Workshops

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Workshops offer an in-depth learning experience focused on specific aspects of natural history.  Some workshops are geared for people who are getting started, while others are more intensive and cater to serious amateurs or those entering field biology in a professional capacity. 

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Bird Song Identification Workshop

Due to COVID-19 this trip is cancelled in 2020

 

When:

Saturday June 6, 2020: 6:00am-12:00pm; 5:00pm-10:00pm

Sunday June 7, 2020: 5:00am-12:00pm

Total: 18 hours

(Additional dates will be added as required.)

Contact us to book

 

Where:

Presqu’ile Provincial Park and surrounding area

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This intensive workshop is designed specifically for students of biology and environmental science who are looking to upgrade their skills at identifying birds by sound. It is an invaluable primer for anyone working in the field of biological consulting, interpretation, or field research.

 

This two-day workshop exposes participants to the songs of nearly 100 species and also includes a review of their visual identification features and habitat preferences. We cover the various types of sounds that each species produces, from alarm and contact calls, to territorial songs, while addressing the pitfalls of individual variation. We also make a special effort to locate as many of the Species at Risk and rare species that are located in the area. 

 

While it’s unlikely you will remember all of the songs and field identification tips you will be exposed to, you will learn many of the distinctive ones and, most importantly, develop strategies to work out identifications on your own in the future.

 

This course also includes instruction on standard field survey methods such as Point Counts and Breeding Bird Surveys, as well as a review of the use and ethics of song playback as a means of locating cryptic species.

 

Instructors: This course is led by Andrea Kingsley, and Doug McRae. All have been avid birders since childhood and collectively they have decades of field experience working with birds and the various survey techniques that you need in employment and/or research situations.

 

Group Size: In order to ensure a high-quality learning experience, group size is limited to 10 people.

 

Cost: $195/person (includes HST). This fee covers instruction only; food, transportation, park fees, and accommodation are not covered. We would be happy to offer local recommendations. 

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