Hi all:
Just an update on the latest classes at SAS as well as some of the classes
that still have space available. Signups for the new classes will begin
after 3pm today as I still have to get the signup sheets over to the office
today. Classes with space remaining may be registered immediately. For
further information or to sign up for a class, please contact the Nature
Shop at 206.523.4483.

Thanks,
Marissa

NEW CLASSES
Winter Birds of Skagit County
With Jim Flynn, Master Birder
Any birder worth their binoculars can tell you that some of the most
exciting birding Washington has to offer can be found in ?the Skagit? in the
winter. From the sought after Gyrfalcon - a regular denizen of the Samish
Flats, to flocks of comparatively diminutive sparrows with their occasional
rarities, to skeins of Snow Geese and Swans over Skagit Bay, winter birding
in the Skagit offers a wide variety of rewarding birding in a beautiful
landscape. During the classroom sessions we will learn about the fluctuating
populations of Swans and Snow Geese and their prospects for the future. We
will also discuss numbers, distribution and winter behavior of the Skagit?s
raptors, waterfowl and songbirds as well as identification of all of these
species.
Class Session: Monday, December 9th and Wednesday, December 11th, 2002
Class Location: Douglas Classroom, Center for Urban Horticulture
Time: 7:00 to 9:00 P.M.
Field Trip: Saturday, January 25th or Sunday, January 26th. Sign-up for
the field trip will occur on the first night of class. There may be only
one field trip day depending upon the number of participants.
Cost: $65 SAS members, $80 non-members
Class limited to 25 participants


Eagles of the Upper Skagit
with Phil Green, Bald Eagle Survey Coordinator for The Nature Conservancy of
Washington
Each year hundreds of eagles return to the Skagit from their nesting grounds
in Alaska, British Columbia and Northwest Territories. We will begin the
day visiting foraging areas observing these magnificent birds as they feed
on spawned out salmon. Midday we'll take a break for a two part slide show.
The first part will show the juvenile to adult plumages. The second part
will illustrate a day in the life of a wintering Skagit eagle. The
afternoon will be spent visiting favored perching locations along the Skagit
ending with a visit to an eagle night roost.
Class: Saturday, December 21st, 2002
Time: 9:30 a.m.
Location: Meet the instructor at Howard Miller Steelhead Park in Rockport,
WA. Arrangements will be made ahead of time to carpool from Seattle. This
is approximately a 1 ?-2 hour drive from Seattle.
Cost: $30 members, $45 non-members
Class limited to 15 participants.



Ornithology for the Birder Series

How do Birds Fly? Exploring Gliding, Flapping and Soaring in Birds
With Thomas Daniel, Ph.D, Department of Zoology, University of Washington
Come and explore the wonderful marvel of flight! In this class we will
explore basic engineering principles to help assist us in understanding the
dynamics of flight in birds. We will cover material from the origins of
lift to the more novel approaches that animals have developed to allow
flight. We will also cover the principles of flight design in birds.
Don?t be left behind in recognizing dynamic soaring!
Class: Monday, January 13th and Wednesday, January 15th, 2003
Location: Douglas Classroom, Center for Urban Horticulture
Time: 7:00-9:00pm
Cost: $40 members, $55 non-members
Class limited to 40 participants


Western Washington Raptors
With Jim Flynn, Master Birder
Join us for this class that will cover the ID and basic biology of western
Washington?s raptors. This class should be of interest to intermediate and
beginning birders alike. Two class sessions will cover ID, feeding
behaviors, breeding biology, winter territoriality, and more. The field trip
will give students a chance to practice raptor identification concepts and
to observe and discuss raptor behavior.
Class sessions: Monday, January 27th and Wednesday, January 29th, 2003
Class location: Douglas Classroom, Center for Urban Horticulture
Time: 7:00-9:00 PM
Field Trip: Saturday, February 1st or Sunday, February 2nd. Sign-up for
the field trip will occur on the first night of class. There may be only
one field trip day depending upon the number of registrations.
Cost: $70 members, $85 non-members
Limited to 25 participants

Classes with space still available
Family Birding: A Beginning for Parents and Children
with Isadora Wong, Master Birder
Are your children interested in birds? Don?t let the kids leave you behind;
learn birding skills with them! We will cover the basics on the use of
binoculars, tips on identifying birds, and ideas to encourage family
birding. After a brief classroom instruction, we will take a morning trip
to Green Lake for a family birding experience. Please note that children?s
ages should be between 7 and 12 years.
Class: Saturday, November 2, 11:00 am - Noon
Location: Wedgewood Presbyterian Church, Classroom B1
Field Trip: Sunday, November 3, 8:00 am - 10:00 am, Green Lake
Cost: $15.00 per member family, $30 per non-member family
Limit: 5 families maximum; LIMIT OF 2 CHILDREN, AGE 7-12, PER FAMILY


The Sparrows of Washington State
with Kevin Aanerud, Chairperson of the Washington Bird Records Committee.
This interesting class will primarily focus on identification of the sparrow
species found in Washington. Special topics of discussion will include
habitat requirements, vocalizations, taxonomy and seasonal distribution. The
two half-day field trips (by carpool) will provide the class with field
experience in identifying our wintering sparrows.
Class: Mondays, November 4th and 11th, 7:00-9:00 pm
Location: Wedgewood Presbyterian Church, Classroom B1
Field Trip: Saturdays, November 9th and 16th from 7:30 am -1:00 pm
Cost: $65 members; $80 non-members.
Class participation limited to 18


THE ART OF NATURE SERIES
The Drawing and Study of Birds
With Marilyn Milberger, Artist, Biologist, and Master Birder
Birdwatchers are very good observers - in this class you will learn to
translate some of your observational skills into accurate "picture notes"
and artistic drawings of birds. Working with graphite (pencil) and paper, we
will practice a very detailed approach to portraying the general forms and
shapes characteristic of different families of birds.
Each student will then select a particular species and do studies of beak,
feet, and feathers from a preserved specimen. A final drawing of the bird
will be done from photo references to add posture, "spirit" and
environmental context. All levels of drawing expertise are welcome.
Class: Thursdays, November 7th , 14th and 21st from 7:00 - 9:00 pm
Location: Wedgewood Presbyterian Church, Classroom B1
Cost: $90 members, $105 non-members
Class participation limited to 15


ORNITHOLOGY FOR THE BIRDER SERIES
How Do Birds Sing, and Why?
With George Bentley, Ph.D., Department of Zoology, University of Washington
Do you ever wonder why some birds sing and others just call? Would you like
to know how songbirds produce such melodious tunes? What about the dawn
chorus? Sexual attraction? Aggression? No, it?s not a Shakespearian tragedy,
just the day-to-day life of songbirds. Come and learn about the anatomy and
physiology of birdsong, from specialized organs to highly-evolved brains.
Find out how song can cause hormones to surge. This class will present an
overview of the ?hows? and ?whys? of vocal communication in birds.
Class: Tuesday, November 19th and Friday, November 22nd from 7:00-9:00 pm
Location: Douglas Classroom, CUH
Cost: $40 members, $55 non-members
Class limited to 40 participants


Marissa J. Benavente
Classes Committee Chairperson
Seattle Audubon Society
junebugrocks at attbi.com
206.522.5273

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