Participants will have 12 weeknight lectures throughout the semester on Wednesday evenings at Beechwood, along with a birding field trip each weekend complementing the classroom sessions. The narrow passageway between these two offers the birder two excellent vantage points-one on each side of the channel-for viewing the often spectacular movement of birds up and down this passage. Herons, Bitterns and Allies Family: Ardeidae Order: Ciconiiformes Description Herons and egrets are wading birds that generally inhabit wetlands and slow-moving waters. “I thought I’d be able to get year-round and winter birds after September, but I probably should have been more aware that access is key when you’re trying to find some birds,” she says. Have you ever wanted to master the skills to become a better birder? McKeirnan’s photos of the owl, taken with her smartphone through a spotting scope, were a little blurry, but they were what she needed. Nuthatches Family: Sittidae Order: Passeriformes Description Nuthatches are small, compact birds with short tails and long, strong bills. Ducks, Geese and Swans Family: Anatidae Order: Anseriformes Description The waterfowl family is represented in Washington by two distinct groups—the geese and swans, and the ducks. Now she thinks she could have been more strategic. In a different kind of big year, a Seattle woman set out to capture each of the state's birds and their various habitats. These sessions will require the participants the ability to drive or carpool to sites, which will be 2-3 hours of birding and using identification skills discussed and developed in the classroom setting. That’s one target bird that she probably won’t get this year. Federal Priorities for a Secure Water Future in the West, Why Audubon Magazine Turned Its Spotlight to John James Audubon, How Researchers Hope to Save the Florida Scrub-Jay From an Inbreeding Crisis, The Tale of One Tiny Songbird Is Amplifying an Ancient Mayan Language, New Perils Threaten to Destroy an Embattled Desert Haven for Birds, An Allegation of Sexual Assault Sends Shock Waves Through the Birding World, Learn to Identify Five Owls by Their Calls, Help power unparalleled conservation work for birds across the Americas, Stay informed on important news about birds and their habitats, Receive reduced or free admission across our network of centers and sanctuaries, Access a free guide of more than 800 species of North American birds, Discover the impacts of climate change on birds and their habitats, Learn more about the birds you love through audio clips, stunning photography, and in-depth text. “That was very surprising to me in terms of habitat location,” McKeirnan says. Seattle Audubon advocates and organizes for cities where people and birds thrive. Photos: Jennifer McKeirnan, Nisqually Indian Reservation; Mallard. Seattle Audubon! “I wondered whether I could capture all of them within a year’s period.”. Seattle Audubon offers a Master Birder Program, a two-semester course and education-for-service program focusing on the identification and natural history of Washington’s birds. Volunteer; Adult Classes; Nature Camp; Nature Shop; Got a Question? Applicants should be at least intermediate-level birders who are familiar with the birds of Western Pennsylvania. All three birds are not traditionally found in Washington and had wandered north of their usual range. Photos: Jennifer McKeirnan, Deer Lagoon Road, Langley; Whimbrel. Photos: Jennifer McKeirnan, Farmer's market in Seattle; European Starling. Your support helps secure a future for birds at risk. I successfully photographed 287 birds within the year of 2016 and birded 170 days out of 366. Go Birding! “I missed an opportunity,” McKeirnan says. Get Involved With Seattle Audubon! Ask a Master Birder! Volunteer; Adult Classes; Nature Camp; Nature Shop; Got a Question? See who it was. She particularly regrets not going after the White-tailed Ptarmigan earlier. Rainier; Sooty Grouse. Photos: Jennifer McKeirnan, Skyline Trail, Mt. While the grouse is relatively easy to find during the summer, spotting its all-white winter plumage in the remote reaches of snowy mountains presents a more significant challenge. She is also an outstanding photographer with an artistic sense of composition. But as she learned more about all of the bird species that reside in Washington’s diverse habitats, she began to consider her own alternative to the international and national big year competitions that have birders scrambling to see as many species as they can in a calendar year. Marymoor Park is a 640-acre oasis on the east side of the heavily developed greater Seattle area. Ask a Master Birder! Volunteer; Adult Classes; Nature Camp; Nature Shop; Got a Question? And here’s what the former birding champ has to say about it. Info about our partners: Neil Zimmerman is a graduate of the Seattle Audubon Master birder program and is a regular volunteer and field trip leader with Seattle Audubon. The elusive owl and other birds she’d seen during that January trip marked the beginning of an ambitious yearlong birding project: to find and photograph 346 of Washington State’s bird species in their various habitats. Ask a Master Birder! It’s the least you can do. Crows, Jays and Allies Family: Corvidae Order: Passeriformes Description The crows, jays, and allies are intelligent and crafty birds. Photo: Howard Arndt/Audubon Photography Awards, Great Egret. Seattle Audubon! Jen McKeirnan was on a birding trip near Washington’s Canadian border when her friend Pam spotted a familiar shape in the snow-covered hills alongside the road. McKeirnan, who had recently had the opportunity to take a year off from work, set out in early January determined to find and photograph all the birds she’d learned about in her Audubon birding class. As a Seattle Audubon board member, McKeirnan had already been a birder for a decade when she signed up for the chapter's Master Birder class last year. Volunteer; Adult Classes; Nature Camp; Nature Shop; Got a Question?  “I am still in awe that she found that bird,” McKeirnan says of her friend. Photos: Jennifer McKeirnan, Wallace Swamp Creek Park, Kenmore; Red-breasted Sapsucker. Ask a Master Birder! Constance Sidles; Seattle Audubon Conservation Award Winner, Writer, Master Birder, Teacher "Roniq is perceptive, engaging and a passionate birder/ naturalist. Ask a Master Birder! Ask a Master Birder! For each bird, she also wanted to capture a panoramic shot of its habitat. Sign up for the Travis Audubon … Video: Jennifer McKeirnan. Volunteer; Adult Classes; Nature Camp; Nature Shop; Got a Question? ©2021 Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania. Seattle Audubon offers programs for all ages to do just that. Seattle Audubon! His images have been published in many bird and nature magazines. Rails and Coots Family: Rallidae Order: Gruiformes Description This family is made up of wetland dwellers, most with long, unwebbed toes (coots' toes are lobed). Go Birding! Woodpeckers Family: Picidae Order: Piciformes Description Woodpeckers have many adaptations that allow them to perch upright against tree trunks and feed on insects under the bark or within the wood of the tree itself. Photos: Jennifer McKeirnan, Protection Island; Tufted Puffin. Go Birding! NCTMB is a course in field ornithology for intermediate-level birders. As a general game plan, she divided her project into summer birds, winter birds and year-round birds. Volunteer; Adult Classes; Nature Camp; Nature Shop; Got a Question? Volunteer; Adult Classes; Nature Camp; Nature Shop; Got a Question? Since beginning her project, McKeirnan has spent hundreds of hours and more than 161 days travelling across the state on her quest. Volunteer; Adult Classes; Nature Camp; Nature Shop; Got a Question? A “life list” and a “yard list” were started, and Whitney’s friends started to think of her as “the bird person” they know. Master Birder Program. Bald Eagle. Once you’ve learned to appreciate birds, you’ll yearn to better understand them. Go Birding! We protect birds and the places they need. They have streamlined bodies, long, narrow wings, and short, wide bills that they open wide when foraging. “I felt like there were so many birds in Washington state that I hadn’t seen yet,” she says. Ask a Master Birder! Browse Ecoregions and Birding Sites Please select an ecoregion by clicking on the map below or on the list on the left. Thrushes Family: Turdidae Order: Passeriformes Description The thrushes are a large family of songbirds found worldwide. Go Birding! Go Birding! Swifts Family: Apodidae Order: Apodiformes Description Swifts are fast flyers that forage in the air for flying insects. The National Audubon Society protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow, throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation. And when she wraps up her project at the end of the month, McKeirnan hopes her website will spur others to take on similar projects and learn more about their own state birds and the habitats they call home. Â, “Building this website for me is really about making people more aware of and appreciating the habitat,” she says. ... As an intermediate birder, it's possible to know them all, in all their guises. She also served on the Vestry (board) at her church and volunteers at programs to feed the hungry. When the image came into focus, what they saw was definitely worth the emergency stop—a Great Gray Owl peering back at them. Type in your search and hit Enter on desktop or hit Go on mobile device, North Creek Trail pond, Bothell; Green Heron. Swan is an accomplished Master Birder who is adept at locating the most sought-after species by sight or by ear. Seattle Audubon! Seattle Audubon also offers classes and field trips for adults, including Master Birder, an intensive year-long course, and provides educational resources to the community at large. Trips will be scheduled on Saturdays or Sundays depending on time of year, hunting season, etc. Most are more comfortable in and under the water than in the air. This personal project goal hopes to inspire and educate birders and non-birders, alike. Ask a Master Birder! Seattle Audubon! Seattle Audubon! Seattle Audubon's basic membership is a household membership, meaning every member of your family is entitled to the benefits of membership outlined above. Ask a Master Birder! Rails are typically elusive and cryptic, while coots are gregarious. She's also added three birds that weren’t on her original list: a Snowy Egret, a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, and a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. Seattle Audubon! Volunteer; Adult Classes; Nature Camp; Nature Shop; Got a Question? Ask a Master Birder! Seattle Audubon! Photos: Jennifer McKeirnan, “The views expressed in user comments do not reflect the views of Audubon. The bird had been resting on a tree stump more than 100 yards from the road. Audubon Dallas is the proud sponsor of The North-Central Texas Master Birder (NCTMB) Program. Volunteer; Adult Classes; Nature Camp; Nature Shop; Got a Question? A “life list” and a “yard list” were started, and Whitney’s friends started to think of her as “the bird person” they know. From FUN – Finding Urban Nature – in public schools, to Young Birders for high-schoolers, to the Master Birder program for the truly dedicated, there's something for all levels of interest. Go Birding! Let us send you the latest in bird and conservation news.Â. Our email newsletter shares the latest programs and initiatives. In that way, she’s accomplished exactly what she set out to do. Unsure exactly what it was, they immediately pulled over and jumped out of the car with their scopes and binoculars. Jennifer completed the Seattle Audubon Master Birder class in 2017. Partridges, Grouse and Turkeys Family: Phasianidae Order: Galliformes Description Pheasants, partridges, grouse, and turkeys are mostly ground-dwelling birds, although many forage or roost in trees during the winter. Photos: Jennifer McKeirnan, McNary Wildlife Refuge; Virginia Rail. Ask a Master Birder! Seattle Audubon! Auks, Murres and Puffins Family: Alcidae Order: Charadriiformes Description Alcids are diving seabirds of the Northern Hemisphere. Seattle Audubon! Loons Family: Gaviidae Order: Gaviiformes Description Called "divers" in much of the world, loons are large aquatic birds of the north and far north. Last summer, McKeirnan travelled to the opposite side of the state in search of a Northern Waterthrush to no avail. Seattle Audubon! Support Seattle Audubon. Visit your local Audubon center, join a chapter, or help save birds with your state program. Ask a Master Birder! As a Seattle Audubon board member, McKeirnan had already been a birder for a decade when she signed up for the chapter's Master Birder class last year. McKeirnan was thinking of something more like a targeted list, focused specifically on Washington bird species. Tim Boyer is an award winning nature photographer. Waxwings Family: Bombycillidae Order: Passeriformes Description Waxwings are sleek songbirds with pointed wings and unique, waxy, red tips at the ends of their secondary feathers. Volunteer; Adult Classes; Nature Camp; Nature Shop; Got a Question? These field trips are designed to reinforce class subject matter and to get firsthand experience with the breadth of birds that occur in Western Pennsylvania. Let master birder Connie Sidles take you on a virtual journey through our state's waterways to … Ask a Master Birder! Go Birding! A month later the bird turned up in a local park in Seattle—the first time a Northern Waterthrush had ever been spotted there. “I had travelled over 350 miles from Seattle to try to find this bird, and all I had to do was wait for it to randomly migrate in,” she says. National Audubon Society Drayton Harbor is almost entirely enclosed by Semiahmoo Spit on the northwest and the Blaine waterfront structures on the northeast. Offered every other year, participants benefit from an intensive study of Northwest birds and serve as valuable resources for Seattle Audubon and the community. Wrens Family: Troglodytidae Order: Passeriformes Description The wrens of northern North America are small, brown birds, which make up for their drab colors with their complex songs. While she’s had some luck in finding rarities such as the Great Gray Owl, other times, long trips in search of a particular bird have proven futile. The 2016 Project Conclusion. Pelicans Family: Pelecanidae Order: Pelecaniformes Description Pelicans are known for their large, pouched bills, which they use as fishing nets. Volunteer; Adult Classes; Nature Camp; Nature Shop; Got a Question? The target list is the same studied by the Seattle Audubon Society Master Birder Class of 2014/2015. The list of 346 species, curated by a local expert birder and naturalist who taught the class, was made up of birds known to reside in or pass through Washington in a given year. Â, Just as often, birding hotspots turned out to be in the last place she expected, like the sewage pond where she found a Sora. Seattle Audubon! Ask a Master Birder! Volunteer; Adult Classes; Nature Camp; Nature Shop; Got a Question? After a long year and tight race, four birders broke the previous record. “If I could do this project over again, I would definitely roadmap it more."Â. Or take action immediately with one of our current campaigns below: The Audubon Bird Guide is a free and complete field guide to more than 800 species of North American birds, right in your pocket. The park offers great birdwatching opportunities year-round. Ed Swan is a nature writer and avid birder living in the heart of Puget Sound in West Seattle. Ask a Master Birder! Legal Notices Privacy Policy Contact Us. It serves a chapter area in a large part of King County, Washington. Volunteer; Adult Classes; Nature Camp; Nature Shop; Got a Question? Ask a Master Birder! Join Seattle Audubon instructors for an at-home learning experience. Go Birding! Although McKeirnan expects to fall a little short of her goal, she says the experience was still rewarding and taught her a lot about birding, photography, and the places where these birds live. Seattle Audubon! Ask a Master Birder! Go Birding! Go Birding! Whitney was accepted into the 2016-2017 Seattle Audubon Master Birder class, which was the first time she had really thought about trying to identify birds by their sounds. Photo: Dick Dickinson/Audubon Photography Awards, Red-breasted Sapsucker. Jennifer and her husband Jerry live in Seattle. Ask a Master Birder! They are opportunistic, and most thrive living among humans. He enjoys sharing his knowledge of photography and birds through workshops and presentations. Go Birding! Volunteer; Adult Classes; Nature Camp; Nature Shop; Got a Question? ​Corporate Giving and Support Opportunities. Go Birding! Photos: Jennifer McKeirnan, Leader lake; Red-naped Sapsucker. Please contact Chris Kubiak to learn more about this course before you register. She is a past Seattle Audubon board member, and continues to support its outreach, operations and science programs. Seattle Audubon! A significant part of attaining and keeping ones Master Birder certification is robust volunteer component, where young naturalists will benefit from the knowledge and enthusiasm of adults who have gone through the Master Birder program. Her world travels provide her with a broad view of natural history and culture. “I didn’t know that you can find an abundance of birds at sewage ponds, but that’s how birds are integrating into our lives. Audubon does not participate in political campaigns, nor do we support or oppose candidates.”. Seattle Audubon! Speak out to reinstate critical bird protections under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. He is a full-time photographer and a graduate of Seattle Audubon’s Master Birder Program. They go where they can find food or feel safe.”. As a child, he learned to enjoy birds from his grandmother and continued growing his passion as an adult. It turns out, seabirds and extreme birding go really well together. Your Membership contribution will make you a partner in Travis Audubon’s mission to promote the enjoyment, understanding and conservation of native birds & their habitats. “Whether that is in grasslands, forest, or Seattle Pike Place Market.”Â. Photos: Jennifer McKeirnan, Riverfront Park, Spokane; Ring-billed Gull. The waterfowl family is represented in Washington by two distinct groups—the geese and swans, and the ducks. Falcons and Allies Family: Falconidae Order: Falconiformes Description This widespread and diverse family of predatory birds is divided into two groups. Looking back, McKeirnan regrets not planning her year better. Children (17 and under) are automatically enrolled in our Rookery membership program for kids. Its main office is in Wedgwood, Seattle, Washington. Volunteer; Adult Classes; Nature Camp; Nature Shop; Got a Question? Wagtails and Pipits Family: Motacillidae Order: Passeriformes Description The wagtails and pipits are small to medium-sized open-country ground-dwellers. These walks will take place at birding hotspots around Western Pennsylvania’s, including all of ASWP’s properties and other locations across the region. Go Birding! Go Birding! Mockingbirds, Thrashers and Allies Family: Mimidae Order: Passeriformes Description The Mimids compose a relatively small New World family. Go Birding! Volunteer; Adult Classes; Nature Camp; Nature Shop; Got a Question? As of mid-December, McKeirnan has found 285 of her 346 target species. Membership benefits include one year of Audubon magazine and the latest on birds and their habitats. Spread the word. In April, McKeirnan launched Washington Bird Year, a website that allowed others to track her progress through a species list, an interactive state map with sighting locations, and a photographic catalog of the birds and their habitats. Audubon protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. Seattle Audubon! Whitney was accepted into the 2016-2017 Seattle Audubon Master Birder class, which was the first time she had really thought about trying to identify birds by their sounds. ASWP’s Master Birder program is modeled after the very successful Master Gardener program, and will help advance intermediate birders’ skills to reach a higher level of proficiency. Whistling-ducks are also considered a distinct subfamily, and, although they have not been sighted in Washington in many years, Fulvous Whistling-Ducks have been recorded historically in Washington and remain on the official state checklist. Go Birding! Go Birding! Volunteer; Adult Classes; Nature Camp; Nature Shop; Got a Question? Photos: Jennifer McKeirnan, Public fishing pier, Edmonds; Red-breasted Merganser. But only one took the title. His contact info: ckubiak@aswp.org or (412) 963-6100. Go Birding! Volunteer; Adult Classes; Nature Camp; Nature Shop; Got a Question? ASWP’s Master Birder program is designed to provide participants with techniques to enhance their existing avian identification skills including identification by sight and sound, and understanding avian biology, local ecology, and habitat requirements in southwestern Pennsylvania. Ask a Master Birder! Seattle Audubon! Seattle Audubon!

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