Description:
Experienced bird watcher/naturalist, Julie McCormick, and Dedrick Benz will share their vast knowledge and experience about birds and the hobby of birding during this spring class. Join us as we go out into the field to enjoy the arrival of spring. We live in the Mississippi flyway where thousands of birds flyover each spring. In April, we will see the waterfowl migration, and watch as different songbirds arrive throughout the spring, until our summer breeding birds show up and start looking for nesting sites. We will focus our time on being out in the field watching birds. We are open to input from the participants and able to adapt the course to explore local areas of interest.
Note: Most of the birding areas are on level ground, and our walking pace is slow. We will use our knowledge of where local hot spots are to determine the location each session. Meeting at a central spot and then carpooling to birding location. Guide’s will email participants a few days in advance. Please, only registered class participants on the field trips, since the class size is limited. Thank you.
Julie McCormick has been watching birds and participating in bird counts for 23 years. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and Art from UW: Platteville, raised whooping crane chicks when an intern at the International Crane Foundation, and has worked and volunteered at Whitewater State Park from 2001-2014. Her in-depth knowledge, skills with birding-by-sight-and-sound, and enthusiasm for bird watching knows no bounds!
Dedrick Benz has spent much of his free time birding his yard, the state, the country, or the world, depending on what his time and wallet have allowed. He has called the upper Mississippi River Valley home for all of this century, but as of late has spent many weekends bringing his eyes and ears around Minnesota working on his Minnesota county lists. He has performed bird surveys in local bottomland forests, guided for local trips as well as bird festivals in Grand Marais and Detroit Lakes, and has served on the Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union Records Committee.
Bring to Class:
SENIOR UNIVERSITY CANCELLATION AND REFUND POLICY
If a class must be canceled due to insufficient enrollment, inclement weather, or emergency circumstances, you will be notified as soon as possible and receive a full refund.
You may withdraw from a class and receive a full refund if we receive your withdrawal and refund request in writing, via email, mail or in person, at least five full business days before the first class date. Please note: if you pay by check, you will need to complete a W9 form to receive a refund by check from Winona State University. Credit Card payments will be refunded within 3-5 business days.
Any questions please contact the WSU Retiree Center at 507-457-5565.
Registration Cutoff Date:
Dates & Times:
4/5/2024 7:30AM - 11:30AM
4/19/2024 7:30AM - 11:30AM
5/3/2024 7:30AM - 11:30AM
5/17/2024 7:30AM - 11:30AM
