Hi all:
Just a quick note to let you know about the new classes that are being
offered at SAS. Information can also be found on the website at
www.seattleaudubon.org. Registration for these new classes will begin on
Saturday, April 19th. To register, please contact the Nature Shop at
206.523.4483.

Protection Island Birding
With George Gerdts

A trip to Protection Island's breeding grounds is an unforgettable
experience. Join George Gerdts, naturalist, aboard a spacious 69 foot
custom built yacht and experience the richness of Protection Island. Enjoy
the excitement of this 400 acre National Wildlife Refuge where over 70% of
the nesting marine birds of the Puget Sound area breed. Expect to get great
looks at nesting Glaucous-winged Gulls, Rhinoceros Auklets, Pigeon
Guillemots, Double crested and Pelagic Cormorants, Black Oystercatchers and
yes - even Tufted Puffins!

Cruise date: Sunday, June 29, 2003
Time: Leaving Port Townsend at 10:00am, returning 1:30pm
Cost: $55.00 per person
Limit: 20

Pelagic Birding in Washington
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 that are found
offshore, focusing on natural history and identification, as well as how to
prepare for a pelagic trip.

Class: Tuesdays, July 22 and July 29, 7-9 p.m.
Location: Douglas Classroom, Center for Urban Horticulture
Cost of class only: $45 members, $60 nonmembers
Limit for class: 40

Optional field trip: Saturday, August 2. We will be joining an already
scheduled pelagic trip with Westport Seabirds. The boat departs from
Westport at 6 a.m., and participants should be at the dock no later than
5:45 a.m. The boat will return between 3 and 4 p.m.

Cost of field trip: $90, payable to the instructor. To register for the
field trip, contact Mike Donahue at 206-323-9889. Register early; there is
typically a waiting list for pelagic birding trips, and spaces that have
been reserved for class participants will not be held after early July.
Limit for field trip: 10

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.


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