2010 TOURS, WORKSHOPS & PROGRAMS,  Please inquire!

Check the Archives for past Programs. Workshops. and Tours

Workshop: Adult Education

Birdsong Tune-Up: Pawtuckaway State Park

NOTE: Changed from Saturday, May 8, 6:00 am - 10:00 am 

to SUNDAY, MAY 9, 6:00 am - 10:00 am

In this workshop we'll listen and look for spring birds of the forests and wetlands. We'll walk and drive to several sites in and around Pawtuckaway State Park to learn about and practice birdsong identification. Many different bird species are present at this time of year, and there is even the chance of finding a rare Cerulean Warbler!. Meet on the Reservation Road big power-line corridor in Deerfield at 6:00 A.M. Please carpool and be prepared to walk up to 2-miles.

Mark Suomala has been teaching birdsong identification for more than 10-years. 

Register with Mark Suomala by email: mrsuomala (AT) marksbirdtours.com

Cost: $20

Private Guiding: May 15

Concord area for spring migrants

Workshop: Adult Education

Birding by Ear: Learning How To Identify Birds by Recognizing Their Songs 

NOTE: Changed from May 29-31, 2010

to May 29-30, 2010

Have you ever wanted to identify birds just by hearing their songs? In this workshop, you will spend time practicing techniques that will enhance your bird-song observation skills and abilities. You will learn how to describe songs, learn mnemonics, and practice identifying bird-songs yourself. Class participants should plan to share their observations with each other, as sharing leads to better understanding, better results, and more fun! The workshop will be held in the York Pond Fish Hatchery area where there will be opportunities to look and listen to many warbler, thrush, and other songbird species. This will be an intense field-study with a focus on developing skills through field practice.

Habitats we will visit include northern hardwood forest, wetland habitats, and spruce/fir forest. We will also learn about identification using behavior and habitat preference cues. Typical species that we will encounter include Red-eyed and Solitary Vireos, Black-throated Green and Black-throated Blue Warblers, Blackpoll Warbler, Ovenbird, American Redstart, Winter Wren, Hermit, Swainson's and Wood Thrushes, Alder Flycatcher, and White-throated Sparrow. Other possibilities include Rusty Blackbird, Mourning Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, Cape May Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, Philadelphia Vireo, and numerous others. Many of bird species found here are neotropical migrants, and we will pay special attention to some of the conservation issues involving these species.

Location: This workshop will be held in New Hampshire in the scenic White Mountain National Forest and surrounding area. I plan to stay in Gorham at the Royalty Inn, in close proximity to restaurants and other services. Participants will need to make their own lodging arrangements. You are welcome to stay wherever you like, but it will be your responsibility to arrive at the start of the class on-time. We will car-pool to the field sites.

Limited to 10 participants. Minimum needed to run is 5. Workshop cost is $100.00.

Physical requirements: Participants should have good hearing ability, and be able to walk up to 5 miles in one day on relatively flat terrain with uneven footing.

Biography: Mark Suomala has been teaching birdsong identification for more than 10-years, including 5-years for the American Birding Association. He has organized and led many nature tours throughout the U.S. and abroad. He has worked as field biologist for New Hampshire Audubon, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, and has volunteered extensively as a bird-banding assistant on the Isles of Shoals. He worked for four spring seasons in the White Mountain National Forest, conducting bird surveys. He has a graduate degree in Environmental Studies from Antioch University.

More details to follow - please inquire.

Register with Mark Suomala by email: mrsuomala (AT) marksbirdtours.com

Private Guiding: June 12-13

White Mountain area for Bicknell's Thrush, etc

Workshop: Adult Education

Bird Identification Workshop

Saturday, June 26, 7:30 am to 3:30 pm,

Instructor: Mark Suomala, for NH Audubon

The focus of this workshop is identification of birds by sight & sound. We’ll cover the basics of how to recognize songbirds, raptors, and water birds and you will learn how to identify some of the most common species in each category. We’ll start with a morning walk, move to the classroom for about 2-hours and then head back out after lunch to test our skills. Bring a bag lunch. Workshop will take place at NH Audubon's McLane Center, 3 Silk Farm Road, Concord, NH

Meet at NH Audubon's McLane Center, 3 Silk Farm Road, Concord, NH

Register with NH Audubon 603-224-9909

Cost: $20 M/$30 NM

Workshop: Adult Education

How to Conduct Bird Surveys

Saturday, July 17, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm

Instructor: Mark Suomala, for NH Audubon

Cost: $20 M/$30 NM

In this workshop, you will learn about some of the most commonly used bird surveys types, and when and how to use them. You will also learn about how to plan a survey, and we will set up and walk though a point-count survey on the McLane Center property, covering the logistics involved in operating one. This is a great way for you to learn some Citizen Science methods that you can put to good use!

Meet at NH Audubon's McLane Center, 3 Silk Farm Road, Concord, NH

Register with NH Audubon 603-224-9909

Cost: $20 M/$30 NM

Workshop: Adult Education

Wildflower Identification Workshop

Saturday, August 14, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm

Instructor: Mark Suomala, Naturalist

Identification of wildflowers can be a challenge, but with the help of a good field guide, and some time practicing outdoors, you can learn to identify most of the commonly seen flowers. In this workshop, we will learn how to use the well-known Newcombe’s Wildflower Guide, which uses a unique key system for locating flowers in the book, and we will practice identifying as many flowers as we can find in the area around the McLane Audubon Center. Bring a bag lunch.

Meet at NH Audubon's McLane Center, 3 Silk Farm Road, Concord, NH

Register with NH Audubon 603-224-9909

Cost: $20 M/$30 NM