The Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch (NPH) is pleased to announce that our Raptor Identification Course will be offered again this Fall, just in time for the southerly raptor migration. This course was created by Catherine Manschot who is a former teacher, a hawk enthusiast, and an NPH committee member and counter.
The course is designed to teach you how to identify Ontario raptor species seen perched or in-flight. Each week you will compare similarities and differences among genera and species covering shape, flight behaviour, and field marks (including juvenile, sub-adult, and adult age classes and sexually different plumages). There will be opportunities to apply your new skills through fun quizzes, and questions will be fielded along the way. No prior knowledge of hawks is needed. Birding experience is beneficial. Species covered will include the Red-tailed Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Northern Goshawk, Bald Eagle, Golden Eagle, Osprey, American Kestrel, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Turkey Vulture, and Black Vulture. Dates: Monday and Thursday nights at 7 pm, August 22nd, 25th, 29th, September 1st, 5th, 8th, 12th and 15th. Each session will run 60 to 90 minutes, plus a question period at the end. Recordings will be available until late September for participants to review. Fee: $48.00 where 50% is a donation to the Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch. To register, please email the following to [email protected]: 1) your first and last name, 2) your email address, and 3) your etransfer of $48. Registration will close on August 21st. -- Ontbirds and Birdnews are moderated email Listservs provided by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) as a service to all birders in Ontario. Birdnews is reserved for announcements, location summaries, first of year reports, etc. To post a message on Birdnews, send an email to: [email protected]. If you have any questions or concerns, contact the Birdnews Moderators by email at [email protected]. Please review posting rules and guidelines at http://ofo.ca/site/content/listserv-guidelines During the COVID-19 pandemic, all Ontario birders should be taking extra precautions and following local, provincial, and federal regulations regarding physical distancing and non-essential travel. To find out more about OFO, please visit our website at ofo.ca or Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists.
