Fabulous Females: Become A Better Birder & Aid in Bird Conservation
Join us for an investigation into why female birds (and birders) have been historically overlooked, and how we can all help at-risk species by taking the time to identify female birds and record where we see them.
The first third of the class will be spent discussing how ingrained social biases and colonialism have impacted the world of ornithology, and how a collective disregard for females has had direct ecological and conservation ramifications for many species. Some specific case studies will be addressed, with a focus on ways birders can help protect the species they love by paying attention to females.
The last half of the class will be split into two fifteen-minute segments when we will be discussing what steps to take when you see a bird you don’t know, and then highlighting several common Portland species with tips and tricks for challenging sex-specific identification. Whether you are brand new to birding or an intermediate birder, everyone is welcome!
Taught by Kate Kohut, an environmental educator, and naturalist who has spent the past five years teaching people of all ages about birds and leading educational birding excursions. Kate has her Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Conservation Biology, and recently earned her Master’s in Science Communication. She is new to Portland and excited to become a part of the birding community here!
