Seattle Audubon is offering an outstanding array of classes this month and
next. If you want to sign up for any class, please call the Nature Shop
at 206 523-4483 Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM.

Lonely Loons and Gregarious Grebes
with David Drummond, Research Wildlife Biologist
Swimmers and divers of the winter salt
These graceful marine birds pose
interesting field ID challenges. Their bioecology is equally intriguing
to explore. Join us for an in depth look into life histories via
handouts, discussion and images, as well as a cruising field trip through
Deception Pass and around Fidalgo Island. You can sign up for just the
lecture, just the boat trip, or both.
Class: Friday, Feb 11, 7:00-9:00 PM
Location: CUH*, Douglas Classroom
Cost: $25 members, $40 nonmembers for lecture. $50 for boat trip.
Boat trip: Saturday, Feb 12, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Meet in LaConner at
10:00 AM. Sign up for the boat trip separately through Viking Star at 360-
466-2639 or 1-888-207-2333.
Limit: 25 for lecture. 40 for field trip.


The Owls of Washington
with Jamie Acker, M.Ed, Owler
Learn about the physiology of owls, and the 14 species of owls in
Washington. We'll also talk about the Barred Owl invasion, as well as
results from banding Northern Saw-whet Owls. Choose between two field
trip dates to owl Bainbridge Island, to see Barred and Northern Saw-whet
Owls and perhaps four other species. Participants must be 12 years of age
or older.
Class: Saturday, February 12, 1:00-5:00 PM
Location: CUH*, NHS Hall Section A
Field Trip: Choose one when you sign up for the class. 1) Sunday, February
13, taking the 2:10 AM Seattle-Bainbridge ferry (two hours after Saturday
midnight). Or 2) Saturday, February 19, taking the 2:10 AM
Seattle-Bainbridge ferry (two hours after Friday midnight). Note: Sunday,
February 20 will be a back-up date in the event of inclement weather.
Cost: $60 members, $75 nonmembers for lecture and field trip. $30 members,
$45 nonmembers for lecture only.
Limit: 20 for lecture and field trip (10 per field trip). 13 additional
lecture only spots.


The Sparrows of Washington State
with Kevin Aanerud, Chairperson of the Washington Bird Records Committee
This interesting class will focus primarily on identification of the
sparrow species found in Washington. Special topics of discussion will
include habitat requirements, vocalizations, taxonomy, and seasonal
distribution. Choose between two half-day field trips to get field
experience in identifying our wintering sparrows.
Class: Wednesdays, February 16 and February 23, 7:00-9:00 PM
Location: CUH*, Douglas Classroom
Field Trip: Saturday, February 19 or Saturday, February 26. Sign up for
one during the first class.
Cost: $65 members, $80 nonmembers
Limit: 25


Ornithology for the Birder Series?
Bird Feeding Strategies
with Dennis Paulson, Director Emeritus of Slater Museum
Are you interested in knowing the function of that monstrous bill on a
pelican? Why hummingbirds hover? How a hawk uses its raptorial bill and
feet to get a meal? Why flamingos feed upside-down? This class consists of
two slide-illustrated lectures showing feeding adaptations and discussing
feeding strategies of birds all over the world.
Classes: Thursdays, February 24 and March 3, 7:00-9:00 PM
Location: CUH*, Isaacson Classroom
Cost: $50 members, $65 nonmembers
Limit: 24


Northwest Seabirds
with Dennis Paulson, Director Emeritus of Slater Museum
Seabirds are among the most important components of the varied avifauna of
the Pacific Northwest. They arrive here in winter from all directions to
take advantage of rich feeding opportunities in our protected waters.
Learn about the life styles of these seabirds and how to identify them.
The class consists of two slide-illustrated lectures and one all-day field
trip to Whidbey Island.
Classes: Thursdays, March 10 and March 17, 7:00-9:00 PM
Location: CUH*, Isaacson Classroom
Field trip: Saturday, March 26 (Please note this is a change. The field
trip was originally scheduled for March 19. The new, correct date is March
26.)
Cost: $90 members, $105 nonmembers
Limit: 24


Heron Monitoring and Advocacy Course
with Don Norman
Learn how wildlife biologists track the health of great blue heron
colonies. Don Norman, who has been monitoring herons since 1988, will
teach you how to draw colony maps, estimate productivity, and translate
this knowledge into helping protect heron habitat. The focus this spring
will be on learning more about heron foraging areas. You will receive a
booklet with monitoring protocols and forms to use for the course and for
future monitoring. The course will consist of one evening session and
three one-day local field trips to learn to track a local colony. Learn
more about the course by contacting donorman at aol.com, or call Seattle
Audubon at 523-4483 or visit the Classes page at www.seattleaudubon.org
for additional details.
Class: Tuesday, March 15, 7:00?9:00 PM. Coffee and snacks provided.
Location: Shoreline Conference Center (18560 1st Ave NE).
Field Trips: One field trip each month in March, April, & May. Dates are
somewhat flexible and will be finalized after you register.
Cost: $75 members, $90 non-members
Limit: 32


Blackbirds of the Americas
with Gordon Orions, blackbird researcher and Professor Emeritus of Biology
at the University of Washington
The 95 species of American Blackbirds (Family Icteridae) range from
southern Alaska to Tierra del Fuego. They live in most kinds of
environments, and among them they have most forms of social organization
found in the entire avian world. Consequently, they have been used by many
investigators to test hypotheses about such topics as social organization,
mating systems, brood parasitism, habitat selection, and foraging
behavior. Only seven species breed in Washington State, but they have
been favorite subjects for research. This class will provide an overview
of this remarkable family of birds and describe the contributions to
knowledge generated by field studies of their behavior.
Class: Wednesday, March 16, 7:00-9:00 PM
Location: CUH*, Douglas Classroom
Cost: $25 members, $40 nonmembers
Limit: 35


Ornithology for the Birder Series?
How Do Birds Sing and Why?
with George Bentley, PhD, 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 Shakespearean
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 the ?whys? of vocal
communication in birds, with an emphasis on what classic and cutting-edge
research has taught us. This is probably the last time we will be able to
offer this popular class, as Dr. Bentley will be relocating to accept a
position at UC Berkeley.
Classes: Wednesday, March 23 and Friday, March 25, 7:00-9:00 PM
Location: CUH*, Douglas Classroom
Cost: $30 members, $45 nonmembers
Limit: 40


Ambling with Amphibians
with David Drummond, Research Wildlife Biologist
Frogs are Fun and Newts be Nifty! For eons, tales of the frog clan have
represented the time of spring and renewal. Brush the winter grey away
with this amphibian class and discover frogs, toads, and salamanders!
We?ll learn about these amazing animals? adaptations, life cycles,
habitat preferences, and conservation status. Informal lab with live
specimens, handouts, slide discussion, and early evening field trip.
Please bring rubber boots and a flashlight, and a dish to share for a
potluck dinner.
Class and Field Trip: Saturday, March 26, 2:00-9:00 PM
Location: Brezeale Interpretive Center (Padilla Bay National Estuarine
Research Reserve). Directions available when you sign up, or go to
www.padillabay.gov and click on Location & Hours.
Cost: $45 members, $60 nonmembers.
Limit: 20


Ornithology for the Birder Series?
Bird Migration Strategies
with Dennis Paulson, Director Emeritus of Slater Museum, UPS
One of the most amazing natural phenomena in the world is the annual
migration of birds, millions of them sweeping north across all the
continents in spring and returning south in fall. Our own state features
dozens of species that are involved in these movements. The class consists
of two lectures that will explain the phenomenon of migration and
illustrate it with species from Washington and elsewhere.
Class: Tuesdays, March 29 and April 5, 7:00-9:00 PM
Location: CUH*, Isaacson Classroom
Cost: $50 members, $65 nonmembers
Limit: 24


A Wildlife Watcher?s Landscape
with Russell Link, Urban Wildlife Biologist and author of ?Landscaping for
Wildlife in the Pacific Northwest? and ?Living with Wildlife in the
Pacific Northwest?
This presentation will include information and wonderful examples on how
to design and maintain wildlife habitat around homes and properties. Using
examples from his Whidbey Island home, the instructor will discuss
wildlife viewing techniques and placement of habitat enhancement features
such as bird and bat houses, seed and suet feeders, ponds, and birdbaths.
We will end with a question and answer period and book signing.
Class: Wednesday, March 30, 7:00-9:00 PM
Location: CUH, Douglas classroom
Cost: $15 members, $30 nonmembers
Limit: 40


Woodpeckers
with Brian Bell, Master Birder
Woodpeckers are found in almost all habitats in Washington from sea level
to boreal forests to semiarid eastern Washington valleys. We will examine
the twelve species that are present in our state, discuss their habitat
requirements, become acquainted with vocalizations and drumming patterns,
examine seasonal distribution and build identification skills. On a
half-day trip in Western Washington and a full-day trip to Eastern
Washington, we?ll see and experience these fascinating birds in the field.
Class: Friday, April 1, 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Location: CUH*, Douglas Classroom
Field Trips: Saturday, April 2, 7:00 AM - 12 Noon; and Saturday, May 21,
6:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Cost: $65 members, $80 nonmembers for lecture and field trips. $45
members, $60 nonmember for lecture only.
Limit: 20 for lecture and field trips. 5 for lecture only.

Vicki King
Seattle
vicki at kingdesign.net