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liFelONg BiRDiNg SeRieSBeginners

FRiDay MORNiNg BiRDwalkSLearn the very basics of birdwatching and how to identify the backyard birds commonly seen in the Tucson area. A brief presentation is followed by a slow stroll around the ½-mile trail at the Mason Center. No reservations required.when: Every Friday! September & April-May: 7:30–9 am, October-March: 8–9:30 am (We hope to offer Saturday walks soon. Check the Tucson Audubon website for updates.)where: Tucson Audubon Mason Center, SW Corner of Thornydale and Hardy Roadscost: FREE!contact: lsansom@tucsonaudubon.org; 971-6238

BeyOND BackyaRD BiRDiNgLearn your backyard birds and more and all about the diverse and beautiful birdwatching options of southeastern Arizona. We’ll address how to separate birds by habitat, seasonal occurrence and behavior, as well as identification by field marks and vocalization. Course includes 3/ 2-hour classroom sessions and 2 half-day field trips taught by expert birder, Lynn Hassler. Registration required.when: Class sessions are Wednesdays, January 12, 19 & 26, time TBD. Field trips are Saturdays, January 15 & 22where: Classes held at the Mason Center. Field trip locations TBDcost: $135 for members; $185 for nonmemberscontact: education@tucsonaudubon.org; 629-0510 x7012

intermediate

MOviNg tO MaSteRyThis course is designed for adults with some birding experience and skills. Over a period of 5 weeks, learn to identify some of the more difficult species groups, how to use technical reference works, understand bird topography, and other detailed topics. This class will launch your birding knowledge onto a new plane! Course includes 5/ 3-hour class sessions and 4 field trips taught by expert birder, Homer Hansen. Registration required.when: Class sessions are Wednesdays, October 13-November 10, 6-9 pm. Field trips are Saturdays, October 16-November 6, 7 am.where: Classes held at the Historic Y. Field trip locations TBDcost: $250 for members; $285 for nonmembers, includes membershipcontact: education@tucsonaudubon.org; 629-0510 x7012

Specialty wORkShOpSThese individual workshops focus on identification details of specific birding groups. Each workshop is comprised of a Wednesday evening classroom session followed by a Saturday field trip. Each course is limited to 10, with preference given to former Moving to Mastery students. Registration required.Warblers: September 1 & 4. Instructor: Homer HansenFlycatchers: September 8 &11. Instructor: Homer HansenSparrows: January 26 & 29. Instructor: Homer HansenRaptors: February 2 & 5. Instructor: Homer HansenDucks and Geese: February 16 & 19. Instructor: Larry Liesewhen: All classes held 6-9pm; Field trip times TBDwhere: Class sessions held at the Historic Y; Field trip locations TBD

cost: $110 per course for members; $145 per course for non members, includes membershipcontact: education@tucsonaudubon.org; 629-0510 x7012

BiRDiNg By eaRAn opportunity to hone your identification skills based on vocalizations! An evening session followed by a Saturday field trip, this course is limited to 10 with preference given to former Moving to Mastery students. Registration required. Instructor: Homer Hansenwhen: Class session is Wednesday, May 4, 6-9 pm; Field trip TBDwhere: Class session held at the Historic Y; Field trip TBDcost: $125 for members; $175 for non memberscontact: education@tucsonaudubon.org; 629-0510 x7012

liviNg with NatuRe lectuRe SeRieSThis series takes place in Tucson and Green Valley, serving as the monthly Tucson Audubon meetings for each location. Each program features a slideshow presentation on birding or local ecological topics. This is also a great opportunity to hear about upcoming events and issues with Tucson Audubon and to meet and mingle with other members! No reservations required.

tucSONwhen: 2nd Monday of every month, September–May, 7–9 pmwhere: UMC DuVal Auditorium, NE section of UMC, 501 N. Campbell Ave.cost: Freecontact: eolmstead@tucsonaudubon.org; 629-0510 x7009topics: 9/13—Bob Hernbrode, “Pick-up Trucks and State Wildlife Agencies” • 10/11—Rick Taylor, “Mexican Marauders” • 11/8—Anne Peyton of Liberty Wildlife • 12/13—Jennie Duberstein, “Youth Birding” and Holiday Potluck • 1/10—Sally Johnson, “Ecuador: Andean Adventure” • 2/14—TBD • 3/14—Jim Cornett, “Roadrunners: Almost Human” • 4/11—John Alcock, “Sonoran Desert Seasons” • 5/9—TBD

gReeN valleywhen: Third Saturday of each month, October–March, 10 amwhere: Joyner-Green Valley Library, 601 N. La Canada Dr.cost: Freecontact: eolmstead@tucsonaudubon.org; 629-0510 x7009topics: 10/16—Kendall Kroesen “Landscapes for Wildlife & Sustainability” • 11/20 Homer Hansen “Winter Birding in Southeast Arizona” • 12/18—TBD• 1/15—TBD • 2/19—TBD • 3/19—TBD

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Tucson Audubon’s EducATion ProgrAms • 2010 / 2011

Delivering top Quality education programsTucson Audubon’s Education Program strives to bring top quality educational activities to its members and the general public. Each year we seek to offer a diversity of classes, workshops, the lecture series in Tucson and Green Valley, programs at the Mason Center, and other events to engage the community. We continue to add new activities and hope you will peruse this pullout and take part in a great new experience. These listings are subject to change. Please check out the education page on the Tucson Audubon website at www.tucsonaudubon.org for more details and contact the person listed with any questions.

¬ For uP-To-dATE inFormATion, visiT www.TucsonAudubon.org/whAT-wE-do/EducATion.hTml ¬

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SONORaN DeSeRt ecOlOgy pROgRaMS41St aNNual iNStitute OF DeSeRt ecOlOgyJoin other nature enthusiasts and local experts during a four-day outdoor learning experience focusing on Sonoran Desert ecosystems. Classes and activities emphasize the dynamic relationships among birds and other animals, plants, and the physical elements of the desert. The Institute takes place at Catalina State Park in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains near Tucson. Registration is required and the cost includes park entrance fee, camping fee, instruction, and all meals from Thursday breakfast to Sunday lunch.where: Catalina State Parkwhen: Thursday, April 27–Sunday, May 1, 2010cost: $425 for members; $460 for nonmembers, includes membershipcontact: education@tucsonaudubon.org; 629-0510 x7012

tucSON auDuBON NatuRaliSt tRaiNiNg

Become a trained volunteer Naturalist for Tucson Audubon Society and help us lead education programs, research projects and more! Trainees will learn all components of Sonoran Desert Ecology and be taught how to present this information in various public forums including Mason Center programs, schools and neighborhood associations. Naturalists must commit to 40 hours per year of education program volunteer service for a minimum of 2 years.where: Mason Centerwhen: Wednesdays and Fridays, October 6–November 10, 10 am–2 pmcost: $180 for members; $215 for nonmembers, includes membershipcontact: education@tucsonaudubon.org; 629-0510 x7012

iRONwOOD FeStival 2011Tucson Audubon’s annual education festival features fascinating programs for adults and great hands-on activities for kids and the young-at-heart. A variety of local nature-advocacy groups come together under the blooming ironwood trees to celebrate the uniqueness of the Sonoran Desert, its plants and its critters. Expect trail walks, live

animals, and a whole lot of fun at this event! The festival takes place in the morning. An evening music event, the Ironwood Jam, takes place later in the day, with food, drink, music and dancing!where: Mason Centerwhen: Saturday, May 7, 8 am–12 noon. The Jam takes place 6–9 pm.cost: The Ironwood Festival is Free! The Jam is $8 in advance, $10 at the gatecontact: lsansom@tucsonaudubon.org; 971-6238

yOuth pROgRaMStucSON auDuBON yOuNg BiRDeRS

For kids 8 to 18 years old with an interest in birds and birding! These structured and unstructured learning situations and birding field trips augment students’ formal education by connecting kids to nature using birds as the focus. Half-day birding field trips led by adult mentors are scheduled on the 4th Saturday of each month. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Check the website for specific locations and trip leaders. No reservations required.where: Various locations in the Tucson area

when: 4th Saturday of each monthcost: Freecontact: kkroesen@tucsonaudubon.org; 629-0510x7006*An additional option for youth birding is provided by Sunnyside School District’s Student Urban Naturalists in conjunction with Tucson Audubon at Sweetwater Wetlands, located just west of the Aufmuth car dealer on Sweetwater Drive. This event, called Sweetwater Wetlands Family Outings, takes place the 1st Saturday of each month. Contact Deborah Vath at dvath@hotmail.com or 490-4835

BuggiNg Out!Come to the Mason Center to see John Rhodes from the Sonoran Arthropod Studies Institute present live, cuddly, creepy, exciting bugs from the Sonoran Desert and the tropical rainforests of the world. Bugging Out has 25 live arthropod exhibits, many of them hands-on. Our arthropods include millipedes, centipedes, tarantulas, vinegaroons, scorpions, walking sticks, beetles, aquatic arthropods and praying mantises. And just in time for Halloween—an Arthropod Costume Contest! No reservations required.where: Mason Centerwhen: Saturday, October 30, 9 am–12 nooncost: Freecontact: lsansom@tucsonaudubon.org; 971-6238

SMile with a Reptile!It’s hot and the reptiles love it! Visit the Mason Center and encounter snakes, lizards, tortoises and even a Gila monster with local herpetologists explaining their ecological importance in the Sonoran Desert. Activities, trail walks and more educational fun will make this a great way to enjoy a warm Saturday morning! No reservations required.where: Mason Centerwhen: Saturday, April 16, 9 am–12 nooncost: Freecontact: lsansom@tucsonaudubon.org; 971-6238

Tucson Audubon’s EducATion ProgrAms • 2010 / 2011

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ReSOuRceS FOR eDucatORSReSOuRce kitSTucson Audubon offers a variety of resource kits for teachers and other education professionals to check out for their education programs, free of charge. Most of these kits are geared for kids in 1st through 6th grades, but they may be adapted for other ages. Kits are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis and may be checked out for up to 2 weeks at a time. Advanced reservations are recommended. Educators are responsible for repairing/ replacing lost or damaged materials.

availaBle kitSHands-on Materials Only:BinocularsBird SpecimensBird NestsHands-on Materials and Curriculum:Desert Birding in Arizona with a Focus on Urban Birds*Arthropod AdventuresBatsHerpsBotany BasicsSaguaro StoryDesert AdaptationsSkullsTracks and Scat*Curriculum is also in pdf format and may be downloaded from the Tucson Audubon Education Program webpage

FielD tRipS tO the MaSON ceNteREducational groups may schedule a visit to this 22-acre, ironwood-saguaro habitat site for a fee of $50 for a 90-minute program. Groups are scheduled on Fridays on a first-come, first-served basis and must be accompanied by a Mason Center staff member or Naturalist for the duration of the program. Limit of 30 students per visit.Contact for all Educator Resources: education@tucsonaudubon.org; 629-0510 x7012

aDDitiONal pROgRaMSNatuRe By NightVisit the Tucson Audubon Mason Center and enjoy an evening of nocturnal nature in the Sonoran Desert. Activities include watching the full moon for bird migrants, black-lighting for arthropods, and a trail walk by flashlight.where: Mason Centerwhen: Tuesday, August 24 & Thursday, September 23, 7–9 pm.cost: Suggested $5 donationcontact: lsansom@tucsonaudubon.org; 971-6238

gO Batty!Come watch nectar-eating bats gorge at hummingbird feeders as they prepare to migrate south. Enjoy a light repast and view bats, using infrared imaging, literally attacking the feeders after dark. Presented by Dr. Ronnie Sidner of the University of Arizona.where: Dr. John Madden’s house, Tucson or Linda Pfister’s house, Nogaleswhen: Tucson—Friday, September 10, 6:30 pm; Nogales—Saturday, September 11, 6:30 pmcost: $30 for members; $45 for nonmemberscontact: education@tucsonaudubon.org

laNDScapiNg FOR wilDliFe aND SuStaiNaBility—iNtRODuctiON aND tOuRLearn about what makes urban and suburban landscapes sustainable and friendly to wildlife. Tour several examples of landscapes that meet these criteria.when: Class is Thursday, January 27, 6–9 pm. Tour is Saturday, January 29, 8 am–12 noonwhere: Tucson Audubon Librarycost: $110contact: kkroesen@tucsonaudubon.org, 629-0510 x7006

laNDScapiNg FOR wilDliFe aND SuStaiNaBility—pRiNcipleS aND wORkShOpLearn important principles for implementing sustainable landscaping, and spend a Saturday morning getting your hands dirty at a landscaping site that incorporates rainwater harvesting, native plants and other techniques.when: Class is Thursday, February 17, 6–9 pm and Saturday, February 19, 8 am–12 noonwhere: Tucson Audubon, Historic Y Conference Roomcost: $110contact: kkroesen@tucsonaudubon.org, 629-0510 x7006

SaNDhill cRaNeS excuRSiONObserve in style the amazing spectacle of thousands of Sandhill Cranes flocking to Whitewater Draw Preserve from their feeding grounds. This educational excursion doubles as an elegantly catered affair with breakfast, lunch, and afternoon wine with treats. Experts will lead small groups around the preserve watching the cranes and looking for other wildlife.where: Whitewater Drawwhen: Saturday, February 12, all daycost: $75 per person, includes transportation and foodcontact: jbarchman@tucsonaudubon.org; 629-0510 x7002

SatuRDay MORNiNg at the MaSON ceNteRSuccess in the Northwest! Tools and Methods for Community OrganizationListen to the tales of successful grassroots conservation efforts in northwest Tucson including the communities of Tortolita, Oro Valley and Marana. Learn how to take part in preserving the ecological and cultural beauty that brings people to this region.where: Mason Centerwhen: Saturday, February 26, 9 am–12 nooncost: Suggested $5 donationcontact: lsansom@tucsonaudubon.org; 971-6238

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Tucson Audubon’s EducATion ProgrAms • 2010 / 2011

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The way children learn best is through help from adults. The best kind of help neither gives them the answers nor poses challenges for which they are not ready. Instead, it nudges them to solve on their own the problems for which they are capable.

What is true of learning in general, is true of mentoring our young birders!

Common sense—and increasingly academic research—suggests that kids have more rewarding lives if they are exposed to nature. Exposure to nature and wildlife can teach the ability to sit quietly and observe. It can give kids practical knowledge of animal behavior and other aspects of the natural world that will help them when they study more abstract biological or ecological concepts in school. And it simply brings the joy of observing stupendously beautiful sunsets, daring acts of predators, unexpected behaviors of animals, and ecological interactions that are part of the web of life.

Tucson Audubon specializes in bringing people closer to nature by introducing them to birds and birding. It is not surprising that we are now gradually increasing our efforts to reach young people. For example, we now run regular field trips for young people on every fourth Saturday of the month, and work with teachers in the Sunnyside School District on the Sunnyside-Audubon Student Urban Naturalists program.

But our efforts really must begin with our members. You are on the front lines of this effort. You are the ones helping your kids choose weekend activities. You are the ones entertaining the grandkids for the weekend. You are the ones teaching at the K-12 schools of our region or volunteering at the local library.

Please consider being a mentor to one or more children. Take them to Sweetwater Wetlands or some other birdy locale. Lend them—or if appropriate, buy them—binoculars. Bring them to one of our monthly field trips for kids.

Most importantly, help them along in their birding. Don’t expect them to recognize what every bird is, and on the other hand don’t just tell them what each bird is. If you see a hawk, help them find the right part of the field guide and encourage their powers of observation.

And don’t forget to have a good time yourself! Kids value the things that adults find important. That’s why reading a book or figuring out a mathematical problem on your own is more effective than telling your child to do well in school. They are more likely to do as you do, rather than do as you say.

Help us make sure birds and nature remain a part of the repertoire of childhood.

Kendall Kroesen Restoration and Urban Program Manager

Tucson Audubon field trip leader Bill Wieboldt mentors Girl Scout birders

Tucson Audubon300 E University Blvd, Ste 120

Tucson, AZ 85705520-629-0510 (voice) • 520-623-3476 (fax)

www.tucsonaudubon.org

Know a Young Birder? Be a Mentor! cOMMON pROgRaM lOcatiONS

tucSON auDuBON’S MaSON ceNteRThe Mason Center is on the southwest corner of Thornydale and Hardy Roads. Hardy Road is 3 miles north of Ina Road. Turn west on Hardy from Thornydale. The entrance gate is approx. 100 yards from the intersection on the south side of the road.

the hiStORic y cONFeReNce ROOMHistoric Y building is on the southeast corner of University Boulevard and 5th Avenue. The Y Conference Room will serve as the meeting place for some classes and lectures. Enter the building through the main doors off of 5th Avenue between University Boulevard and 4th Street. From the main lobby, turn left and walk down the hallway, the conference room is on the right. Parking: Please park on the east side of 5th Avenue along the Historic Y building or south side of University Blvd. (obey parking sign restrictions).

Duval auDitORiuMGo in the main entrance of the University Medical Center (UMC), which faces east toward Campbell Avenue. Immediately turn right down the hall. You will find the doors to DuVal on your left. Parking: The Patient/Visitor parking garage is available, but charges a fee. Free parking is available south of the garage in the parking lot south of Mabel Street.

JOyNeR-gReeN valley liBRaRyThe address of the library is 601 N. La Canada, Green Valley, AZ. Take I-19 south from Tucson. Exit the freeway at Exit #69 (Duvall Mine Rd.). Go right (west) on Duvall Rd. to the light at La Canada. Turn left at this light onto La Canada and drive to the next light (sign points to Desert Bell Rd. to the right). Turn right on Desert Bell Rd, go half a block and turn left. Stay left and you will run into the library.

Tucson Audubon’s EducATion ProgrAms • 2010 / 2011

¬ For uP-To-dATE inFormATion, visiT www.TucsonAudubon.org/whAT-wE-do/EducATion.hTml ¬