Each summer, millions of Arctic breeding Shorebirds leave their northern nesting grounds and make their way toward southern wintering grounds. In Santa Clara County, we have many locations where dense clouds of these magnificent birds can be seen and admired as they arrive for the season. Others simply pass through on their way further south. Each species is truly unique yet identifying them can often be a challenge especially when they shed their colorful breeding plumage. Join SCVAS Executive Director, Matthew Dodder for an online class focusing on Santa Clara County’s diverse Shorebirds. Learn how to differentiate between the confusing “Peeps” and how to spot juvenile birds within the crowded flocks. We will dive first into the common species found here, and them move on to the rarer visitors and the challenges they present to birders.

Registrants will gain access to a secure chat room where they can ask questions or share images of Shorebirds they have found. Classes are recorded for participants to rewatch. An optional field trip to a local area will be offered so class members can practice some of the techniques presented during the online sessions. Several notable Shorebird field guides will be randomly awarded to members of the class.

Session 1: 8/9, The Long Voyage

Session 2: 8/16, Wayward Travelers

Session 3: 8/23, Trial and Error

Field Trip: 8/20, location TBA

Admission is $75 plus processing fees for SCVAS members, and $100 plus processing fees for non-members. This covers both sessions. Participation in the optional field trip is $10. Participants will be sent access link after registering.