MVAS Birding Classes

Birding Basics Class I

Notice all the fun birders are having, but aren’t sure birding is for you? Want to get outside, but need something interesting to do while you’re there? Fascinated by all the birds around your home and want to learn a bit more about them? Here is the class for you. Mesilla Valley Audubon Society (MVAS) is presenting a class on Birding Basics on three consecutive Tuesday evenings, September 1, 8, and 15, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Creative Arts room of Las Cruces Village Senior Living, 3011 Buena Vida Circle, Las Cruces. The class is free and is intended for those with little or no experience birding. Topics covered include:

  • how to find, watch, and listen to birds

  • how to identify and learn about birds

  • how to record and share your observations

  • how to conserve birds and their environments

  • how to meet and learn from other birders

Register for the class by providing your sign-up information at:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/10F7xBVtpG-6S2H2vs_f1V1IY0oxFPR3W9BwMETD0W9U/edit?usp=sharing

House Finch
Lesser Goldfinch
Cactus Wren

Birding Basics Class II 

Learn more about local birds and birding hotspots. Learn how to use eBird to plan your birding outings, share your observations, and keep track of your birding experiences.

Warbler Class

Each year our area is visited by a group of small, beautiful, and otherwise fascinating birds called warblers. If you’d like to up your game on how to tell them apart from other birds and from each other, you won’t want to miss this. Just in time for fall migration, Jay Wilbur will teach a class in warbler identification. Jay will focus on how to apply identification techniques to the warblers we usually see in Doña Ana County and nearby.

Waterfowl Identification class

Winter is the season when ducks and other waterfowl fly south and enjoy our warmer lakes and ponds. Join us for a class in waterfowl identification
teach a class in waterfowl identification.

Flycatcher Class

From Pewees to Kingbirds, the Tyrant Flycatchers are among the hardest birds to identify in the field. Some species are so alike in appearance that their vocalizations are the only reliable way to tell them apart. On the other hand, because of their feeding habits, flycatchers are usually easy to find and watch. Furthermore, southern New Mexico plays host to several, especially during the warmer months.

 
 

Raptor ID Class

From wise old owls to powerful eagles, birds of prey, AKA raptors, provide us with some of our most admired icons. If you’d like to up your game on how to tell them apart from other birds and from each other, you won’t want to miss this. Mesilla Valley Audubon Society (MVAS) Board member and hawk expert Daniel Horton is going to present a class on raptor identification on Tuesday, August 25, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Creative Arts room of Las Cruces Village Senior Living, 3011 Buena Vida Circle, Las Cruces. The class is free and will focus on the birds we usually find in Dona Ana County. Register for the class by providing your sign-up information at:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1wfj5c0b5F4Ovru5N02BtrMlyilCHIjjKUDdrwnLmzGk/edit?usp=sharing