Check the Archives for past Programs.
Workshops. and Tours
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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
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Private Guiding: May 15
Concord area for spring migrants
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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
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Private Guiding: June 12-13
White Mountain area for Bicknell's Thrush, etc
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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
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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
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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
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Black-capped Chickadee, NH

Eastern Towhee, Stoddard, NH

Ovenbird, Stoddard, NH

Yellow-rumped Warbler, NH

Tennessee Warbler, NH

Eastern Bluebird, NH

Eastern Screech-Owl, Exeter, NH

Short-eared Owl, Rye, NH

White Pelican, Oregon

Western & Clark's Grebes, Oregon

Blackpoll Warbler, New Hampshire

Evening Grosbeak, New Hampshire

Osprey, Maine
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