Prairie Falcon Audubon

The College of Southern Idaho is offering two birding classes beginning this April. The first course is Of Birds and Words which will be taught through the CSI Blaine County Center in Hailey. The second is Raptors of Idaho and will take place in Twin Falls. I can personally say that all of the instructors are talented and dynamic teachers and that both of these classes will be a real treat.  Following is a further description of each class.

 Of Birds and Words

As winter wanes and you search for signs of spring, you can take this course to scan the skies and fields for migrating birds. The class will combine science and literature, birds and words: Bird experts Larry Barnes and Brian Sturges will teach about various kinds of birds, their behaviors, and habitats. Word maven Jenny Emery Davidson will incorporate poems, essays, and stories of birds along the way. The course begins with an evening lecture, then moves from south to north on three Saturday field excursions. Transportation and light refreshments will be provided. Wednesday, April 13: Introduction This first meeting of bird enthusiasts will introduce you to key pointers for identifying birds. It also will provide a peek into the poetry of birds by viewing some film footage and artistic renderings. A packet of readings will be distributed with works by Mary Oliver, Jack Turner, Terry Tempest Williams and more, to be read and discussed throughout the following field adventures. 6:30-8:30 p.m. • Blaine County Center - Room 513 Saturday, April 16: The Snake River We’ll kick off the field excursions by searching for birds along the Snake River corridor near Hagerman. You can expect to see as many as 50 bird species, including a diverse range of waterfowl, birds of prey, and songbirds. You will deepen your familiarity with the southern Idaho landscape while experiencing the magic of spring migration. On the way, the group will stop and visit a sage grouse lek for the potential bonus sighting of the sage grouse’s showy mating dance. 6:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. • Meet at the Community Campus Saturday, April 30: Centennial Marsh Centennial Marsh, once an ancient lake bed, is a vast high prairie destination to many bird species today. Nestled among the budding camas lilies, you’ll see many types of waterfowl and shorebirds. Sandhill cranes, mallards, peregrine falcons, songbirds, and northern harriers are just a few of the birds that you are likely to see. 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. • Meet at the Community Campus Saturday, May 14: Our Back Yard Drawing closer to home, this excursion will focus on two local havens to birds: the Croy Wetland Bird walk and Brian Sturges’s own yard. Discover how ideal bird watching posts may be closer to town than you had imagined. 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. • Meet at the Community Campus Section code: XHOB 011 B01 Tuition: $150 One college credit is available for this course for an additional $21 transcription fee. Contact the CSI office for more information.

Raptors of Idaho

Mike Todd, a wildlife habitat biologist is your instructor in this brief course covering field identification and general ecology of the more common diurnal birds of prey found in southern Idaho. This course will emphasize bird identification using various field marks, flight patterns, habitat selections and behavior. Wednesday, April 27: Introduction 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. CSI Main Campus – Aspen Room 131 Saturday, May 21: Field Excursion To be arranged 7:00 a.m. – Section code: XSCI 002 C01 Tuition: $50