Hi all:
Just an update on all the upcoming classes for the summer and early fall
classes. Please sign up early to avoid class cancellations. Call the
Nature Shop (206.523.4483) to sign up.

Biodiversity on the Rocky Beaches of Puget Sound
With Pete Lortz and Ellie Cauldwell
Ever wonder what lives in and on those rocks of our beaches? Come discover
the biodiversity of the rocky intertidal beach of Puget Sound with us during
a negative tide. We will explore this amazing biodiversity through both
classroom and field experiences. Pre-trip classroom discussion will include
an introduction to the diversity of life on the beach (through lecture and
images) and an orientation to the ecosystem. The field trip will allow us
to explore the amazing biodiversity on a wide-open very accessible beach in
West Seattle.
Instructors: Pete Lortz and Ellie Cauldwell, Department of Biology, North
Seattle Community College
Class Date and Time: Thursday July 18th, 6-8 pm
Location: Room AS1525, North Seattle Community College (9600 College Way
North)
Field Trip Date: Sunday July 21st, 8:00 am-11:00 am
Field Trip Location: Lincoln Park Beach
Recommended Field Guide: A guide to the invertebrate life of the beaches
such as Whelks to Whales (ISBN 1-55017-183-6) or The Beachcomber's Guide to
Seashore Life (ISBN 1- 55017-204-2).
Cost: $45 members, $60 non-members.
Limited to 20 participants.


Pelagic Birding
With Mike Donahue
The west coast of North America offers some of the best seabirding anywhere
in the world! The rich waters 20-40 miles offshore support a diversity of
species--albatrosses, storm petrels, shearwaters and jaegers--that spend
much of the year in the waters far offshore at the edge of the continental
shelf. If you've heard about pelagic birding, but wasn't sure what was
involved, this class is for you!
Two classroom sessions will cover the diversity of seabirds and marine
mammals to be found offshore, focusing on natural history and
identification, as well as how to prepare for a pelagic trip.
Michael Donahue has been enjoying pelagic trips for over 25 years and is a
regular leader on the trips offered by Westport Seabirds.
Class: Tuesdays, July 23 and July 30, 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Location: Douglas Classroom, Center for Urban Horticulture
Optional Pelagic Field Trip: Saturday, August 3. The boat leaves the dock
in Westport at 6 a.m. sharp and participants should be at the dock no later
than 5:45 a.m. The boat will return between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m.
Note: This course does not provide lodging or transportation to Westport
for the field trip. Participants will need to arrange these on their own.
Participants who sign up for the field trip portion of the class will
receive information on lodging in advance of the first class.
Cost of Class Only: $45 members, $60 non-members. Register through the
Seattle Audubon Society Nature Shop at 206.523.4483
Cost of Field trip: $85, payable to the instructor. To register contact
Mike Donahue at 206.323.9889. Register early! The field trip is limited
to 10 participants.
Limit: 40 class only, 10 field trip

Geology of the San Juan Islands
With Meredith Lohr
The San Juan Islands are jewels of the Pacific Northwest and comprise many
exotic rocks! In this class you will learn the story of how these rocks
traveled quite a distance to join Washington millions of years ago. We'll
also discuss how to interpret geological clues, which will help you
understand a variety of landscapes. Our first meeting will include
background information on plate tectonics and our local geology; on Saturday
we'll head for scenic Fidalgo Island for a fascinating all day field trip.
Meredith Lohr is an earth sciences instructor at North Seattle Community
College and the director of the Thornton Creek Project, a community-based
education organization in Seattle.
Classes: Wednesday, August 7, and Saturday, August 10
Time: Wednesday, 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m., Saturday, 9:00 a.m., - 4:00 p.m.
Location: Douglas Classroom, Center for Urban Horticulture
Field Trip date: Saturday, August 10, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Cost: $45 Members, $60 Non-members.
Limited to 24 participants.


Wildflowers of the Subalpine
with Barbara Jensen, Master Birder
The color, fragrance, and beauty of the subalpine draw us every summer to
the mountains. This lecture and field session will familiarize or
re-acquaint you with subalpine flowers by learning about subalpine ecology,
plant families, basic biology, and habitats needs. The field trip will be to
Mt. Rainier.
Class: Thursday, August 8, 6:30-9:30PM
Location: Douglas Classroom, Center for Urban Horticulture
Field Session: Choose Saturday, August 10 or Sunday, August 11
Cost: $40 members, $55 nonmembers
Limit: 20

Fall Shorebirds of Washington
with Jim Flynn, Master Birder
Autumn is the season when rarities such as Bar-tailed Godwits, Stilt
Sandpipers, and Ruffs show up. The fall migration is much longer than in
spring, giving birders ample time to practice the skills they learn in class
and to see the differences between adults and young birds on their first
migration south. During the field trip to Grays Harbor we will see most of
the common species of the Washington coast and perhaps an unusual species or
two.
Class: Wednesday, August 21 and 28, 7:00-9:00PM
Location: Douglas Classroom, Center for Urban Horticulture
Field Trip: Choose one: Saturday, September 7 or Sunday, September 8
Cost: $65 members, $80 nonmembers
Limit: 25

The Appreciation and Conservation of Bats - The Other Winged Vertebrates
with Curt Black, Naturalist, Chiroptologist and Nature Sound Recordist
Whether swirling out of inky black caves or living with us in our homes,
bats are fascinating creatures. Even if you don't yet appreciate bats -and
especially if you think you hate them - dive into the amazing world of
flying mammals in this three session course with a fourth evening field
trip/bat walk. We'll dispel myths and explore the astounding diversity of
bats worldwide with sound, images and video. We'll examine the 15 species
with which we share our state. We'll start with birds and see how bats
solve the same challenges - often in very different ways. We'll look at
bats, their habitat needs and at what it takes to make bathouses "work".
Class: Thursday, August 22, Tuesday August 27 and Thursday August 29,
7:00PM-9:00PM.
Field Trip: August 30 - Dusk -location and time to be announced in class.
(Will be rescheduled in case of rain.)
Location: Center for Urban Horticulture, Douglas Classroom
Cost: $65 members, $80 non-members
Limited to 40 Participants


Introduction to Nature Photography
with Lee Barnes
Always admiring your friend's nature photos but not sure how to get started
yourself? Come take this class and learn about basic 35mm photography.
This course will include a discussion of equipment, composition, and
lighting. Time will also be spent on general nature photography,
microphotography, and--time permitting--bird photography. We will also
critique the pictures we take in the field.
Class: Wednesday, September 4; Monday, September 9; Wednesday, September
11; 7:00-9:00PM
Location: Issacson Boardroom
Field Trip: Saturday, September 7
Cost: $80 members, $95 non-members
Limit: 12

Anatomy of Birds
with Gene Lagerberg, MD, Burke Museum & Seattle Audubon specimen-preparer
Have you ever wondered what birds look like on the inside? Want to know how
mammal and avian species differ in their internal and external anatomy? Join
Gene as he shares his knowledge of this interesting subject through the use
of bird skins, wings, and actual bird dissection. You will certainly leave
this class with a more intimate understanding of birds!
Class: Wednesdays, September 11 and 18, 7:00-9:00PM
Location: Douglas Classroom (Sept. 11) and Issacson Boardroom (Sept. 18),
Center for Urban Horticulture
Cost: $30 members, $45 nonmembers
Limit: 15

Beginning Birding
with Brian Bell, Master Birder
Are you a new birder (age 15 and up), new to Seattle Audubon or the
Northwest, or would you like to improve your birding skills? Then join this
easy-going class with two field trips for an introduction to "bird
watching." We will cover identification and techniques, habitats and songs,
selection of equipment, basic references, birding etiquette, and ethics.
Class: Fridays, September 20 & 27, October 4 & 11, 7:00-9:00 PM
Location: Douglas Classroom, Center for Urban Horticulture
Field trips: Saturday, September 28 (half day), and Saturday, October
12 (full day)
Cost: $130 members, $150 nonmembers
Limit: 25


Family Day in the Woods
with Pat Otto
Families, join naturalist Pat Otto for a 2-hour tour of Schmitz Park in West
Seattle. Explore the sights and sounds of an old-growth forest. Discover
the importance of fallen logs. Learn tricks to identify native plants.
Observe the wonders of snags. See licorice ferns in the canopy. And much,
much more.
Class: Saturday, September 28, 10:00AM-Noon
Location: Schmitz Park in West Seattle, SW Stevens and SW Admiral Way
Cost: $20 per family
Limit: 30

Marissa J. Benavente
Classes Committee Chairperson
Seattle Audubon Society
junebugrocks at attbi.com
206.459.4309