Instructor: Jeff Patterson
Class Level: Advanced
Lecture Dates: Nov 13, Dec 4, 2024, Jan 15, Jan 22, 2025 (6:00-8:30pm, via Zoom)
Field Trip Dates: January 24, 25, 26 2025
Class fee: $90 for Travis Audubon members and $105 for non-members.
Additional Field Trip Fee: $25 for those who go on the coast trip to partially cover the leaders’ trip expenses

Are you tired of being one of those birders who says “I don’t do gulls”? If so, Travis Audubon’s “I Don’t Do Gulls” gulls class is just what you need!!!! “Where we don’t do gulls together!!!”

Gulls can be a vexing identification challenge, there’s no doubt. But this class will strive to make gulls “doable”, if not simple. Rather than getting lost in the myriad of gull plumages, this class will first address gulls based on their likelihood of occurrence, then on their structure, and finally it will support the identification with plumage details. The class will address the gulls likely to be found in Texas during the winter “gulling” season. If time allows, the class will also address the terns of Texas.

The class will follow the approach of the fine book Gulls Simplified, A Comparative Approach to Identification, by Pete Dunne and Kevin Karlson. Though it is not necessary to purchase the book for the class, it is a great resource for learning gulls.

The class consists of four weekday evening meetings and 1 weekend field trip. Classroom sessions will be held via Zoom, and if conditions allow, a field trip to the Texas coast will be conducted. Please be aware that the field trip will only be conducted if conditions and Travis Audubon policy allow. The class and field trip schedules are listed below.

Instructor: Jeff Patterson is a life-long birder and experienced instructor having taught the Birdsong, Shorebird, Empid, Flycatcher, Gulls, and Be a Better Birder classes for Travis Audubon.

Prerequisites: This is not a class for beginners. It is designed for students who have intermediate to advanced birding experience and who are ready to dive into the world of the Laridae (gulls & terns).

The tuition for this course is $90 for Travis Audubon members and $105 for non-members. For those who go on the coast trip, there will be an additional fee of $25 to partially cover the leaders’ trip expenses. Class is limited to 20 participants.

Class and Field Trip Schedule:

REGISTER HERE

Payment for a class, workshop, or other fee-based event is due at the time of registration. If payment is not received within a week of registration, the registrant may be dropped from the roster. To withdraw from a class, workshop, or other fee-based event, please contact the Travis Audubon office: 512-300-BIRD (2473) or info@travisaudubon.org.

If a registrant withdraws from a class, workshop, or other fee-based event at least seven (7) days before the first session, Travis Audubon will offer a full refund less a $5.00 administrative fee that helps defray our costs. If the registrant withdraws less than seven (7) days before the first session, no refund will be made. If Travis Audubon cancels the class, workshop, or other fee-based event, we will fully refund the tuition.