If you want to meet other people who love birds and being outside as much as you, then this is the perfect class for you!  In each class, students will meet to share their recent bird sightings, swap birding tips, and learn about one taxonomic Order and/or Family of birds each week.  This is an inclusive group that welcomes beginner and expert birders alike.  

Each class will follow this rough outline: 

- Recent Bird Sightings: Share your pictures and recent bird sightings on a Padlet collaboration board.  Talk with other members of the group about birds in your area, swap birding tips/resources, and enjoy getting to know each other. At the end of the sharing time students will be broken up into small groups for a brief (5-8min) conversation with other learners in the class.

- Bird Order/Family Study: Learn about one order and/or family of birds each week.  You may choose to print a note-taking page to fill in during the presentation. I recommend storing the page from each week in a binder to make a reference booklet.

- Review Game: Compete with classmates in a game of online bingo or connect 4 to review the bird order/family of the day and test your knowledge. The review game winner's name will be entered in a drawing for prize. The drawing will be held at the end of the session celebration/game day.  The learner must be registered for the last class of the session (and preferably present at the time of the drawing :) to be eligible to win.  

Bird Order/Family Focus for Each Week:
This course is broken up into sessions for planning purposes, but you are welcome to join at any time, including mid-session!  

October-December Session 2024
10/31: Passeriformes/Corvidae - Crows, Jays, and Magpies
11/7: Caprimulgiformes/Hemiprocnidae - Treeswifts
11/14: Struthioniformes/Struthionidae - Ostriches
11/21: Suliformes/Phalacrocoracidae - Cormorants and Shags
12/5: Accipitriformes/Accipitridae - Hawks, Eagles, and Kites
12/12: Passeriformes/Icteridae - New World Blackbirds and Orioles
12/19: End of Session Celebration! Game day and prize drawing

Spring 2025 Session #1
1/9: Galliformes/Phasianidae - Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies
1/16: Charadriiformes/Thinocoridae - Seedsnipes
1/23: Sphenisciformes/Spheniscidae - Penguins
1/30: Accipitriformes/Accipitridae - Hawks, Eagles, and Kites
2/6: Passeriformes/Emberezidae - Old World Buntings
2/13: End of Session Celebration! Game day and t-shirt prize drawing

**Topics for Spring 2025 Session #2 will be available in January after student vote.


Past topics:
Struthioniformes/Struthionidae - Ostriches
Tinamiformes/Tinamidae - Tinamous
Casuariiformes/Casuariidae - Cassowaries and Emu
Apterygiformes/Apterygidae - Kiwis
Anseriformes/Anatidae - Ducks, Geese, and Swans
Galliformes/Cracidae - Guans, Chachalacas, and Curassows
Galliformes/Odontophoridae - New World Quail
Galliformes/Phasianidae - Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies
Columbiformes/Columbidae - Pigeons and Doves
Musophagiformes/Musophagidae - Turacos
Cuculiformes/Cuculidae - Cuckoos
Caprimulgiformes/Caprimulgidae - Nightjars and Allies
Nyctibiiformes/Nyctibiidae - Potoos
Steatornithiformes/Steatornithidae - Oilbird
Apodiformes/Apodidae - Swifts
Apodiformes/Hemiprocnidae - Treeswifts 
Apodiformes/Trochilidae - Hummingbirds 
Gruiformes/Rallidae - Rails, Gallinules, and Coots
Gruiformes/Aramidae - Limpkin
Gruiformes/Gruidae - Cranes
Charadriiformes/ Chionidae - Sheathbills 
Charadriiformes/Charadriidae - Plovers and Lapwings
Charadriiformes/Jacanidae - Jacanas
Charadriiformes/Scolopacidae - Sandpipers and Allies
Charadriiformes/Alcidae - Auks, Mures, and Puffins
Charadriiformes/Laridae - Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers
Phoenicopteriformes/Phoenicopteridae - Flamingos
Podicipediformes/Podicipedidae - Grebes
Opisthocomiformes/Opisthocomidae - Hoatzin
Gaviiformes/Gaviidae - Loons
Sphenisciformes/Spheniscidae - Penguins
Ciconiiformes/Ciconiidae - Storks
Suliformes/Phalacrocoracidae - Cormorants and Shags
Pelecaniformes/Ardeidae - Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns 
Cathartiformes/Cathartidae - New World Vultures
Accipitriformes/Accipitridae - Hawks, Eagles, and Kites
Strigiformes/Strigidae - Owls
Trogoniformes/ Trogonidae - Trogons
Coraciiformes/Alcedinidae - Kingfishers
Coraciiformes/Meropidae - Bee-eaters 
Piciformes/Ramphastidae - Toucans
Piciformes/Indicatoridae - Honeyguides
Piciformes/Picidae - Woodpeckers
Falconiformes/Falconidae - Falcons and Caracaras
Psittaciformes/Strigopidae - New Zealand Parrots
Psittaciformes/Cacatuidae - Cockatoos 
Psittaciformes/Psittaculidae - Old World Parrots 
Psittaciformes/Psittacidae - New World and African Parrots
Passeriformes/Thamnophilidae - Typical Antbirds 
Passeriformes/Rhinocryptidae - Tapaculos
Passeriformes/Furnariidae - Ovenbirds and Woodcreepers
Passeriformes/Pipridae - Manakins
Passeriformes/Cotingidae - Cotingas
Passeriformes/ Tyrannidae - Tyrant Flycatchers
Passeriformes/Ptilonorhynchidae - Bowerbirds
Passeriformes/Meliphagidae - Honeyeaters 
Passeriformes/Orthonychidae - Logrunners
Passeriformes/Psophodidae - Whipbirds and Wedgebills
Passeriformes/Eulacestomatidae - Ploughbill
Passeriformes/ Vireonidae - Vireos, Shrike-Babblers, and Erpornis
Passeriformes/Oriolidae - Old World Orioles 
Passeriformes/Vangidae - Vangas, Helmetshrikes, and Allies
Passeriformes/Paradisaeidae - Birds-of-Paradise
Passeriformes/Laniidae - Shrikes
Passeriformes/Corvidae - Crows, Jays, and Magpies
Passeriformes/Paridae - Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice
Passeriformes/Alaudidae - Larks
Passeriformes/Pnoepygidae - Cupwings
Passeriformes/Hirundinidae - Swallows
Passeriformes/Sylviidae - Sylviid Warblers, Parrotbills, and Allies
Passeriformes/Regulidae - Kinglets
Passeriformes/Sittidae - Nuthatches
Passeriformes/Certhiidae - Treecreepers
Passeriformes/Polioptilidae - Gnatcatchers
Passeriformes/Troglodytidae - Wrens
Passeriformes/Cinclidae - Dippers
Passeriformes/Mimidae - Mockingbirds and Thrashers
Passeriformes/ Turdidae - Thrushes and Allies
Passeriformes/Bombycillidae - Waxwings
Passeriformes/Mohoidae - an extinct group of Hawaiian Honeyeaters 
Passeriformes/Estrildidae - Waxbills, Munias, and allies
Passeriformes/ Fringillidae - Finches, Euphonias, and Allies
Passeriformes/Passerellidae - New World Sparrows
Passeriformes/Icteridae - Troupials and Allies
Passeriformes/Parulidae - New World Warblers 
Passeriformes/Cardinalidae - Cardinals and Allies