Become a more experienced, confident birder over the next year by slowly learning details, tips, and tricks each month! Birding is a hobby that increases your observational skills, connecting you to nature even more. You’ll get outside and move more, see more, and feel accomplished. This club will meet twice per month for one classroom session and one field trip for a total of 24 meetings. At the end of our club year, participants attending 18/24 meetings will receive a certificate. Don’t have binoculars? You can borrow a pair from the Nature Center!

Thursday evening classroom sessions will be held in-person at Fountain Creek Nature Center. Lessons will include discussions of how each month’s focus group of birds’ anatomy, movement, diet, and habitat are all connected. We will define major identifying characteristics seen in the field for each species and become familiar with sounds. Dates are subject to change, but unlikely to.
Saturday morning field trips will be at various places throughout El Paso County. These outings will give you real-life experience of locations to explore and seasonal species to discover. Dates and locations are subject to change in the event of inclement weather.

$250 per person / $220 per member

Click here to register! Members, create an account if you don’t have one already, then call 719-520-6745 to have a staff person apply your discount.

Anticipated schedule of classes and field trips; dates and locations subject to change

Thursday, March 16th, 6:30 p.m. —8:30 p.m. CLASS: Intro—materials, methods, goals, digital help, social opportunities, ethics
Saturday, March 18th , 8:00 a.m.—11:00 a.m. FIELD TRIP: Fountain Creek Regional Park

Thursday, April 20th, 6:30 p.m. —8:30 p.m. CLASS: Feeder birds: chickadees, nuthatches, creeper, bushtit, woodpeckers, doves
Saturday April 22nd, 8:00 a.m.—11:00 a.m. FIELD TRIP: Stratton Open Space

Thursday, May 25th, 6:30 p.m. —8:30 p.m. CLASS: Wading and other water birds
Saturday, May 27th, 8:00 a.m.—11:00 a.m. FIELD TRIP: Big Johnson Reservoir & Bluestem Prairie Open Space

Thursday, June 22nd, 6:30 p.m. —8:30 p.m. CLASS: Shorebirds
Saturday, June 24th, 8:00 a.m.—11:00 a.m. FIELD TRIP: Fountain Creek Regional Park

Thursday, July 27th, 6:30 p.m. —8:30 p.m. CLASS: Swifts, swallows, hummingbirds
Saturday, July 29th, 8:00 a.m.—11:00 a.m. FIELD TRIP: Red Rocks Open Space

Thursday, August 24th, 6:30 p.m. —8:30 p.m. CLASS: Warblers & Vireos
Saturday, August 26th, 8:00 a.m.—11:00 a.m. FIELD TRIP: Adams Open Space & Kane Ranch

Thursday, September 21st, 6:30 p.m. —8:30 p.m. CLASS: Birds of prey
Saturday, September 22nd, 8:00 a.m.—11:00 a.m. FIELD TRIP: Clear Spring Ranch

Thursday, October 19th, 6:30 p.m. —8:30 p.m. CLASS: Ducks and other dabblers, divers, paddlers
Saturday, October 21st, 8:00 a.m.—11:00 a.m. FIELD TRIP: Big Johnson Reservoir & Bluestem Prairie Open Space

Thursday, November 2nd, 6:30 p.m. —8:30 p.m. CLASS: Corvids and Flycatchers
Saturday, November 4th, 8:00 a.m.—11:00 a.m. FIELD TRIP: Bear Creek Nature Center

Thursday, December 7th, 6:30 p.m. —8:30 p.m. CLASS: Sparrows & Icterids, tanagers & allies
Saturday, December 9th, 8:00 a.m.—11:00 a.m. FIELD TRIP: Kettle Lakes

Thursday, January 18th, 6:30 p.m. —8:30 p.m. CLASS: Gulls—terns
Saturday, January 20th, 8:00 a.m.—11:00 a.m. FIELD TRIP: Prospect Lake at Memorial Park

Thursday, February 15th, 6:30 p.m. —8:30 p.m. CLASS: Who haven’t we covered? Kinglets, gnatcatcher, wrens, mimids, quail, turkey, ptarmigan, grouse, nighthawks
Saturday, February 17th, 8:00 a.m.—11:00 a.m. FIELD TRIP: Clear Spring Ranch

Fountain Creek Nature Center

320 Pepper Grass Lane

Fountain, CO 80817