Birds of Whidbey Island

First Class is September 1


Local birding experts will again offer Whidbey Audubon's popular course on the Birds of Whidbey Island. We are holding the class in Coupeville this time to make it more accessible to central and north islanders! Among others, instructors include Steve and Martha Ellis, Frances Wood, and Joe Sheldon.

Each class is taught around the time there is a good chance of seeing the birds being studied. One Saturday each month may have a field trip to find that month's birds.

The course is each first and third Thursday of the month, from September 2011 through May 2012, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., at Whidbey General Hospital in Coupeville. The course includes 18 classes and 10 or 11 field trips.

The course is $150 for Whidbey Audubon members, and may be paid in two installments.

Non-members pay $160 and receive this newsletter for the 2011-2012 Whidbey Audubon year (10 issues).

A new student rate of $50 for students up to 12th grade is also available.

Send your check (payable to Whidbey Audubon Society) to Kim Shepard, 1112 Crockett Farm Rd, Coupeville WA 98239. QUESTIONS? Email Kim by online letter or phone Miriam Nack at (360)321-3968. Space is limited and you are not enrolled until Kim has received your check.

Here is the tentative course outline:

Sept. 1: Birding Basics, Bird Identification

Sept. 15: Chickadees, Wrens, Thrushes

Oct. 6: Dabbling Ducks

Oct. 20: Diving Ducks

Nov. 3: Sparrows and Finches

Nov. 17: Loons and Grebes

Dec. 1: Cormorants, Alcids and allies

Dec. 15: Raptors

Jan. 5: Geese, Swans, Quail and allies

Jan. 19: Bird Physiology

Feb. 2: Bittern, Heron, Rails, Corvids

Feb. 16: Gulls

Mar. 1: Owls

Mar. 15: Swifts, Hummingbirds, Woodpeckers, Swallows

Apr. 5: Shorebirds of marsh and mudflats

Apr. 19: Shorebirds of sandy and rocky shores

May 3: Flycatchers, Waxwing, Starling, Blackbirds

May 17: Vireos and Warblers