Improve your birding skills — or get started in birdwatching with some friendly, expert help! Golden Gate Audubon offers classes for all levels of birding experience. Please register for our classes online (easy and fast). If you don’t have access to a computer, call our office at (510) 843-2222 and we will return your call as soon as possible.

CANCELLATION POLICY: As a small organization with limited office staff, it is challenging for us to handle last-minute cancellations. If you need to cancel, we will refund your registration fee if :

(1) You withdraw more than two weeks before the start of the class, AND

(2) We can fill your spot with someone from the class waiting list.

Please note that there will be a $5 cancellation fee to cover the credit card transaction costs for your sign-up and cancellation.

For information on GGAS classes at the Lake Merritt Rotary Nature Center go to https://goldengateaudubon.org/classes-rnc/

Fall 2019 Birding Classes

Fall Migrations: Shorebirds of California
Full

Wednesdays Aug 21 and 28, Sept 4
field trips Sundays Aug 25, Sept 15 and 22

Fall Migration is fantastic in the San Francisco Bay Area, shorebirding in particular is world class.

By mid-August, hundreds of thousands of “wind birds” have winged their way from their northern breeding grounds to the globally significant San Francisco Bay – a key portion of the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network .

In three 2 hour classroom sessions we will focus on the amazing evolutionary adaptations, life histories and identification techniques of the 30 plus species of shorebirds that reside, pass through in migration or overwinter in California. On three Sunday field trips we’ll have opportunities to view and focus on this order but not at all ignore the myriad of other fall migrants and resident birds that we will encounter.
Inclement weather postpones field trips.

Carpooling and Ride Share will be encouraged.
Contact instructor for additional information: eddie@naturetrip.com

Instructor: Eddie Bartley
Three 2 hour Wednesday classes, 6:30 to 8:30 pm
Three 3 hour Sunday field trips, times to be announced
Limited to 18 participants
$120 for GGAS members, $155 for non-members (includes GGAS early-bird membership through 12/20)

Location: San Francisco State University Downtown Campus, 835 Market St, 6th floor (Powell Street BART Station; parking, for a fee, nearby)

Registration opens at 9:00 a.m. on Monday July 22. Register HERE

Once the class is full, you may register to be on a waiting list.

Raptors in a Day

This class has two sessions. Please register for only one.
Session One: Thursday, September 26; 8:30 am to 2:00 pm.
Session Two: Saturday, October 5; 8:30 am to 2:00 pm.

Don’t have time to take a multiple week class?  Then come to this one day class to learn the basics of raptor identification and experience the area’s fall migration of hawks, falcons, eagles, and vultures.

This 5 hour class will include a 2 hour class presentation in the Marin Headlands and then a trip to Hawk Hill to view and put into practice the ID skills learned in the classroom. The lecture will focus on the basics so birders of all skill levels are welcomed. On Saturday, we also have the
option of listening to the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory hawk talk and banding demo that will be taking place on the hill. The classroom session will take place regardless of weather; however, if Hawk Hill is fogged out, we may be able to find another spot in the Headlands or reschedule the field portion. One day with presentation and field trip.

 Instructor: Anne Ardillo
 Each class limited to 20 participants
 $50 for GGAS members, $85 for non-members (Includes Early-Bird GGAS membership through 12/2020
 Location: Marin Headlands ( Detailed directions will be provided to participants.)

Session One: Thursday, September 26; 8:30 am to 2:00 pm. Register HERE
Session Two: Saturday, October 5; 8:30 am to 2:00 pm. Register HERE
Once the class is full, you may register to be on a waiting list.

Avian Adventures in the Bay Area

September 19 through October 20
Five Thursday evening classes, Sept 19, 26, Oct 3, 10, 17 – 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Five weekend field trips, Saturday mornings Sept 21, 28, Oct 5; Sunday morning Oct 13, and a weekend trip Oct 19 and 20.

Fall is an avian wonder in the bay area. The bay area sits in the Pacific flyway; many migrating birds flying south for the winter pass through. This class will introduce you to some of these migrants, both visual field marks and their songs and calls. Of course we will also include our large and diverse resident bird population. We will also introduce you to the miracles of avian physiology in small, focused vignettes. This class welcomes both beginning and intermediate birders. and those who want to hone up on their bird identification skills.

 Five Thursday evening classes, Sept 19, 26, Oct 3, 10, 17 – 7 to 8:30 p.m.
 Five weekend field trips, Saturday mornings Sept 21, 28, Oct 5; Sunday morning Oct 13, and a weekend trip Oct 19 and 20.
 Instructors: Wendy Beers and Miya Lucas
 Limited to 20 participants
 $125 for GGAS members, $160 for non-members (Includes Early-Bird GGAS membership through 12/2020)
 Location: Ed Roberts Campus, 3075 Adeline Street, directly across the street from Ashby BART in Berkeley. Free parking in the lot behind the center.

Register HERE
Once the class is full, you may register to be on a waiting list.

Birding by Ear

Hurry! Only 1 spot left!

Sept 19 through Oct 26
Six Thursday evening classes, Sept 19 to Oct 24 − 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Six 3-hour field trips on the Saturday following each class, 8:30 – 11:30 am

Fall is a less vocal time of year for birds, providing a good opportunity to study the various sounds of our common Bay Area breeding species, as well as the sounds of returning wintering birds.  We will be focusing on the birds we hope to hear during our field trips, then review the sounds we actually heard. One evening class will cover basic tips and hints for birding by ear, and one other evening class will be an introduction to using spectrograms (often called sonograms) as a way to visualize bird sounds.
Students are encouraged to record local bird sounds and bring them to class for identification and discussion. The field classes will cover a wide variety of habitats.

Field trip locations will be posted on the instructor’s website, http://www.denisewightbirds.com/.

 Six Thursday evening classes, Sept 19 to Oct 24 − 7 to 8:30 p.m.
 Six three-hour field trips on the Saturday following each class, 8:30 – 11:30 a.m.
 Instructor: Denise Wight
 Limit to 20 participants
 $150 for GGAS members, $185 for non-members (Includes Early-Bird GGAS membership through 12/2020
 Location: Ed Roberts Campus, 3075 Adeline Street, directly across the street from Ashby BART in Berkeley. Free parking in the lot behind the center.

Register HERE
Once the class is full, you may register to be on a waiting list.

Beginning Birdwatching

Oct 14 through Nov 23
Six Monday evening classes, Oct 14, 21, 28; Nov 4, 11, 18 – 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Six Sat. morning field trips, 9 to 11:30 a.m. on the weekend after each class.

Learn about birds that spend fall and winter with us. This great introduction to bird-watching will teach you about the migrants and seasonal visitors, as well as year-round residents. Instructor Anne Hoff will familiarize you with the tools of the trade − binoculars, field guides, and the best local places to watch birds.  In Monday evening classroom sessions, she’ll introduce you to birds and their habitats. Then on the following Saturday, she’ll help you spot them in the field! No prior birding experience required. Note: You will need to own a pair of binoculars or borrow them from a friend for this class, but they are not necessary until the first field trip.

 Six Monday evening classes, Oct 14, 21, 28; Nov 4, 11, 18 – 7 to 8:30 p.m.
 Six Sat. morning field trips, 9 to 11:30 am on the weekend after each class.
 Instructor: Anne Hoff
 Limited to 16 participants
 $140 for GGAS members, $175 for non-members (Includes Early-Bird GGAS membership through 12/2020)
 Location: Ed Roberts Campus, 3075 Adeline Street, directly across the street from Ashby BART in Berkeley. Free parking in the lot behind the center.

Register HERE
Once the class is full, you may register to be on a waiting list.

Advanced Beginning Birdwatching

Oct 16 through Nov 24
Six Wednesday evening classes, Oct 16, 34, 30, Nov 6, 13, 20 − 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Six three-hour field trips on the Sunday following each class, 9 a.m. to noon

The Advanced Beginning class is geared to people who have already taken our Beginning Birdwatching class, OR who have birded once a month (on average) for at least a year. Participants must have and use binoculars confidently. Field trips will be to woodland, wetland, and shore locations.  This class will help you with some of the  more challenging IDs and further
develop your skills using resources and references. In addition, conservation issues and community science programs to address them will be presented.

 Six Wed. evening classes, Oct 16, 34, 30, Nov 6, 13, 20 − 7 to 8:30 p.m.
 Six three-hour field trips on the Sun.following each class, 9 a.m. to noon
 Instructor: Anne Hoff
 Limited to 16 participants
 $150 for GGAS members, $185 for non-members (Includes Early-Bird GGAS membership through 12/2020)
 Location: Ed Roberts Campus, 3075 Adeline Street, directly across the street from Ashby
BART in Berkeley. Free parking in the lot behind the center.

Register HERE
Once the class is full, you may register to be on a waiting list.

Waterbirds and Shorebirds in Winter

Nov 5 through Dec 8
Four Tuesday evening classes: Nov 5, 12, 19, (no class Thanksgiving week), Dec 3 and field trips on the following Sundays, usually morning, but times with the tides.

In autumn, the Bay Area’s astounding array of resident shore and water birds are joined by over half a million birds who have bred in the north, some stopping to rest and refuel on their way further south, others coming to spend the winter here. This class will assist beginners and advanced beginners in sharpening their ID skills. Learning about what the birds eat, how they feed and their travel patterns will enhance your appreciation and your ID of both our residents and our winter visitors. Many locations in the Bay Area provide great opportunities to see these birds close up and study their behavior.

 Four Tuesday evening classes, Nov 5, 12, 19 and Dec 3 – 7 to 8:30 p.m.
 Three 3-hour Sun. field trips on Nov 9, 16, 23 + a longer day trip on Sun. Dec 8
 Instructor: Maureen Lahiff
 Limited to 20 participants
 $100 for GGAS members, $135 for non-members (Includes Early-Bird GGAS membership through 12/2020)
 Location: Ed Roberts Campus, 3075 Adeline Street, directly across the street from Ashby BART in Berkeley. Free parking in the lot behind the center.

Register HERE
Once the class is full, you may register to be on a waiting list.

Non-GGAS classes

People might also be interested in these non-credit CCSF Continuing Education classes taught by Joe Morlan, coauthor of Birds of San Francisco and the Bay Area and Birds of Northern California.

Topics in Field Ornithology – Part A (EA110) meets on Wednesdays October 2 through November 6. It is an in-depth study of North American shrikes, vireos, and jays.
Topics in Field Ornithology – Part B (EA115) meets on Wednesday evenings November 13 through December 18. It is a continuing in-depth study of North American magpies, crows, larks and swallows.

Fees are $140 for each six week class but there is a $10 discount for each course if you register for both at the same time. GGAS receives no portion of these class fees.