Classes
Being a birder and a good steward of wildlife are lifelong endeavors that both require and allow us to continually learn. It is our goal to help you in that process by providing high-quality, fun, and informative classes.
All of our classes are taught by instructors who are highly knowledgeable about the topic, and we are scheduling classes throughout the year so be sure to check back often for our new offerings.
Membership discounts apply to Pilchuck Audubon Chapter members only. If you’re unsure of your membership status please email director@pilchuckaudubon.org to verify before registering, or become a member here.
All About Owls: Understanding and Identifying Washington’s Most Mysterious Birds (online class)
February 29, March 7, & March 21
7:00-8:00pm
Photo by Mick Thompson
Instructor: Connie Sidles
Because owls tend to hunt at night and hide during the day, they can be hard to see and even harder to identify. Yet for most birders, every owl sighting is memorable. Join Connie Sidles as she takes you into the secret lives of Washington’s 15 owl species. Each species has its unique field marks and its wonders. In this class we will learn how to find owls and ID them. Nesting season is well underway, and the owls will be calling.
The class will be recorded and registrants will have access to the recordings until April 11.
Registration: $25 for PAS members, $35 for non-PAS members
Who’s Calling, Please? Introducing Birding by Ear (online class, optional field trip add-on)
Online class: March 12 & 19, 7:00-8:30pm
Optional field trip add-on: March 17, 8:00-10:30am (limited to 10 participants)
Photo by Rex Guichard
Instructor: Whitney Neufeld-Kaiser
Identifying birds by their songs and calls can transform both your everyday life and your birding experience. This 2-part class is perfect for folks who just finished the recent Beginning Birding class or are just starting to recognize the sounds of birds in their neighborhood. We’ll take a deep dive into the songs and calls of a few birds that are both common in Puget Sound and that have distinctive and diverse sounds. With the goals that (1) you’ll come away having definitively mastered the sounds of at least one bird and (2) you’ll have a solid foundation of skills to learn the sounds of as many birds as you fancy.
The class will be recorded and registrants will have access to the recordings until April 9.
Registration:
Online class: $20 for PAS members, $30 for non-PAS members
Field trip: $15 for PAS members, $25 for non-PAS members
Gulls of Washington (online class, optional field trip add-on)
Online class: October 17, 7:00-9:00pm
Optional field trip add-on: October 19, 8:00am-1:00pm (limited to 12 participants)
Ring-billed Gull by Mick Thompson
Instructor: David Droppers
Learning your gulls is like getting your flu shot - you don't want to but you know you should. They are daunting, but they are everywhere, and oh so entertaining. David Droppers will share the keys to identifying adult gulls (sorry, he's not so confident on his immatures, maybe a class in several years), and then, for those intrepid souls, venture out the following weekend to put what we've learned into practice. We will likely cruise from marina to marina, looking for wintering and migrating gulls. David will also share a tool he has developed to make identification a bit more methodical, taking much (but not all) of the pain out of the process. Learn your gulls - can't you hear them? They're laughing at you!
The class will be recorded and registrants will have access to the recording until November 7.
Registration:
Online class: $15 for PAS members, $20 for non-PAS members
Field trip: $25 for PAS members, $35 for non-PAS members
Red-tailed Hawk by Mick Thompson
The Raptors Among Us (online class)
November 12, 19, 26, & December 3
7:00-8:30pm
Instructor: Connie Sidles
Few observations in nature delight the soul more than the sight of a hawk or an eagle circling lazily in the sky. But looks can be deceptive. These are working birds, actively hunting for prey to chase down and eat. "Raptor" comes from the Latin word for "seize or plunder," and that is indeed what these magnificent hunters do. Washington is host to 20+ species of vultures, eagles, hawks, and falcons! Come let master birder Connie Sidles show you how to identify them all. Class is designed for advanced-beginner and intermediate birders.
The class will be recorded and registrants will have access to the recordings until December 24.
Registration: $45 for PAS members, $60 for non-PAS members