Course Description: An Introduction to Birdwatching Presented by Sheldon Harvey. Subjects covered in the course include the following:
- Identifying birds by sight and sound
- Identifying birding habitats and regions in and around Montreal and southern Quebec
- Using field guides, checklists, computer programs and apps for birdwatching
- Choosing and using optics such as binoculars and spotting scopes
- Attracting and feeding birds at your home
- Understanding bird migration, mating and breeding
- Getting involved in bird related protection, conservation issues and citizen science projects
- The full course also concludes with a guided field trip to a popular local birdwatching location.
About the Instructor: Sheldon Harvey, of Greenfield Park, Quebec, has been an avid birder for over 20 years and has observed over 300 species of birds in the province of Quebec, all within a 100-kilometer radius of the city of Montreal. He is a Past President, and current Vice-President and Treasurer of Bird Protection Quebec, Quebec’s oldest birding and conservation organization that celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2017. Sheldon is an experienced birdwatching field trip leader and has taught self-developed introductory birdwatching courses at SSMU-McGill University, with the ENCORE Seniors Group and the Contactivity Group in Montreal. He is currently a consultant with the Riverside School Board, introducing birdwatching and nature studies to elementary school students in their network of schools. He is also a regular presenter of lectures on various aspects of birdwatching to community groups and organizations throughout the province of Quebec.
Required Materials: None!
Required Knowledge: None!