Song Sparrow by Sally Stone, Audubon Photography Awards
Master Birder Program
Master Birder Winter 2019 Graduates. Photo by Melanie Furr.
Georgia Audubon is excited to offer our popular Master Birder Program again for Winter of 2022. This year, we will have two cohorts in the Atlanta area.
Orientation and class sessions will be held virtually via Zoom webinars. Invitations will be sent to the email address you provided at registration. Field trips will meet on Saturday mornings at 8:00 AM (unless otherwise noted) at various locations around the metro Atlanta area and should conclude by 11:00 AM. Field trips are subject to change due to inclement weather and/or other unforeseen circumstances.
The winter program will begin on Tuesday, February 15 and run through Sunday, March 27, with virtual classes on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and field trips on the weekends, followed by graduation on March 27.
Please note that you must be a current Georgia Audubon member to register for Master Birder.
If program fee or membership cost is a burden, please apply for our Georgia Audubon Scholarship.
Course content includes classification and identification of birds, birding equipment, bird songs and calls, attracting birds and backyard wildlife habitat, anatomy and physiology, bird ecology, bird behavior, flight and migration, and bird conservation. Upon graduation, Master Birders are encouraged to complete annual volunteer service for Georgia Audubon or their local Audubon chapter to receive added membership benefits such as early registration opportunities and discounted event fees.
Attendance in all classes and field trips is necessary to gain enough knowledge and experience to become a Master Birder. Anticipated conflicts can be discussed with individuals. After graduation, all Master Birders are available to each other and the Georgia Audubon staff via a Master Birder listserv which keeps everyone informed of volunteer opportunities and programs and events especially for Master Birders. Master Birders are also invited to join the Master Birder Facebook page to stay in touch with fellow Master Birders.
The course schedule for the Winter Class is as follows:
Tuesday, Feb. 15, 7:00 to 8:30 PM Virtual Orientation (Melanie Furr)
Thursday, Feb. 17, 7:00 to 8:30 PM Bird Identification and eBird (Melanie Furr)
Saturday, Feb. 19, 8:00 to 11:00 AM Cohort I--Field trip at Dawson Forest (Georgann Schmalz)
Cohort II—Field trip at Clayton County Water Authority (Adam Betuel)
Tuesday, Feb. 22, 7:00 to 8:30 PM Birding Techniques & Apps (Theresa Hartz)
Thursday, Feb. 24, 7:00 to 8:30 PM Bird Behavior (Theresa Hartz)
Saturday, Feb. 26, 8:00 to 11:00 AM Cohort I--Field trip (Melanie Furr)
Cohort II—Field trip at Dawson Forest (Georgann Schmalz)
Tuesday March 1, 7:00 to 8:30 PM Bird Songs & Calls (Georgann Schmalz)
Thursday, March 3, 7:00 to 8:30 PM Bird Songs & Calls (Georgann Schmalz)
Saturday, March 5, 8:00 to 11:00 AM Cohort I--Field trip at Clayton County Water Authority (Adam Betuel)
*Sunday, March 6, 8:00 to 11:00 AM Cohort II--Field trip to Panola Banding Station (Charlie Muise)
Tuesday, March 8, 7:00 to 8:30 PM Bird Ecology (Adam Betuel)
Thursday, March 10, 7:00 to 8:30 PM Bird Conservation (Adam Betuel)
Saturday, March 12, 8:00 to 11:00 AM Cohort I--Field trip to Panola Banding Station (Charlie Muise)
Cohort II—Field trip (TBD)
Tuesday, March 15, 7:00 to 8:30 PM Bird Anatomy & Physiology (Charlie Muise)
Thursday, March 17, 7:00 to 8:30 PM Flight and Migration (Charlie Muise)
*Sunday, March 27, 12:30 to 2:00 PM* Graduation lunch (location TBD)
A program fee of $450 includes lectures and guided walks, a field guide, a comprehensive binder of information, and a graduation luncheon. Throughout the year, Master Birders may be offered early bird or discounted registration for workshops. You will be added to the Georgia Audubon Master Birder Listserv and Facebook group, which act as a means of communication and of sharing knowledge.
Please email Melanie Furr, Director of Education, if you have questions.
Orientation and class sessions will be held virtually via Zoom webinars. Invitations will be sent to the email address you provided at registration. Field trips will meet on Saturday mornings at 8:00 AM (unless otherwise noted) at various locations around the metro Atlanta area and should conclude by 11:00 AM. Field trips are subject to change due to inclement weather and/or other unforeseen circumstances.
The winter program will begin on Tuesday, February 15 and run through Sunday, March 27, with virtual classes on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and field trips on the weekends, followed by graduation on March 27.
Please note that you must be a current Georgia Audubon member to register for Master Birder.
If program fee or membership cost is a burden, please apply for our Georgia Audubon Scholarship.
Course content includes classification and identification of birds, birding equipment, bird songs and calls, attracting birds and backyard wildlife habitat, anatomy and physiology, bird ecology, bird behavior, flight and migration, and bird conservation. Upon graduation, Master Birders are encouraged to complete annual volunteer service for Georgia Audubon or their local Audubon chapter to receive added membership benefits such as early registration opportunities and discounted event fees.
Attendance in all classes and field trips is necessary to gain enough knowledge and experience to become a Master Birder. Anticipated conflicts can be discussed with individuals. After graduation, all Master Birders are available to each other and the Georgia Audubon staff via a Master Birder listserv which keeps everyone informed of volunteer opportunities and programs and events especially for Master Birders. Master Birders are also invited to join the Master Birder Facebook page to stay in touch with fellow Master Birders.
The course schedule for the Winter Class is as follows:
Tuesday, Feb. 15, 7:00 to 8:30 PM Virtual Orientation (Melanie Furr)
Thursday, Feb. 17, 7:00 to 8:30 PM Bird Identification and eBird (Melanie Furr)
Saturday, Feb. 19, 8:00 to 11:00 AM Cohort I--Field trip at Dawson Forest (Georgann Schmalz)
Cohort II—Field trip at Clayton County Water Authority (Adam Betuel)
Tuesday, Feb. 22, 7:00 to 8:30 PM Birding Techniques & Apps (Theresa Hartz)
Thursday, Feb. 24, 7:00 to 8:30 PM Bird Behavior (Theresa Hartz)
Saturday, Feb. 26, 8:00 to 11:00 AM Cohort I--Field trip (Melanie Furr)
Cohort II—Field trip at Dawson Forest (Georgann Schmalz)
Tuesday March 1, 7:00 to 8:30 PM Bird Songs & Calls (Georgann Schmalz)
Thursday, March 3, 7:00 to 8:30 PM Bird Songs & Calls (Georgann Schmalz)
Saturday, March 5, 8:00 to 11:00 AM Cohort I--Field trip at Clayton County Water Authority (Adam Betuel)
*Sunday, March 6, 8:00 to 11:00 AM Cohort II--Field trip to Panola Banding Station (Charlie Muise)
Tuesday, March 8, 7:00 to 8:30 PM Bird Ecology (Adam Betuel)
Thursday, March 10, 7:00 to 8:30 PM Bird Conservation (Adam Betuel)
Saturday, March 12, 8:00 to 11:00 AM Cohort I--Field trip to Panola Banding Station (Charlie Muise)
Cohort II—Field trip (TBD)
Tuesday, March 15, 7:00 to 8:30 PM Bird Anatomy & Physiology (Charlie Muise)
Thursday, March 17, 7:00 to 8:30 PM Flight and Migration (Charlie Muise)
*Sunday, March 27, 12:30 to 2:00 PM* Graduation lunch (location TBD)
A program fee of $450 includes lectures and guided walks, a field guide, a comprehensive binder of information, and a graduation luncheon. Throughout the year, Master Birders may be offered early bird or discounted registration for workshops. You will be added to the Georgia Audubon Master Birder Listserv and Facebook group, which act as a means of communication and of sharing knowledge.
Please email Melanie Furr, Director of Education, if you have questions.
