Song Sparrow by Sally Stone, Audubon Photography Awards
Master Birder Program
.Georgia Audubon is excited to offer our popular Master Birder Program again in the fall of 2022. In addition to our Atlanta program, we are excited to offer the course in the Savannah area, co-hosted by Hilton Head Audubon and Ogeechee Audubon Society.
Orientation and class sessions will be held virtually via Zoom webinars. Invitations will be sent to the email address you provide at registration. Field trips will meet on Saturday mornings at 8:00 AM (unless otherwise noted) and should conclude by 11:00 AM. Field trips are subject to change due to inclement weather and/or other unforeseen circumstances.
The fall program will begin on Tuesday, October 11, and run through Thursday, November 10, with virtual classes on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and field trips on Saturdays (except where noted), followed by graduation on November 19.
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 apps and equipment, bird songs and calls, 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 fall class is as follows:
Tuesday, Oct. 11, from 7:00 to 8:30 PM Orientation (Melanie Furr)
Thursday, Oct. 13, from 7:00 to 8:30 PM Bird Identification and eBird (Melanie Furr)
Saturday, Oct. 15, 8:00 AM ATL Cohort I — Field trip TBD
ATL Cohort II — Field trip to Dawson Forest
HHI/Savannah Cohort — Field trip "Birding HHI"
Monday, Oct. 17, from 7:00 to 8:30 PM Birding Techniques and Apps (Theresa Hartz)
Thursday, Oct. 20, from 7:00 to 8:30 PM Bird Songs & Calls (Georgann Schmalz)
Saturday, Oct. 22, at 8:00 AM ATL Cohort I — Field Trip to Dawson Forest
ATL Cohort II — Field trip TBD
HHI/Savannah Cohort — Field trip to Savannah NWR (Kingfisher Pond)
Tuesday Oct. 25, from 7:00 to 8:30 PM Bird Song & Calls (Georgann Schmalz)
Thursday, Oct. 27, from 7:00 to 8:30 PM Bird Behavior (Theresa Hartz)
Saturday, Oct. 29, at 8:00 AM ATL Cohort I — Field trip to Panola Mountain Banding Station
ATL Cohort II — Field trip to E.L. Huie Ponds
HHI/Savannah Cohort — Field trip to Sterling Creek Park (Bryan Co.)
Tuesday, Nov. 1, from 7:00 to 8:30 PM Bird Anatomy and Physiology (Charlie Muise)
Thursday, Nov. 3, from 7:00 to 8:30 PM Flight and Migration (Charlie Muise)
Saturday, Nov. 4, at 8:00 AM ATL Cohort I — Field trip to E.L. Huie Ponds
HHI/Savannah Cohort — Field trip to Pinkney Island NWR
Tuesday, Nov. 8, from 7:00 to 8:30 PM Bird Ecology (Adam Betuel)
Thursday, Nov. 10, from 7:00 to 8:30 PM Bird Conservation (Adam Betuel)
Sunday, Nov. 13, at 8:00 AM ATL Cohort II — Field trip to Panola Mountain Banding Station
Saturday, Nov. 19, from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM Graduation Lunch — Atlanta and Savannah
Please email Melanie Furr, Director of Education, if you have questions.
The Atlanta Cohort I and Hilton Head Island/Savannah cohort are now full. Spaces remain in the Atlanta Cohort II. If you'd like to be added to the waiting list, please proceed with the registration process below. We will contact you if a space becomes available and collect payment at that time.
Orientation and class sessions will be held virtually via Zoom webinars. Invitations will be sent to the email address you provide at registration. Field trips will meet on Saturday mornings at 8:00 AM (unless otherwise noted) and should conclude by 11:00 AM. Field trips are subject to change due to inclement weather and/or other unforeseen circumstances.
The fall program will begin on Tuesday, October 11, and run through Thursday, November 10, with virtual classes on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and field trips on Saturdays (except where noted), followed by graduation on November 19.
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 apps and equipment, bird songs and calls, 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 fall class is as follows:
Tuesday, Oct. 11, from 7:00 to 8:30 PM Orientation (Melanie Furr)
Thursday, Oct. 13, from 7:00 to 8:30 PM Bird Identification and eBird (Melanie Furr)
Saturday, Oct. 15, 8:00 AM ATL Cohort I — Field trip TBD
ATL Cohort II — Field trip to Dawson Forest
HHI/Savannah Cohort — Field trip "Birding HHI"
Monday, Oct. 17, from 7:00 to 8:30 PM Birding Techniques and Apps (Theresa Hartz)
Thursday, Oct. 20, from 7:00 to 8:30 PM Bird Songs & Calls (Georgann Schmalz)
Saturday, Oct. 22, at 8:00 AM ATL Cohort I — Field Trip to Dawson Forest
ATL Cohort II — Field trip TBD
HHI/Savannah Cohort — Field trip to Savannah NWR (Kingfisher Pond)
Tuesday Oct. 25, from 7:00 to 8:30 PM Bird Song & Calls (Georgann Schmalz)
Thursday, Oct. 27, from 7:00 to 8:30 PM Bird Behavior (Theresa Hartz)
Saturday, Oct. 29, at 8:00 AM ATL Cohort I — Field trip to Panola Mountain Banding Station
ATL Cohort II — Field trip to E.L. Huie Ponds
HHI/Savannah Cohort — Field trip to Sterling Creek Park (Bryan Co.)
Tuesday, Nov. 1, from 7:00 to 8:30 PM Bird Anatomy and Physiology (Charlie Muise)
Thursday, Nov. 3, from 7:00 to 8:30 PM Flight and Migration (Charlie Muise)
Saturday, Nov. 4, at 8:00 AM ATL Cohort I — Field trip to E.L. Huie Ponds
HHI/Savannah Cohort — Field trip to Pinkney Island NWR
Tuesday, Nov. 8, from 7:00 to 8:30 PM Bird Ecology (Adam Betuel)
Thursday, Nov. 10, from 7:00 to 8:30 PM Bird Conservation (Adam Betuel)
Sunday, Nov. 13, at 8:00 AM ATL Cohort II — Field trip to Panola Mountain Banding Station
Saturday, Nov. 19, from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM Graduation Lunch — Atlanta and Savannah
Please email Melanie Furr, Director of Education, if you have questions.
The Atlanta Cohort I and Hilton Head Island/Savannah cohort are now full. Spaces remain in the Atlanta Cohort II. If you'd like to be added to the waiting list, please proceed with the registration process below. We will contact you if a space becomes available and collect payment at that time.
