The Joy of Winter Birding

Course Leader(s)
Day of Week: Tuesday
Course Length: 5 weeks
Starting: 11/18/2025
Ending: 01/06/2025
Period of Day: Period 2 In-Person
Time: 11:30 - 1:00
Course Fee: $50

Course Description:

So, you always wanted to be a bird-watcher (birder)! Now you have no excuse!  This course is intended to provide a launching pad for those who are interested in becoming a birder.  It will teach you how to identify the common birds in our area in the winter and give you tips to maximize your chance of seeing them, what equipment to have and which guide books and apps to use. We will have one classroom session highlighting those birds we are likely to see in four field trips that will follow soon thereafter. This would be done by showing photographs of these likely birds, indicating their defining characteristics. The classroom session will be on November 18, from 11:30-1:00, in person at Temple Shalom.  Then we will go out in the field to see them, traveling to four “hotspots” for birding, on December 2, 9, 16, and January 6.  At least two trips will span most of a full day, the other two of shorter duration.

Binoculars are required for the field trips, which will each involve less than two miles of walking on ground that is fairly even.  No preparation time is required.

Books and Other Resources:

No books required, although recommendations will be given for field guides and binoculars.

Course Leader Bio(s)

Jeffrey Zupan

I have been a birder since 1958 and have traveled locally and beyond to see birds. There are about 11,000 species of birds in the world and I have seen only a mere 1,900 plus and counting, but have seen just about all those we can expect to see in eastern Massachusetts. I have given this course four times previously at LLAIC, plus three times for the spring version of the course.  Professionally, I am a retired urban transportation planner.