April 23 | 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
VIRTUAL SERIES
Birding for Beginners: An Introduction to Bird ID
Tuesdays / February 27, March 26 & April 23 / 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
$15 General Public; $12 VINS Members
Join us for a single class or the entire 3-part series. Register to receive the link to these virtual events on Zoom.
Have you ever noticed a small flash of color high in the treetops and wondered what species of bird you are looking at? Or have you awoken to the dawn chorus of songbirds and wished you could identify who was singing outside your window?
If you want to get better at identifying birds by sight and sound then join VINS for a virtual series that will give you the skills to get outdoors and start birding.
This 3-part virtual series is an introductory course and will focus on birding basics. Each session will be devoted to a different topic related to bird ID including an introduction to some of the most common species found in Vermont, birding terminology, recognizing field markings, body size, shape and silhouette, and bird calls.
From the comfort of your home, begin your birding journey this winter!
Suggested Materials:
No materials are required. For those who wish to get into birding, suggested materials include a notebook or journal and binoculars as well as field guides. Journals and field guides are available for purchase at the VINS Nature Store. View a selection of products available online at: store.vinsweb.org.
These workshops are designed for beginner to intermediate birders and are open to all ages. Kid/family-friendly materials will be provided as a follow-up to each class for those interested in further engaging in these materials with young birders.
Class 1 / February 27
Introduction & Wintertime Bird ID – Winter is a great time to start practicing your bird ID skills and get comfortable recognizing the most common residents of the region. We will introduce you to helpful birding terminology and the basics of bird anatomy and field marks. This class will also teach responsible bird feeding and how to attract birds to your yard in the winter so you can start birding by just looking out your window.
Class 2 / March 26
Size, Shapes, and Silhouettes – There are over 260 birds that can be found regularly in Vermont. Being able to quickly recognize body shape and size can help narrow down the list of possible matches from hundreds to a handful of birds belonging to the same family or genus. In this class, we will compare the wide variety of shapes and proportions that exist in the bird world and begin to understand how each variation has its evolutionary advantage.
Class 3 / April 23
Birding By Ear – When foliage is thick and birds are hidden deep within the forest canopy, one way to identify them is by listening to their calls. A spring or summer soundscape in Vermont is full of wonderful bird calls, and being able to identify a single bird amongst the many sounds can seem a daunting task. This class will hone your ear to some of the most common bird calls to start building your birding-by-ear foundation.
VINS Field Guide Recommendations:
National Geographic Field Guide to Birds of North America
Peterson Field Guide to Birds of East/Central North America
The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America
Sibley’s Backyard Birds of the Northeast
Vermont Birds Pocket Guide
Cancellation Policy: No refunds will be offered if you cannot attend one or more of these virtual classes. VINS will send participants a recording of each class for which they are registered so if you cannot attend the live event, you can still view the recorded class.
For more information, contact us at 802.359.5000 or info@vinsweb.org.