The Joy of Spring Birding

Course Leader(s)
Day of Week: Tuesday
Course Length: 5 weeks
Starting: 04/28/2026
Ending: 05/26/2026
Period of Day: Period 2 In-Person
Time: 11:30 - 1:00
Course Fee: $50

Course Description:

Each spring millions of birds migrate from points south and many land in the Bay State as the migrate north or stay here to breed. They flash their colorful feathers – dozens of warblers, orioles, flycatchers, swallows, and tanagers among them. In this class, I will teach students how to find and identify them.  Students will come away from this course loving birds, and just perhaps be able to call themselves birders by the end of the course.

The class consists of one session at Temple Shalom that will serve as an introduction and orientation to birding and to the birds we are likely to see. Then the following four weeks, on May 5, 12, 19, and 26, we will go out in the field to four different “birdy” places in eastern Massachusetts, three for half days nearby, and one full day to the Newburyport/ Parker River area.

The prep time is as much as each student wishes, studying in advance or after the field trips the birds we expect to see and the ones we have seen.

Please note that I am having surgery in January; I expect to know by mid-February if I will be able to  conduct the class, but it is possible that the class may be cancelled.

Books and Other Resources:

Peterson Field Guide to Birds of Eastern and Central North America, Roger Tory Peterson, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Having a good pair of binoculars is essential to get the most out of the course.  For those who don’t have a pair of birding binoculars, this site may be helpful: https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/binoculars.html.  In addition, you can sign up for eBird, and get the app, Merlin.

Course Leader Bio(s)

Jeffrey Zupan

I have been a birder all my adult life (if adulthood starts at 17). I have taught versions of this course eight times at LLAIC.