Song Sparrow by Sally Stone, Audubon Photography Awards
Master Birder Program
Winter/Spring 2025 Master Birder Program
February 25 through March 30, 2026
Cost: $450 for current Birds Georgia Members / $500 for non-members (includes a one-year membership)
Birds Georgia is excited to offer our popular Master Birder Program again for winter/spring 2025.
Orientation and class sessions will be held virtually via Zoom webinars. Invitations will be sent to the email address you provide at registration. Field trips will meet on Saturday mornings at 8:00 AM (unless otherwise noted) and should conclude by 11:00 AM. Field trips are subject to change due to inclement weather and/or other unforeseen circumstances.
Course content includes classification and identification of birds, using eBird, birding apps and equipment, bird songs and calls, anatomy and physiology, bird ecology, bird behavior, flight and migration, and bird conservation. Upon graduation, Master Birders are encouraged to complete at least 10 hours of annual volunteer service for Birds Georgia or their local Audubon chapter to receive added membership benefits such as early registration opportunities and discounted event fees.
Attendance in all classes and field trips is necessary to gain enough knowledge and experience to become a Master Birder. Anticipated conflicts can be discussed with individuals. After graduation, all Master Birders are available to each other and the Birds Georgia staff via a Master Birder listserv which keeps everyone informed of volunteer opportunities and programs and events especially for Master Birders. Master Birders are also invited to join the Master Birder Facebook page to stay in touch with fellow Master Birders.
If program fee or membership cost is a burden, please apply for our Birds Georgia Scholarship.
Please email Melanie Furr, Director of Education, if you have questions.
February 25 through March 30, 2026
Cost: $450 for current Birds Georgia Members / $500 for non-members (includes a one-year membership)
Birds Georgia is excited to offer our popular Master Birder Program again for winter/spring 2025.
Orientation and class sessions will be held virtually via Zoom webinars. Invitations will be sent to the email address you provide at registration. Field trips will meet on Saturday mornings at 8:00 AM (unless otherwise noted) and should conclude by 11:00 AM. Field trips are subject to change due to inclement weather and/or other unforeseen circumstances.
Course content includes classification and identification of birds, using eBird, birding apps and equipment, bird songs and calls, anatomy and physiology, bird ecology, bird behavior, flight and migration, and bird conservation. Upon graduation, Master Birders are encouraged to complete at least 10 hours of annual volunteer service for Birds Georgia or their local Audubon chapter to receive added membership benefits such as early registration opportunities and discounted event fees.
Attendance in all classes and field trips is necessary to gain enough knowledge and experience to become a Master Birder. Anticipated conflicts can be discussed with individuals. After graduation, all Master Birders are available to each other and the Birds Georgia staff via a Master Birder listserv which keeps everyone informed of volunteer opportunities and programs and events especially for Master Birders. Master Birders are also invited to join the Master Birder Facebook page to stay in touch with fellow Master Birders.
If program fee or membership cost is a burden, please apply for our Birds Georgia Scholarship.
Please email Melanie Furr, Director of Education, if you have questions.
Schedule:
Tuesday, February 25: 7:00 to 8:30 PM - Orientation
Thursday, February 27: 7:00 to 9:00 PM - Bird ID and eBird
Saturday, March 1: 8:00 - Atlanta cohorts I & II - field trip to EL Huie Ponds (Clayton County)
Augusta Cohort - field trip to Yuchi Wildlife Management Area
Tuesday, March 4: 7:00 to 9:00 PM - Birding Techniques and Apps
Thursday, March 6: 7:00 to 9:00 PM - Bird Songs & Calls, Part I
Saturday, March 8: 8:00 AM - Atlanta Cohort I - field trip to Panola Banding Station
Atlanta Cohort II - field trip to Dawson Forest WMA
Augusta Cohort - field trip to Hitchcock Woods
Tuesday, March 11: 7:00 to 9:00 PM - Bird Song & Calls, Part II
Thursday, March 13: 7:00 to 9:00 PM - Bird Behavior
Saturday, March 15: 8:00 AM - Atlanta Cohort I - field trip to Dawson Forest WMA
Atlanta Cohort II - field trip to Cochran Shoals Unit of CRNRA
Augusta Cohort - field trip to Phinizy Swamp
Tuesday, March 18: 7:00 to 9:00 PM - Bird Anatomy & Physiology
Thursday, March 20: 7:00 to 9:00 PM -Bird Ecology
Saturday, March 22: 8:00 AM - Atlanta Cohort I - field trip to Panola Mountain Banding Station
Atlanta Cohort II - field trip to Cochran Shoals Unit of CRNRA
Augusta Cohort - field trip to Brickyard Ponds
Tuesday, March 25: 7:00 to 9:00 PM - Bird Conservation
Thursday, March 27: 7:00 to 9:00 PM - Bird Migration
Sunday, March 30: 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM - Atlanta graduation lunch at Birds Georgia office
Augusta graduation lunch at Phinizy Swamp
Tuesday, February 25: 7:00 to 8:30 PM - Orientation
Thursday, February 27: 7:00 to 9:00 PM - Bird ID and eBird
Saturday, March 1: 8:00 - Atlanta cohorts I & II - field trip to EL Huie Ponds (Clayton County)
Augusta Cohort - field trip to Yuchi Wildlife Management Area
Tuesday, March 4: 7:00 to 9:00 PM - Birding Techniques and Apps
Thursday, March 6: 7:00 to 9:00 PM - Bird Songs & Calls, Part I
Saturday, March 8: 8:00 AM - Atlanta Cohort I - field trip to Panola Banding Station
Atlanta Cohort II - field trip to Dawson Forest WMA
Augusta Cohort - field trip to Hitchcock Woods
Tuesday, March 11: 7:00 to 9:00 PM - Bird Song & Calls, Part II
Thursday, March 13: 7:00 to 9:00 PM - Bird Behavior
Saturday, March 15: 8:00 AM - Atlanta Cohort I - field trip to Dawson Forest WMA
Atlanta Cohort II - field trip to Cochran Shoals Unit of CRNRA
Augusta Cohort - field trip to Phinizy Swamp
Tuesday, March 18: 7:00 to 9:00 PM - Bird Anatomy & Physiology
Thursday, March 20: 7:00 to 9:00 PM -Bird Ecology
Saturday, March 22: 8:00 AM - Atlanta Cohort I - field trip to Panola Mountain Banding Station
Atlanta Cohort II - field trip to Cochran Shoals Unit of CRNRA
Augusta Cohort - field trip to Brickyard Ponds
Tuesday, March 25: 7:00 to 9:00 PM - Bird Conservation
Thursday, March 27: 7:00 to 9:00 PM - Bird Migration
Sunday, March 30: 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM - Atlanta graduation lunch at Birds Georgia office
Augusta graduation lunch at Phinizy Swamp
