The Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation and Bird Studies Canada are teaming up to deliver bird identification workshops and we are seeking clubhouses interested in hosting these events across the province. The workshops, developed as part of the Saskatchewan Breeding Bird Atlas, are suitable for all ages and they are offered at three levels which are designed to guide participants through the process of identifying birds, starting with the very basics. Each workshop lasts about 2 hours and can take place on weeknights or weekends.

• Beginnerbird identification (1 class) – Covers the basics of bird identification, including the tools needed to get started, the key features to make note of when viewing a bird, and an overview of the major bird families seen in Saskatchewan.
• Intermediate bird identification(4 classes) – A detailed look at the bird species likely to be encountered in your area with guidance on what features to focus on to distinguish species.
• Advancedbird identification (2 classes) – Take bird identification to the next level with an introduction to the world of birdsong and identifying birds by sound.

During winter and spring of 2019, we conducted 27 workshops in communities across the province with attendance ranging 30-80 people per workshop. Participants of all ages spent time together learning about birds, some for the very first time and others as a refresher to bolster an existing skillset.

Wildlife Federation clubhouses are a natural place for folks to gather and learn more about the natural world. Last April, we had a beginner-level workshop hosted at the Battlefords Wildlife Federation clubhouse where 32 people gathered for an evening of bird talk and enthusiasm about nature. This was a great success bringing together SWF members and other interested folks in the community to learn about birds together. In addition to bringing the more advanced workshops to the Battlefords clubhouse this winter, we would like your help bringing bird identification workshops to other SWF gathering places across the province.

If you are interested in hosting a workshop this fall or winter, please contact the Saskatchewan Breeding Bird Atlas Coordinator LeeAnn Latremouille at 306-249-2894 or by email at skatlas@birdscanada.org .