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SAS logo brand horiz.jpg 2024 BIRDING WORKSHOPS

Birds inspire curiosity and a sense of wonder.  Ever wonder who exactly is whistling “Hey Sweetie!” outside your window in the wee hours of the morning?  Or how to identify a bird based on a flash of yellow feathers? Or what the little brown bird in the woodpile is called?  Or why she’s there in the first place?  To help you answer all these questions and more, Sacajawea Audubon Society is offering a BEGINNING BIRDING WORKSHOP, INTERMEDIATE BIRDING SHORT COURSES, and a DEEP NATURE CONNECTION SERIES.

 

NEW THIS YEAR, You asked for it:  BIRDING BY EAR BY HABITAT 3-PART FIELD TRIP SERIES

 

All courses (except Bird Language, co-taught with Cedar Mathers-Winn) will be taught by Ashley Martens, M.S., an experienced birder, naturalist, and outdoor educator.  Ashley’s approach to teaching birding engages all of your senses to tune in to what you see, hear, and love about the wild beings around us. Contact Ashley at truenatureed@gmail.com or 208-883-4998 for more information.

Ashley Marten .jpg

 

 

PLEASE SELECT THE WORKSHOPS THAT INTEREST YOU BY CHECKING THE BOXES BELOW FOR MORE DETAILS.  YOU CAN REGISTER FOR ONE OR MULTIPLE WORKSHOPS. 

 

BEGINNING BIRDING IN FOREST & FIELD WORKSHOP

Participants will be introduced to the basics of birding through 3 evening classroom sessions and 3 field trips to a variety of habitats in the valley. We will cover bird families, common birds in our region, and what to look and listen for when seeking out the identity of a bird. There will be 2 sections of this course this year. Section A will have field trips on Friday mornings. Section B will have field trips on Saturday mornings. Sections A & B will meet together for classroom sessions.

Classroom Sessions

Classroom Sessions – Sections A & B: Wednesdays May 8, May 29, June 19

5:30-7:00pm       Hope Lutheran Church, 2152 West Graf, Bozeman, MT (off S 19th & Graf).

 

Field Trips

Section A: Fridays, May 10, May 31, June 21

7-10am            Various Locations

 

Section B: Saturdays/Sunday, Sat. ,May 11; Sun., June 1; Sat.,June 22

7-10am            Various Locations

 

Cost:  $100 for Sacajawea Audubon members; $120 for non-members.

Maximum 9 students per section.  Supply lists will be provided upon registration.

 

Please Select Your BEGINNING BIRDING IN FOREST & FIELD WORKSHOP Prefered Field Trip Section Below:
INTERMEDIATE BIRDING SHORT COURSES

These are the perfect classes for birders who want to boost their birding skills up a notch and start studying more details of plumage, bird behaviors, and more sight and sound identification tips for specific bird families or groups.  Choose as many courses as you like!

Maximum 8 students.  Supply lists will be provided upon registration.

Cost per short course $50 for Sacajawea Audubon members;  $60 for nonmembers

Please Select one or more of the INTERMEDIATE BIRDING WORKSHOP you would like to attend below:

CAVITY NESTERS

Together we’ll explore the ecology of birds in our region who either excavate their own cavities (like woodpeckers and nuthatches) or nest in existing cavities (like bluebirds, chickadees, and some owls).  We’ll also focus on how to identify woodpeckers by calls, drums, and more.  This trip happens early because most of these species breed early (and there are not so many leaves out so we can spot them easily)!

Classroom Session: Thursday, May 2nd 5:30-7:00pm at Hope Lutheran Church

Field Trip: Saturday, May 4th 7-10am (location TBA)

Cost: $50 members and $60 nonmembers. 

 
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ART & SCIENCE OF BIRD LANGUAGE

Birds are the true messengers of the forests. They can tell us if there's a fox hiding in the brush, a person about to run down the trail, or an owl about to fly through. Bird language can also open a window into the lives of birds as individuals, from the intimacy of courtship to the drama of territorial duels. Come learn the ancient art of bird language paired with modern scientific studies in animal communication. In class, we’ll explore each of the 5 voices of the birds, and learn some alarm patterns. Then we’ll practice identifying these voices and patterns in the field. Awareness of bird language also inevitably leads to a deeper awareness of self. Join naturalists Ashley Martens and Cedar Mathers-Winn for our complimentary collaboration!

Classroom Session: Thursday, June 6th  5:30-7:30pm at Hope Lutheran Church

Field Trip: Saturday, June 8th  7-11am (location TBA)

Cost: $60 members; $70 nonmembers. 

 
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SPARROWS & ALLIES

Those little brown birds can be difficult to tease apart.  We’ll focus on plumage, habitat, and songs and calls clues for the sparrows of our region so that we can begin to appreciate their subtle beauty and differences. 

Classroom Session: Tuesday, June 4th  5:30-7:00pm at Hope Lutheran Church

Field Trip: Sunday, June 9th  7-10am (location TBA)

Cost: $50 members and $60 nonmembers.

 
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 WARBLERS

What is better than yellow feathers?!  Well, maybe orange ones!  We’ll learn to identify differences between these wonderfully little flashy, fidgety birds and sort them out with plumage, song/call, and habitat clues. 

Classroom Session: Thursday, June 13th  5:30-7:00pm at Hope Lutheran Church

Field Trip: Saturday, June 15th  7-10am (location TBA)

Cost: $50 members and $60 nonmembers. 

 
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THRUSHES & OTHER SONGSTERS: BIRDING BY EAR

The songs of the thrushes are some of the most magical sounds of summer.  We’ll learn to identify these birds by sight and song, as well as the many other lovely songsters in our region.  This class will focus more on birding by ear than by sight, but of course we will take some time to explore and enjoy visual identification as well.  Other birds/families we will be sure to include are: vireos, flycatchers, grosbeaks, and western tanager.

Classroom Session: Thursday, June 27th 5:30-7:00pm at Hope Lutheran Church

Field Trip: Saturday, June 29th  7-10am (location TBA)

Cost: $50 members and $60 nonmembers. 

 
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NEW!!! BIRDING BY EAR BY HABITAT 3-FIELD TRIP SERIES


You asked for it! This class will help you make more connections between the birds, their songs & calls, and their habitats. We’ll visit sagebrush steppe, riparian forest, and montane forest.

Field Trips: Tuesdays, May 21st, June 11th, and June 25th  7:30-9:30am (various locations TBA)

Cost: $60 members and $70 nonmembers. 

 
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DEEP NATURE CONNECTION SERIES
For four weeks, we will gather in community and practice routines to develop a deeper understanding of and connection to wild nature and natural cycles. We will investigate nature
through mindfulness practices, play, observation, and inspiring instructions. We will learn about edible and medicinal plants and mushrooms (and even make some tea and/or tinctures),
animal tracking, bird language, and the many ways we can learn from nature.

Field Trips: Wednesdays 9 am-11am on:
May 22; May 29; June 5; June 12 | Near-town location TBA.

Week 1 – Observing & Sit Spot
Week 2 – Wandering & Edible/Medicinal Plants
Week 3 – Listening & Bird Language
Week 4 – Connecting with Natural Cycles

Course Materials: Blank journal and writing utensils, bag or
backpack for collecting, and binoculars if you have them (not
required).

Cost: $95 members; $125 nonmembers for the series.
Maximum 9 students.

PLEASE REGISTERING FOR DEEP NATURE CONNECTION SERIES BY SELECTING THE BOX BELOW:

Contact Information


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SAS Participant Service Agreement

Please download the SAS Participant Service Agreement and read the agreement before selecting 'I AGREE"  to the statments below.  All participant are require to submit this agreement before attending the field classes.

  SAS Participant Service Agreement 2023

* THIS DOCUMENT AFFECTS YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS. YOU MUST READ AND UNDERSTAND IT BEFORE SIGNING/SUBMITTING IT OR AGREEING TO ANY OF ITS PROVISIONS. FOR INDIVIDUALS UNDER AGE 18, THIS DOCUMENT MUST BE SIGNED AND INITIALED AT ALL INDICATED LOCATIONS BY A PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN.

6. Waiver and Release. The activities the volunteer/participant engages in with SAS are inherently risky and may cause harm to the volunteer/participant including injury, illness or even death. Recognizing this, volunteer/participant and guardian do hereby release, to the fullest extent allowed by law, and forever discharge and hold harmless SAS, its staff and board, its successors, and assigns from any and all liability, claims and demands of whatever kind or nature, either in law or in equity, which arise or may hereafter arise from the volunteer/participant’s work with SAS. Volunteer/Participant and guardian understand that this release discharges SAS from any liability or claim that the volunteer/participant and guardian may have against SAS with respect to any bodily injury, personal injury, illness, death or property damage that may result from volunteer/participant’s work for SAS. Volunteer/Participant and guardian also understand that SAS does not assume any responsibility for or obligation to provide financial assistance or other assistance, including but not limited to medical, health, or disability insurance, in the event of injury or illness.
7. Accident Waiver/Medical Release. Volunteer/Participant and guardian are aware that there are inherent risks in the activities associated with SAS programs. Knowing this, Volunteer/Participant and guardian do hereby release and forever discharge SAS from any claim whatsoever that arises or may hereafter arise on account of any first aid treatment, or service rendered in connection with the volunteer/participant’s work for SAS or with the decision by any representative of SAS to exercise the power of consent to medication or dental treatment, as such power is granted and authorized by the volunteer/participant signature and/or parent or guardian signature below for treatment of a minor. Volunteer/Participant and/or guarding represent and verify that Volunteer/Participant has no past or current physical condition that might affect his/her participation in the SAS programs or activities, other than as separately provided in writing to SAS. In the event that Volunteer/Participant is in need of emergency medical treatment, and guardian and/or the emergency contact listed above cannot be contacted Volunteer/Participant and guardian hereby authorize SAS and its instructors, volunteers/participants or staff to obtain or provide emergency hospitalization, surgical or other medical care for Volunteer/Participant. Volunteer/Participant and guardian specifically indemnify and hold harmless SAS, its instructors, volunteers/participants or staff from any negligence and all costs arising out of the decision to obtain and provide such care, treatment and/or procedure for such emergency,
BY CHECKING THIS BOX, I HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF A COPY OF THIS AGREEMENT. I ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS RELEASE WILL CONTINUE IN EFFECT ANY TIME I PARTICIPATE IN AN SAS-LED OR -SPONSORED ACTIVITY. IF I DO NOT FULLY UNDERSTAND THIS AGREEMENT AND RELEASE AND THE EFFECT OF ITS PROVISIONS, I WILL SEEK APPROPRIATE ADVICE OR CLARIFICATION BEFORE I SIGN IT BY CLICKING SUBMITTING .