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Class act: Spokane Auduboners offer birding clinics

Undated photo of a Swainson's thrush. Like disoriented hikers, migrating songbirds went the wrong way when their inner compasses were disrupted. But the birds recovered, apparently using sunset clues to reorient themselves. How migrating birds find their way over great distances has long intrigued people. Some birds can orient themselves with an internal compass using the earth's magnetic field. Others seem to follow the sun, the stars, polarized light or different clues. (AP Photo/Laura H. Spinney, Science Magazine) ORG XMIT: WX110 (Laura Spinney / The Spokesman-Review)
Undated photo of a Swainson's thrush. Like disoriented hikers, migrating songbirds went the wrong way when their inner compasses were disrupted. But the birds recovered, apparently using sunset clues to reorient themselves. How migrating birds find their way over great distances has long intrigued people. Some birds can orient themselves with an internal compass using the earth's magnetic field. Others seem to follow the sun, the stars, polarized light or different clues. (AP Photo/Laura H. Spinney, Science Magazine) ORG XMIT: WX110 (Laura Spinney / The Spokesman-Review)

 WILDLIFE WATCHING -- Spokane Audubon members are offering several choice opportunities to learn more about birds and bird identification.

  • Birds of Eastern Washington, April 21 & 23, taught by SAS member Fran Haywood. Sign up through Community Colleges of Spokane.

  • Bird Identification workshops for novices, May 9, 11, 13, led by Gary Blevins and Kim Thorburn. To be held 6:30 p.m.-9 p.m. at West Valley Outdoor Learning Center, 8706 E. Upriver Dr. $20 donation to Spokane Audubon requested. Pre-register: Gary Blevins, 533-3661 or GaryB@spokanefalls.edu by April 26.

  • Bird identification field trip, May 14,  to Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge, led by Gary Blevins and Kim Thorburn. Geared to the bird ID workshop participants (above) but open to others. Meet at 7 a.m. at Turnbull NWR, near Cheney, in the parking lot by the Education Building at the refuge headquarters. Groups will be out until about  2 p.m. A small refuge entrance fee is required. Pre-register: Gary Blevins, 533-3661 or garyb@spokanefalls.edu by May 5.

Rich Landers
Rich Landers joined The Spokesman-Review in 1977. He is the Outdoors editor for the Sports Department writing and photographing stories about hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, conservation, nature and wildlife and related topics.

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