This course is now full! Not to worry, we will be offering this course again in the future.
BIRDING BY EAR: Learning to identify birds without relying on sight
Co-organized with the Wisconsin Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired
First session: April 28, 6:00-8:00 p.m. | or | April 30, 8:00-10:00 a.m.
Second session: May 5, 6:00-8:00 p.m. | or | May 7, 8:00-10:00 a.m.
Just as unique as their coloration and shape, bird songs come in all tunes and pitches. Identifying birds by their song is an exciting activity and skill, and any experienced bird watcher will tell you that most birding is done without actually seeing the bird, but by hearing it.
This class teaches the techniques for identifying birds by close listening. We welcome participants who are new to the hobby of birding by ear, as well as birders of any level interested in continuing to learn and practice their birding by ear skills. This class is for folks of all visual abilities (sighted, visually impaired, or blind).
If you have taken this class in previous years, we are thrilled to see your continued interest! In order to allow a variety of folks to participate, we give registration priority to new participants. Please sign up on the Waiting List here and we will let you know if the class doesn’t fill and you can join.
The first session will focus on techniques and context, as well as introduce some of the most common bird songs heard in early May in southern Wisconsin. The second session will focus on strengthening your listen-memory skills and strategies for picking a song out of a chorus. While the class content is geared for Wisconsinites, the skills and techniques learned in this class can be transferred anywhere!
Attendees of the 2019 Birding by Ear class during the outdoor class component. A group of nearly 30 people stand on a path in the woods. Some have white canes, all are smiling. Photo by Brenna Marsicek / Madison Audubon
Fully accessible class
In 2022, the first week’s class sessions will be held entirely online and specially designed to serve those who experience vision impairment or loss, as well as individuals with full sight. Materials will be available digitally. If unable to access them, we can send large font or Braille options. Let us know at least three weeks prior to the event to prepare and mail the materials.
The second week will be held at Lakeshore Nature Preserve in central Madison. We will make our way to Picnic Point and other wonderful spots within the preserve. The paths at this location are wide, relatively flat, and asphalt or packed gravel. The preserve is partially available by public transportation (Madison Metro routes 84, 80, and nearby 2), though may require some walking to get to. Click here to view the Birdability Site Description.
Dates, times and locations:
We are offering a weeknight date and a weekend date for both class sessions to accommodate varying schedules. When you register, you will select 1 of the 2 date options for each session.
First session: April 28, 6:00-8:00 p.m. | or | April 30, 8:00-10:00 a.m.
Second session: May 5, 6:00-8:00 p.m. | or | May 7, 8:00-10:00 a.m.
Registration fee: $20.00 per person (same price regardless of whether attending 1 or 2 sessions); scholarships to cover registration fee are available – request when registering.
Enrollment cap: 25 individuals per class (50 total)
Cherokee Marsh at sunset, showing a small bare tree and grass in the foreground, with water and a treeline in the background as the sun sets. Photo by Katie Wheeler FCC
Optional Field Trip (NOW FULL):
Additionally, Madison Audubon is offering an optional, free field trip called “Birding by Ear: Evening Sounds at Cherokee Marsh” on April 7, 6:30-8:30 p.m. There are 5 spots reserved for class registrants, available on a first-come first-served basis. Please indicate in the registration form whether you would like to be added to the waiting list.
Register here
Additional Birding by Ear resources:
The world of Birding by Ear is a wonderfully expansive one! Here are a few resources to heighten your curiosity:
An article by Michael Hurban, an avid birder who is legally blind, describes why birding by ear is important to him.
It’s a Bird World podcast by BBC, focusing on humans’ relationships with birds and how birds can alert us to changes in the environment. The podcast offers great audio and image descriptions.
The World According to Sound and Bird Note teamed up to create an immersive audio event that explores the sounds of a wide variety of birds — they mail you an eye mask to use during the event as part of your registration package! Registration is available here, and you can use discount code BirdsEncore25 to get a 25% discount.
About the Instructors:
Course instructor Kerry Wilcox
Kerry Wilcox worked as an avian biologist in numerous states from 1997-2017, and since moving back to his home state of Wisconsin he has been working as a GIS Specialist focused on monitoring public lands. He has always enjoyed learning the songs and calls of birds and other wildlife, and finds that sound is often the first (and best) clue as to the identity of songbirds in Wisconsin.
Kerry has led the Birding by Ear course since 2018.
Course instructor Jim Denham
Jim Denham is the Access Technology Specialist with the Wisconsin Council of the Blind & Visually Impaired. In this role, he conducts technology assessments and provides training on a wide array of tools, such as screen readers, screen magnification software, smart phones and refreshable braille displays. Being blind himself, Jim utilizes much of this technology on a daily basis. He is passionate about helping individuals with disabilities learn to use technology to accomplish tasks that seem impossible. Jim is an avid birder and enjoys the intersection of technology and nature.
About the Organizations:
The Wisconsin Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired promotes the dignity and empowerment of the people of Wisconsin who live with vision loss through advocacy, education, and vision services. They do this through advocacy, education, and vision services. Learn more about the Council here.
Madison Audubon, established in 1935 as the Madison Bird Club, is today one of the most dynamic Audubon chapters in the nation. We bring birds into the lives of our more than 3,000 local members (and many others!) throughout south-central Wisconsin through land protection and restoration, youth and community education, citizen science, and advocacy. Learn more about Madison Audubon here.
Header photo by Mick Thompson
