommon species) - September 29th
Little Brown Birds - October 13th
Owls - October 27th
Ducks in a Row - November 17th
Registration for these will open soon!
About the instructor:
Longtime birder and teacher Laura Whittemore loves to show beginners the tricks of the trade. She has taught classes for Audubon Society of Portland and previously worked for Backyard Bird Shop, where she helped bird-feeding enthusiasts ID those confusing little brown birds. Laura holds a BA in Biology from Lewis and Clark College and has traveled in the US, Australia, South Africa, and Antarctica in search of birds.
participant testimonials
“I am so enjoying these classes. Laura is my absolute favorite bird instructor and I am so grateful you are offering these to the community. I have signed up for all of them and told a friend who has also joined and is so grateful. They are a treasure.” — Donna A.
“I attended your online Birds of Prey class yesterday — it was wonderful, thank you! The teacher was fantastic! She really knew the subject, and she was so personable that she made this technical information accessible. I've been READING about bird identification for years. And I still really struggle with it. But after one morning of HEARING about some birds of prey from an expert with experience (along with a conversational tone and a sense of humor), I finally feel so much more confident about it, at least with these birds. A face, a voice, the pointer on the pictures — she helped me get it. Really, really great! Thank you so much!” — Cathy K.
“Absolutely SUPERB class!! Cannot wait to take some more I'm a fairly new birder and have been seeking interesting classes everywhere—yours are the BEST!!!” — Stephanie M. (re Winter Birds of the PNW Coast)
“I just wanted to say how happy I am to have found your organization. I am very much looking forward to taking an in-person class someday. Also, I'd like to give a huge shout-out to Laura. She is so knowledgeable, and such a great teacher. I love her classes!” — Tonnie C.
”Thank you so much for this class. Love Laura's style and so much good info.” — Jackie J. (re Owl Explorations)
“Thanks so much for the excellent meeting. So much to learn, so well presented. Enjoyed it all.” — M.H. (re Little Brown Birds)
“That was one of the best zoom classes I have ever taken!” — Fran C. (re A Course in Corvids)