Spring 2019 Birding Classes
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Spring 2019 Birding Classes

Field Photography Workshop with a Pro:
Wintering Raptors and more in Sierra Valley
February 23 and 24

Ferruginous Hawk by John Ehrenfeld

Spend a weekend with professional wildlife photographer John Ehrenfeld in the Sierra Valley. Target species include Rough-legged and Ferruginous Hawks, falcons, and eagles.

There are 25 eBird hotspots for Sierra Valley, which straddles Sierra and Plumas Counties.

Plan to spend all day Saturday and Sunday in the field. John will provide technical and creative advice for photographers and will lead a friendly critique session to review the day’s photographs on Saturday evening.

Two-night stays are required at all the lodging options in the area. A list of lodging suggestions will be sent to participants soon after they register.

The group will meet at the intersection of highways 89 and 49 at the Globe Hotel parking lot at 11 am on Saturday. Participants will stay over Saturday night and return to the field on Sunday morning. Carpooling is recommended.

The instructors website is http://www.johnehrenfeldphotography

Limited to 10 participants.

Fee is $250 for GGBA members and $300 for others. Accommodations and meals not included in the course fee.

Weather: Rain and fog can add ambiance to nature photography so we’ll address those challenges in the field like the pros do. Heavy snow forecast will cancel trip and it will be rescheduled.

No minimum standards for photo equipment, but a digital SLR with a minimum reach of a 300mm lens will be helpful.

Click HERE to register online. Once the class is full, you may register to be on a waiting list. Registration closes on Wednesday, February 20.

Birding by Ear – Early Spring
February 28 through April 6

Early Spring!  It’s a great time to learn bird sounds of our resident birds, as well as those of
returning migrants.  We will explore various techniques for learning how to identify the songs
and calls local birds, especially  the vocalizations of the species we hope to encounter on our
the field trips.  Field trip locations are listed on the instructor’s website denisewightbirds.com

  • Six Thursday evening classes, February 28 to April 5; 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
  • $110 for GGBA members, $130 for non-members
  • Location: Ed Roberts Campus, 3075 Adeline Street, directly across the street from Ashby
    BART in Berkeley. Free parking in the lot behind the center.
Join the Conversation

Join the Conversation

Please share your memorable GGBA experiences! Did you participate in an event, volunteer for a program, or lead a great trip? Did you snap a few pictures or take a quick video with your phone? We’d love to share your moments on our social media platforms. Please email photographs and/or video with a description of 20 words or less to lweir@goldengatebirdalliance.org. Please ensure that the people photographed have signed a volunteer waiver or field trip sheet and let us know who to credit for the photo or film clip. Follow us on FacebookTwitter, and Instagram and watch for your posts.…

Celebrate autumn with a birding class

Celebrate autumn with a birding class

Are you curious about the birds in your backyard or neighborhood park? Do you know a little bit about birds but want to learn more? Or are you an experienced birder who wants to take your enjoyment and knowledge to a whole new level?

Whatever your experience level or interest… we’ve got a birding class for you this fall!

In addition to our usual line-up of excellent and convenient East Bay classes, we’re delighted to offer a Beginning Birding class in San Francisco for the first time in several years.

Birding class at MLK Shoreline in Oakland / Photo by Ilana DeBare

Choose from the following classes:

Beginning Birdwatching (meets next to Ashby BART in Berkeley)

Wild Birds of the Bay Area (for beginning and intermediate birders, meets at Fort Mason in San Francisco)

Appreciating Birds: Journaling and Field Sketching

Raptor ID in a Day (meets in Marin Headlands)

Birds of the Bay Area

Avian Treasure Hunt: Fall Migration

Birding By Ear

Registration opens for some of these classes on August 9, and for the rest of them on August 16. For dates, details, and registration links, see our Classes web page.

Our instructors are expert birders who share their passion in a welcoming, accessible manner.  Expand your understanding of the wildlife all around us… explore beautiful natural areas… meet new friends… and make autumn 2017 a season you’ll remember.…

Fall birding classes are coming

Fall birding classes are coming

Check out our great array of birding classes for Fall 2016! Whether you’re a beginner or expert birder, and whether you want to spend a single day or a prefer a series of classes and field trips, we’ve got something for you.

We’re featuring two NEW classes this fall — a multi-week raptors class taught in San Francisco by Eddie Bartley (with field trips to Marin), and a single-day raptor ID class taught in the Marin Headlands by Anne Ardillo.

Other fall classes include:

  • Beginning Birding
  • Advanced Beginning Birding
  • Migrant Treasure Hunting
  • Birding by Ear
  • Birds of the Bay Area
  • Shorebirds and Water Birds

Registration opens in early August. Visit our Classes web page for details, schedule and registration information. Some classes fill up quickly: Check the registration opening date for the specific class so you don’t miss out.…

Beginning Birding class starts on May 8

Beginning Birding class starts on May 8

Ever wonder what those little tweeting yellow guys are in your backyard? Now’s your chance to find out — in our spring Beginning Birding class.

With four evening classroom sessions and four Saturday morning field trips, this class is a perfect way to start learning about birds or to improve your existing birding skills.

Anna's Hummingbird / Photo by Rick Lewis

Instructor Anne Hoff will familiarize you with the tools of the trade — binoculars, field guides, scopes, and more. She’ll show you places to watch birds in the Bay Area, and help you learn to identify the birds of the bay and uplands. Singing, breeding birds in their most colorful plumage make spring a particularly inviting season for birdwatching. Class includes:

Four Wednesday evenings — 7 to 8:30 p.m. — May 8, 15, 22, 29

Four Saturday field trips — 8 to 10:30 a.m. — May 11,18, 25, and June 1

Cost: $85 for Golden Gate Bird Alliance members, $105 for non-members

This class will take place at the Golden Gate Bird Alliance office at 2530 San Pablo Avenue, Suite G, in Berkeley (at Blake).

To register for Beginning Birding online, please click here. Class is limited to 15 participants; then there will be a waiting list in case any registrants drop out.

Questions? Email Ilana at idebare@goldengatebirdalliance.org.

 

Photo of Western Tanager on GGBA home page by Bob Lewis.

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