Learn bird identification out in the field as Wayne heads to water-related habitats in search of water birds.
This is the first of a 2-part “Birds and Birding on the Eastern Shore” series offered in the 2025 winter and spring semesters.
In Part 1 we will focus on water birds, the geese, ducks, loons, herons, shorebirds, and other “aquatic” species that are winter residents in the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic coastal bays region. Part 2 will cover some local “hotspots” for viewing songbird and shorebird migration. The parts are independent; one may be taken without the other.
While this is a program for beginners, birders who have had some experience and wish to hone their skills are welcome. Most of the teaching will be done in the field, bird-by-bird, species-by-species seen and identified. There will be five weekly field trips, three will be 3-hour outings to local destinations and two will essentially be all-day excursions to more distant Eastern Shore venues. Two in-person/hybrid classes will begin and end the course. The first class will introduce birding skills and survey the waterbird types most likely to be encountered. The last class will re-visit waterbird identification based on the species seen during the course.
Due to the importance of being able to get good looks at the birds seen, each participant must have a birding-quality pair of binoculars; 7×42 or 8×42 recommended. Some field birding will require walking distances of up to a mile.
Classroom sessions in our classroom at the Easton Family YMCA:
- 16 January 2025: Introduction to Waterbird Identification
- 20 February 2025: Waterbird identification and conservation revisited.
The five trips include the following:
- Monday, 20 January 2025: Ducks Up Close (Oakley Street and Cambridge Waterfront) 8:00 – 11:00 AM (subject to change due to weather)
- Monday, 27 January 2025: Birds on the Bay (Tilghman Island OR Point Pleasant Farm, Neavitt) 8:00 – 11:00 AM
- Monday. 3 February 2025: Coastal Treasures (Ocean City and Berlin)
8:00 – 3:00 PM (ALL DAY TRIP)
- Monday, 10 February 2025: Wetland Restoration (Pickering Creek Audubon Center) 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM
- Monday, 17 February 2025: Managing for Waterfowl Conservation (Blackwater NWR) 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM (ALL DAY TRIP)
What to Expect: Whether you are a newcomer to birding or an “old hat” expect to gain confidence in identifying the many waterbird species that winter on the Eastern Shore’s wetlands, impoundments, bays, and open coastal waters. 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.
Feedback from past courses with Wayne:
“The field trips were meticulously planned and executed across a variety of habitats and illustrating the objective in excellent fashion besides affording access to several places with restricted or no public access.”
“Dr. Bell is an excellent, energetic, and most enjoyable teacher with a wide-ranging knowledge across scientific fields.”
“I can’t say enough good things about our very kind, well informed, and patient instructor for this course. I enjoyed his classes very much, and having his dog Daisy Mae along was a treat!”
7 SESSIONS | Thursdays | Jan 16, Feb 20 | 2:30 – 4 pm | HYBRID course at the Easton Family YMCA (choose in-person in the classroom, join thru zoom, or wait for the recording) PLUS 5 FIELD TRIPS (by carpool) | January 20, 27, February 3, 10, 17 | $80
