Description
Ever wonder about the birds singing in your backyard? Looking to try out a new hobby or hone your bird and plant knowledge in a beautiful place? In this workshop, we’ll dive into the art and practice of birding in the rich coastal forest and estuary ecosystems of the Sitka Center and Cascade Head Biosphere Reserve. We will focus not only on visual and auditory identification, but also learn about natural history, habitat preferences, and the ecological relationships between birds, trees, and other wildlife.
Participants can expect to learn to identify local birds by sight and sound as well as to consider birds from ecological, artistic, and musical perspectives. With these various lenses guiding the workshop, participants will leave with enhanced knowledge and appreciation of birds; tools, techniques, and connections to help build their birding skills; and thoughtful ways to engage in this increasingly popular hobby. Beginners to intermediate birders welcome!
Accessibility note: This workshop will involve walking up to a half mile on flat to sloped ground, including on grass, gravel, and dirt trails. Inquiries about accessibility welcome.
About the Instructor
He leads monthly birding and naturalist outings and teaches workshops on birds, pollinators, dragonflies, and trees. He loves to share the wonders of the natural world and help others discover the joys of learning the birds and other life around them.
Thomas has worked across the U.S. and Costa Rica as a bird, bee, and butterfly field biologist. He holds a B.A. in Environmental Humanities and an MSc. in Ecology, and his research includes bioacoustics, soundscape ecology, and pollinator conservation. He is also an active composer, field recordist, and writer, and often approaches learning and thinking about birds and birdsong through the lens of music and human-nature interconnection.
Learn More
thomasmeinzen.bandcamp.com
Materials List
You will need to bring:
Binoculars*
Field notebook & pencil
Optional but welcome: Camera, Phone, Field guide(s)
*A limited number of binoculars will be available for participants to borrow, as needed. Field guides will also be available to share and borrow.
Provided by instructors:
Binoculars (6-10 pairs)
Scope & tripod
Field guides – Birds, Trees, Plants
Digital bird identification resources
Speaker and recording equipment