BEGINNING BIRDER SERIES / KNOW YOUR BIRDS
HYBRID EVENING COURSE & FIELD LAB
REGISTRATION CLOSES MONDAY, APRIL 22 @ 12AM
$35 / SPACE IS LIMITED
Whether you want to start identifying birds at your feeder or at your local park, figuring out how to start birdwatching comes with many questions. Join Alabama Audubon in our Beginning Birder Series to answer all of your questions and where you'll learn birding basics such as bird identification, essential equipment and how to use it, where to go birding, how to keep bird lists, and many more birdy topics!
Following this week’s hybrid course, we’ll join Greg for a knowledgeable springtime walk at Limestone Park and then Ebenezer Swamp to hone our new birdwatching skills during the field lab. As we approach the end of migration, breeding bird season begins really ramping up! Birds such as Common Yellowthroats and Indigo Buntings will be among the few highlights when we visit Limestone Park in Alabaster. After the park, we'll stop for a restroom break and drive to Ebenezer Swamp to search for woodland breeding birds. Prothonotary Warblers will be actively searching for nest cavities in swamp while Northern Parulas will sing high above our heads! Whether you’re a new birder or just need a refresher on the birding basics, we invite you to join us this April as you begin your birdwatching journey.
PART I / HYBRID COURSE
Tuesday, April 23 at 6PM–7PM
IN-PERSON
Alabama Audubon
2835 Highland Avenue S
Birmingham, AL
ONLINE
Zoom link will be emailed the day prior to the event.
Attending the course in-person is strongly encouraged, as there will be hands-on learning components to the course..
PART II / FIELD LAB
Sunday, April 28 / 10AM –12M
Limestone Park
2280 US-31
Alabaster, AL 35007
The field lab is a self-driven, half-day field lab. Please wear seasonally appropriate attire and bring plenty of snacks, water, bug spray, and sunscreen. We will meet at Limestone Park in Alabaster at 10 and then travel about 15 minutes to Ebenezer Swamp. We will stop in between for a restroom break at a local restaurant.
THE BEGINNING BIRDER SERIES Expert birder Greg Harber will offer two courses and corresponding field labs in April as we step into the vibrancy of spring. In the second part of this spring’s course, we will begin examining what features separate different bird families, including how to use your field guide to effectively identify birds.
PROTHONOTARY WARBLER Randy Streufert/ Audubon Photography Awards
NEED-TO-KNOW
DETAILS We will walk less than a mile total for the morning. Both locations are free and have free parking. There are no restrooms at either location, so we will be stopping at gas station in between locations.
ACCESSIBILITY Limestone Park is mostly flat but not paved in some areas, so it may not be suitable for those with accessibility needs. There is a fully accessible observation deck at Limestone Park. Ebenzer Swamp consists of mostly flat terrain on unpaved surfaces as well as an accessible boardwalk. However, the walk on the trail up to the boardwalk and the boardwalk itself may be wet, slippery, and not suitable for all people.
REQUIRED Participants must complete the mandatory online waiver when registering. Please do not request registration for others when submitting your request.
CANCELLATION In the event of inclement weather, or if you need to cancel at the last minute, please text your trip leader, as the main office will be closed.
REFUNDS Full refunds will be offered only to those who cancel no less than 7 days prior to the event. A partial refund will be offered only if the Field Lab is cancelled by ALABAMA AUDUBON per inclement weather considerations or emergency.
EQUITY, DIVERSITY, & INCLUSION
Through more than seventy-five years of conservation work in one of our nation’s most ecologically rich states, Alabama Audubon has seen firsthand how diversity strengthens natural communities. This same principle applies to human communities, which is why our organization is committed to providing equitable and inclusive opportunities for all Alabamians to learn about and enjoy wild birds, their habitats, and the natural world. One of the best ways to support that belief is by valuing and actively seeking to strengthen diversity among our staff, our board, and our membership. To that end, Alabama Audubon welcomes everyone to participate in our work, and strives to make our programs, classes, and events welcome, inclusive, and accessible to all.