Birding Classes

(Links to current offerings appear at left under "In this section" )

GENERAL CLASS INFORMATION

Audubon Society of Portland offers adults classes in bird identification and natural history throughout the calendar year.  Typical natural history topics we cover include: animal tracking, butterflies and dragonflies, mushrooming, trees, wildflowers and more.

Where Advertised:  Class offerings are listed on our website under Birding Classes and Natural History Classes, in our monthly newsletter, The Warbler, on page 7 (usually), on bulletin boards in front of the Nature Store, and in our electronic newsletter The Bird Word (sign up here).

Kinds of Classes: 

LECTURE ONLY - typically an evening class at Audubon ranging from 1 to 2 hours in length.  Typically this is an audio-visual presentation with handouts provided. 

LECTURE WITH FIELD TRIP - typically an evening class at Audubon followed by one or more field trips held on Saturday or Sunday.  Field trips last from 3 - 8 hours, depending on the class.  Transportation is sometimes provided for longer field trips ranging out of town.     

FIELD TRIP ONLY - typically one or more field trips held on Saturday or Sunday.

Instructors:

Our instructors are great at what they do and consistently receive high praise from their students.  Frequent presenters include:  Harry Nehls, Laura Whittemore, John Rakestraw, Jim Johnson, Steve Engel, Greg Baker, Gary Slone, Doug Robberson. 

Class-size:   Field trips are limited to 12 - 15 participants/instructor.  Lecture only classes usually have no size limit.  A class with both lecture and field trip portions may offer a "class only" option at a reduced rate in order to allow more than 15 participants to attend the lecture.    

Fees:  A fee is charged for each class and must be paid in advance to secure your place in the class.  Lecture-only classes typically do not have a size-limit and you can reasonably expect to register and pay at the door, however, pre-registration and payment is much appreciated!  If you must pay at the door please allow extra time to do so by arriving 15 minutes early.

Volunteers:  Active volunteers are volunteers who are currently, or have in the last year, logged their hours with the volunteer coordinator.  When indicated, classes are free to active volunteers.  Volunteers still must follow step 1 of the registration process.  Please indicate you are a volunteer when doing so.

Location:  Unless otherwise indicated, all classes meet in Heron Hall at 5151 NW Cornell Rd, Portland, OR 97210.  Heron Hall is located in the same building as our Nature Store.  The Nature Store is open until 7pm the evening of most classes.

Getting There by Bus:  There is no direct public transportation to the Audubon Society of Portland.  Trimet bus line # 17 gets you very close to the trailhead at Lower Macleay Park and it is a lovely 1.5 mile walk up Balch Creek Canyon to the Upper Macleay trailhead.  From there, turn right and follow the path 100 yards to Audubon Society of Portland.  Several Trimet services will get you to NW Lovejoy and NW 23rd Ave.  From there you can walk up Lovejoy/Cornell.  It is about the same distance as via Balch Creek but not nearly as enjoyable as traffic is often heavy and the shoulder narrow for much of the route.  There are walking paths around the tunnels however! 

Getting There by Bike or Car:  From NW Portland follow Lovejoy Street west.  One block past NW 25th Ave, Lovejoy turns sharply right and becomes Cornell Road.  Keep on it as it winds into Forest Park, goes through two tunnels, crests a hill at the Upper Macleay Trailhead and dips down to the Audubon Center on the north (right) side of Cornell Rd. 

If biking, use the bike paths to go around the tunnels and be careful, the shoulder is narrow in many places and Cornell Road is heavily traveled before and after work.  It is a long and sometimes steep uphill climb from NW 25th Ave to past the second tunnel.  

From the west side / Beaverton area Cornell Rd. can be accessed off of Hwy 217, off of Cedar Hills Blvd, off of Barnes Rd and off of Skyline Blvd.  Consult a map or mapquest.com for more detailed directions to 5151 NW Cornell Rd, Portland, OR 97210.

Getting there by carpool:  When you register for a class you may indicate you are interested in carpooling as either a rider or driver.  I will share your contact information with others who so indicate and from there it is in your hands to coordinate any carpooling.  Carpooling arrangements for field trips can also be made at the end of the evening class.