Seattle Audubon is offering a number of very good classes in the next
couple of months. If you are interested in taking any of these
classes, please call the Seattle Audubon Nature Shop (206-523-4483) to
register.

Ornithology for the Birder Series
The What and Where of Birds: Bird Classification and Biogeography for
the Beginner
with Alan Knue

Have you wondered?Why do loons come first in my field guide? Is there
such a thing as a Northwestern Crow? Why do Song Sparrows seem to be
everywhere, but other birds like White-headed Woodpecker are uncommon
or even rare?

Classification and biogeography often influence what species we watch
and what species we choose to protect. This course will cover the
basics of bird classification, exploring different classification
systems in use today, and how species are defined. We will also learn
about biogeography, the study of where animals and plants are and why,
including how habitat influences bird distributions, why some species
are rare with restricted ranges while others are abundant and
widespread, and how human activities are impacting bird distributions.
Class: Tuesdays, October 19 and 26, 7:00-9:00 PM
Location: CUH, NHS Hall
Cost: $40 members, $55 nonmembers
Limit: 30

Waterbirds of the Northwest
with Brian Bell, SAS Master Birder

Do you want to improve your birding skills in both locating and
identifying the Waterbirds we see during some of our most exciting
birding time every fall and winter? Then this course is for you! We
will learn about loons, grebes, cormorants, geese, ducks, and alcids,
as well as other species that utilize the Puget Sound and our waterways
as wintering grounds. The course will consist of four classroom
sessions using slides and recordings to help you learn the identifying
characteristics and vocalizations of these interesting birds. The
classroom sessions will be followed by one full day field trip.

Class: Wednesday, October 20; Tuesday, October 26; Wednesday, November
3; and Wednesday, November 10; 7:00-9:00 PM.
Field trips: Friday, November 5 or Saturday, November 6. Select one
field trip when you register for the class.
Location: CUH, Douglas Classroom
Cost: $140.00 members, $155.00 nonmembers for lecture/field trip;
$100.00 lecture only.
Limit: 25 for lecture and field trip. 5 additional spots for lecture
only.

Gulls of Washington
with Michael Donahue

Gulls are one of the most challenging groups of birds to identify.
Fourteen species of gulls are found annually in Washington, so it?s
time to practice your gull identification skills!

Two classroom sessions will cover identification of adults of all the
gulls that regularly occur in Washington, from the ubiquitous
Glaucous-winged and enigmatic Thayer?s, to the lovely Heermann?s and
Sabine?s. There may even be a rarity or two thrown in.

There will be a half day field trip to visit several local gull
hotspots on Lake Washington.

Class: Thursdays, October 28 and November 4, 7:00-9:00 PM
Location: CUH, Douglas Classroom.
Field Trip: Saturday, November 5 or Sunday, November 6, 8:00 AM ? 1:00
PM. Sign up for one field trip at the first class. Note: if class
enrollment is 13 or less, the only field trip will be on Saturday,
November 5.
Cost: $60 members, $75 nonmembers for lecture and field trip. $40
members, $55 nonmembers for lecture only.
Limit: 26 for lecture and field trip. 14 additional spots for lecture
only.



The Jizz of Birding
with David Drummond, Research Wildlife Biologist

What do birders mean by the "gizz" of birding? It's an approach to
identifying birds by absorbing all the elements that make up the whole.
When you start with discerning the general impression, shape, and size,
you can confidently turn to an avian order and family. Adding layers
of behavior, voice, habitat and distribution will refine your focus. In
turn, add the field marks and the color details for the genus and
species of the mystery bird. Learn to "Bird with the Best" using a
holistic approach. Join us to refine your techniques in this fun
lecture and field trip!
Class and Field Trip: Saturday, November 13, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Location: CUH, Douglas Classroom
Cost: $35 members, $50 nonmembers
Limit: 25

Seattle's Crows
with John Withey, UW wildlife science Ph.D. candidate

This class is a chance to learn more about crows and their population
changes in the Seattle area. We'll start with an early-morning walk
(optional) into the roost at Foster Island to watch thousands of crows
fly off overhead. Then we'll have a slide show to talk about the
natural history of crows and results from our ongoing research on crow
populations, including how West Nile virus might affect crows and other
birds. We'll take a walk around campus (up to 2 miles round-trip) to
see what some of our banded crows are up to, discuss how volunteers
participate in our research, and share crow stories.

Class: Sunday, November 14, 8:00 AM - 12:00 noon. (Coffee, juice and
snacks provided.)
Location: University of Washington campus, Anderson Hall, Room 304. (UW
campus parking lot C10 is free on Sundays.)
Optional crow roost observation: Meet at 6:20 AM in the Museum of
History and Industry parking lot. Bring footwear for potentially muddy
trail.
Cost: $30 members, $45 nonmembers
Limit: 18

Ornithology for the Birder Series
Anatomy of Birds
with Kathleen Hunt, Ph.D., UW Biologist

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? Birds have one of the most beautifully designed bodies in the
entire animal world. Come and find out all about this fascinating
subject as we explore bird anatomy through the use of drawings, bird
skins, skeletons, wings, and even a few dissections. The instructor
will bring dozens of unique and interesting specimens from the Burke
Museum and the Woodland Park Zoo. You will certainly leave this class
with a more intimate understanding and appreciation of birds!

Instructor Bio: Kathleen Hunt is a biologist with over ten years'
experience studying birds. She conducted field research on Lapland
longspurs for six years for her Ph.D. thesis at the University of
Washington, and has also worked with a variety of other birds from
Hawaiian honeycreepers to alcids. She is currently researching stress
and reproduction in both mammals and birds, and regularly teaches
physiology, anatomy, evolution and general biology at UW.

Class: Tuesday, November 16 and Thursday, November 18, 7:00-9:00 PM
Location: CUH, Douglas Classroom
Cost: $45 members, $60 nonmembers
Limit: 20

Vicki King, Seattle
vicki at kingdesign.net
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