BIRD-120: Birding by Ear
Description
| Class Level | Beginner / Intermediate |
| Workshop Date: | Saturday, March 28, 2026 |
| Workshop Time: | 7:30 – 10:30 am |
| Workshop Location: | Chaetura Canyon Directions and details will be emailed to class participants |
| Instructor: | Mikael Behrens |
| Class Fee: | $45 members, $50 non-members |
| Class Size Cap: | 10 participants |
The Texas Hill Country supports many species of birds, but its dense oak-juniper woods can make them difficult to see. Birding by ear is a way of finding and identifying birds without having to see them. And it’s so much more! Tuning into the subtle sounds birds make increases awareness and mindfulness, enhances bird behavior interpretation, and helps to make your birding a strong and lasting form of nature connection.
This three hour workshop, led by Mikael Behrens, will focus on identifying and appreciating birds by sound rather than sight, on Travis Audubon’s Chaetura Canyon Sanctuary. It’s a combination of stationary listening and a slow walk on the canyon trail (which is steep and narrow in places.) Due to the terrain, this event is moderately strenuous and not recommended for persons with breathing or balance problems. In this workshop we will:
- Identify the bird sounds we hear.
- Learn about the reasons for and context of bird sounds.
- Learn a context for interpreting bird sounds that does not require identifying the bird.
- Tune in to subtle sounds in general and learn how our ears both help us and hinder us.
A restroom is available at the start and end of the workshop.
For more information, contact Mikael at birdingonbroadmeade@gmail.com