Join Wayne for the second of the two-part “Birds and Birding on the Eastern Shore” series offered in the 2024 winter and spring semesters. The parts are independent; one may be taken without the other.
- Part 1 (last winter) focused on water birds, geese, ducks, shorebirds, and other “aquatic” species that are winter residents in the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic coastal bays region.
- Part 2 (this spring) will provide a unique opportunity to observe the spring migration of songbirds and shorebirds.
While this is a program for beginners, birders who have had some experience and wish to hone their skills are welcome.
Like recent iterations of this course, most of the teaching will be done in the field, species-by-species, habitat by habitat. There will be seven field trips at approximately weekly intervals, five of which will be three-hour outings to local destinations and two of which will be essentially all-day to more distant venues.
There will be two in-person hybrid classes. The first will briefly review birding skills and resources, then proceed to examine some of the principles of bird migration. The second will consider conservation issues for saving migrant birds across their entire ranges.
What to Expect: Gain confidence in identifying the many bird species that are departing winter residents, summer residents, or transient migrants on the Eastern Shore. In addition to clues such as field marks, general appearance, and behavior, you will see how the relationship between species and habitat provides additional identification information as well as insight into approaches to bird conservation.
SPECIAL NOTES FOR THE FIELD TRIPS: The weekly field trips are scheduled as follows (subject to change due to weather):
- Tuesday, April 16, 2024: Late Departures, Early Arrivals, and Resident Species (Foreman’s Branch Bird Banding Station) 7:00 – 11:00 AM
- Monday, April 22, 2024: Introduction to Bird Habitats (Point Pleasant Farm) 8:00 – 11:00 AM
- Monday, April 29, 2024: Warblers and More (Bear Swamp, Nassawango, and Lecompte WMA) 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Friday, May 3, 2024: Beyond Warblers (Pickering Creek Audubon Center) 7:00 – 11:00 AM
- Monday, May 13, 2024: Oriole Quest (Hope House, Tunis Mills) 7:00 AM – 11:00 AM
- Monday, May 20, 2024: Significance of Early Succession (Wye Farm, Centreville) 7:00 AM – 11:00 AM
- Tuesday, May 28, 2024: Shorebird Migration (Bombay Hook NWR) 6:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Wayne will be communicating directly with participants with regard to field trip reminders, directions, and any other “need to know” information. Carpooling is highly recommended on field trips.
Due to the importance of being able to get good looks at the birds, you must have a birding-quality pair of binoculars; 7×42 or 8×42 is recommended. Some locations will require walking distances of up to a mile. Layers of clothing, hats, bug spray, rain gear, and appropriate footwear for wet conditions are highly recommended.
Feedback from past Birding programs with Wayne:
“I always learn so much in Wayne’s classes. And if I forget something I just learned, Wayne very nicely tries again.”
“Dr. Wayne Bell is fabulous! First time birder. Learning a lot. 10 stars!!“
“Wayne is an excellent and knowledgeable teacher. He pours himself into his teaching.”
“The birding classes are great! We’ve learned so much – especially on the field trips!“
Here are the links to the Recordings of Birds & Birding Part 2: Migration
The Field Trip Reports can be found in this folder: HANDOUTS
