A Course for Friends of Malheur NWR
I am excited to teach a Raptors of the Pacific Northwest course for the Friends of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. The course will cover the 19 diurnal raptors found regularly in Oregon, Idaho, Washington, British Columbia, and northern California. The first class is on February 28th and the course will have five sessions, ending on April 3rd. We skip March 20th.
These birds are fascinating, and their behaviors are unique. Each species has many distinctive features. Birders find this group intriguing; many people want to see each of them and learn more about their behaviors. You will become familiar with the eagles, hawks, harriers, falcons, vultures, and kites that make our region their home.
The course will cover all the species regularly found in the Pacific Northwest. The focus will be on learning characteristics and information beyond simple field markings, such as characteristics, behaviors, and biology, to help you identify these marvelous birds. Slides and homework will allow you to practice these skills. We will provide information on where to look for raptors and some possible day trips around Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Books and online tools will help you locate raptors in your area of the Pacific Northwest. Reviewing, taking self-graded quizzes, and practicing will help you solidify your knowledge and feel comfortable with your new identification abilities.
Raptor Species covered during this course:
Eagles: Golden Eagle, Bald Eagle, Osprey
Hawks: Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, Northern Goshawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Swainson’s Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Ferruginous Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk
Falcons: American Kestrel, Merlin, Prairie Falcon, Peregrine Falcon, Gyrfalcon
Vultures: Turkey Vulture
Kites: White-tailed Kite
The goal is to help you learn to identify raptors, know what to look for when you see one, and understand their distribution and behavior.
Register
More information and instructions on how to register are available here.
https://malheurfriends.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/malheurfriends/event.jsp?event=292
A 90-second raptor video on the course
Please share with anyone who might enjoy learning more about these marvelous birds.
https://malheurfriends.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/malheurfriends/event.jsp?event=292
Alternative Presentation – What is a Raptor Anyway?
This course is not currently scheduled. I am giving several talks about the Raptors that you might find interesting. The talks are titled “What is a Raptor Anyway.” This is not an identification presentation but rather an exploration of how we define raptors, how, when, and where they evolved. It will explore evolutionary concepts such as convergence and divergence and how the availability of food sources might have driven some of these changes.
Rainier Audubon Monthly Meeting – November 18, 2024
Washington Ornithological Society Monthly meeting – December 2, 2024
On December 2, 2024, I’ll be talking at the monthly meeting of the Washington Ornithological Society. It is Monday at 7:30 PM
Trilogy Bird Club – Redmonds – January 22, 2025
On January 22, 2025, I will be talking at the Trilogy Bird Club in Redmond, WA, at 7 PM. I don’t have any contact information for this group.
