Fall Semester Class List Now Open

We’re excited to announce something new at Travis Audubon: our complete Fall Semester class list is now available! And to help you choose the right classes, we’re introducing a new tiered system. This will make it easier for our community to select classes that best suit their interests and skill levels.

100-level Basics of Birding and Bird ID
200-level Intermediate Birding Skills and ID
300-level Advanced Bird ID
400-level Special Interest Workshops

This semester, we’re introducing several exciting new classes for the beginner and intermediate birder. We also have limited spots still available in some of our summer classes:

BIRD-104: Intro to Wading Birds (FULL) with Dave Read: This Summer class still has a few spots available! Herons and Egrets are found in lakes, ponds, rivers and creeks all around Central Texas. This class will introduce the discuss the special biology and behaviors of these beautiful birds, introduce some common species, and equip you to identify them by sight. This class is for beginning birders who are interested in Herons and Egrets and would like to get better at finding and identifying them.

BIRD-105: Introduction to Warblers with Doug Booher and Amy Bishop: This introductory class is for beginning birders who are interested in learning more about warblers which may be found in Central Texas. Warblers are small, insectivorous songbirds which are known for their bright colors, unique patterns and songs, active behavior and migratory journeys. We will cover eight of the most common warblers that may be seen locally. We will also discuss other birds and warblers which are frequently confused with these species.

BIRD-106: Introduction to Owls of Travis County(FULL) with Shelia Hargis: Many people, birders and non-birders alike, are fascinated by owls. Travis County is home to six species of owls with two other species showing up very infrequently. Eastern Screech-Owls, Great Horned Owls and Barred Owls are regularly heard and sometimes seen in our urban and suburban neighborhoods and parks. Short-eared Owls prefer the more rural areas of northeast Travis County during the winter. Barn Owls and Burrowing Owls are much harder to find. This new class will focus on these six species. We’ll cover identification and where you can go to potentially see or hear owls, but we’ll also delve into the natural history of these species.

BIRD-113: Waterfowl Refresher with Shelia Hargis: Many cool species of ducks call Travis County home for the winter. If you are like many newer birders, you were probably pretty good at identifying those species last winter, but then the birds left for months! Now, you’re a little rusty on your identification skills and could use a refresher crash course. Enter Travis Audubon’s Waterfowl Refresher Workshop! The workshop will a day in the field looking at ducks and working through the identifications. The focus will be on the more common species in Travis County, starting with the easy-to-identify males but then moving to the females. This workshop is meant for those who are already familiar with the common ducks and just need a refresher. It is NOT meant for those birders who are totally new to waterfowl identification. (For those new to waterfowl identification, you will want to register for the Introduction to Waterfowl class coming in February 2025.)

BIRD-120: Birding by Ear Workshop with Mikael Behrens:  Workshop on three different dates BIRD-120: Birding by Ear Sept 14, BIRD-120: Birding by Ear Oct 12, BIRD-120: Birding by Ear Nov 9 Texas Hill Country supports many species of birds, but its dense oak-juniper woods can make them difficult to see. Birding by ear is a way of finding and identifying birds without having to see them. And it’s so much more! Tuning into the subtle sounds birds make increases awareness and mindfulness, enhances bird behavior interpretation, and helps to make your birding a strong and lasting form of nature connection.


For our intermediate birders, or for classes that require a pre-requisite:

BIRD-203: Bird Behavior Workshop: Migration (FULL): In Travis Audubon’s Introduction to Bird Behavior class, students are introduced to many behaviors that birds engage in as they live their lives. These behaviors are categorized as flight, communication, maintenance behaviors, and seasonal behaviors which includes breeding and migration. The migration workshop will go into detail on topics such as the biology of migration, navigation, how geography and weather influence migration, technology for studying migration, and tools for tracking migration. The field trips will provide opportunities to see migrating species along their journey and observe their behaviors. This workshop will deepen your enjoyment, understanding and appreciation of birds. Having completed the Introduction to Bird Behavior class is highly recommended but not absolutely required.


For our more experienced birders, we’re delighted to reintroduce our some of our most popular classes. Many of our members return to these classes repeatedly, gaining deeper insights with each session:

BIRD-301: Shorebirds with Jeff Patterson and Eric Stager: Can you tell the difference between those little brown birds on the mudflats at Hornsby Bend? If not, join Jeff Patterson and Eric Stager for Travis Audubon’s Shorebird Identification Class of 2024! This class is intended for intermediate birders who would like to increase their skills at identifying sandpipers, plovers, godwits, phalaropes, dowitchers, and other shorebirds.
BIRD-303: Raptor Identification in Central Texas with Byron Stone: Hawks are fun to watch, but they can be difficult to identify. Central Texas annually hosts 19 species of diurnal raptors (hawks, vultures, eagles, kites and falcons), with another 5 species that occur occasionally. This class will help you become familiar with the 15 most commonly-occurring raptor species in the Austin area, and teach you how to tell them apart.
BIRD-306: I Don’t Do Gulls with Jeff Patterson: 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. Note: the class dates for this class have not yet been decided. The lin k to this class will be updated when the dates have been determined.

We also have a number of workshops for our community.

BIRD-401 eBird Workshop with Shelia Hargis: This summer class still has limited spots available. This class is for those who are new or fairly new to eBird. eBird is an online database used by birders across the world. It is a repository for bird sightings and a great resource for birders to track their birding stats and learn more about birds and birding. Researchers also use the data to answer questions about bird populations, range expansion and other pressing questions about birds and their conservation. State of the Birds reports regularly rely on eBird data along with Christmas Bird Count data and North American Breeding Bird Survey data to draw conclusions about the status of our birds. eBird is an amazing tool that all birders should be familiar with!

BIRD-402: Gardening for Wildlife with Ryan Fleming: For everyone who loves birds and wants to introduce them to your backyard, this class will teach you how to use native plants to support robust ecosystems and provide habitats for birds, butterflies, bees and more in your garden. In this four-part series, discover how ground cover, water features and lighting affect livability for wildlife. All levels of gardeners are welcome with no prior experience necessary.

BIRD-405 – Photography Basics with Dave Read: If you have never held a camera, don’t know what all the buttons and dials do, or just want to make sure you understand how it all works, this class is for you. We will cover all the important concepts and dive into the details of how to get pictures that will thrill you. We will also cover photographic equipment choices and how to select the best camera setup for your budget and photographic goals. This class is not specific to bird photography but we will set the stage for understanding how to configure your camera for birding.

BIRD-406: Intro to Bird Photography with Dave Read: If you have the basics of operating your camera under control, this class will present a collection of practical techniques and tips for bringing home the best results. From stationary birds to birds in flight, from great lighting to challenging lighting to terrible lighting, from beginner equipment to professional tools, we will discuss how to “get the shot” in great detail.

BIRD-407: Intro to Digital Photography Processing with Dave Read: You always want to get the best photo possible “in camera,” but it’s common to want to touch things up after the fact. Bird photography also usually generates an enormous number of photos to look through to find the keepers. This class will introduce the core concepts of post-processing your digital photos, including a practical workflow and easy-to-follow recipes for fixing up lighting, contrast, color balance, noise reduction and sharpening using tools such as Lightroom and Topaz. While not specific to those tools, we will use them as examples of what is possible.

Newly Added! BIRD-410: Birdwatching at Hornsby Bend: History and Habitat Workshop with John Bloomfield, Keven Anderson and Robert Reeves starting Nov 19th. This class offers a detailed introduction to Hornsby Bend, focusing on its historical development and the practical aspects of birdwatching at this site. Participants will learn about the site’s transformation into an important bird habitat and receive guidance on how to effectively plan and conduct their visits.

Newly Added! Austin School of Furniture Owl Nesting Box Construction Class – Travis Audubon is working with Austin School of Furniture to promote their Community Class: Owl Nesting Box. Austin School of Furniture will donate a portion of their proceeds to Travis Audubon
Are you new to woodworking or maybe never tried but always wanted to? Then check out this Community Class that builds an Owl Nesting Box in only a few hours. This class is perfect for beginners, couples or nature enthusiasts alike. Travis Audubon’s Master Birder Susanne Harm will give a brief presentation on the specifics of when and where to place your newly constructed owl box. Note: Registration for this class will be handled by Austin School of Furniture.