Pelagic Birds of Puget Sound

This course will focus on pelagic (open saltwater) species that can be found around Puget Sound or along the Straits of Juan de Fuca. Our targets are the alcids, loons, grebes, cormorants, gulls, and waterfowl that feed or roost in the marine waters.

The two lectures (each about 100 minutes with questions) will go over the key characteristics used by expert birders to separate species. These will include size, shape, color patterns, behaviors, distribution, and, in some cases, calls. Silhouettes really help our brains focus on shape, and this is important in recognizing groups and, in some instances, specific species. Each lecture will also include quizzes to help refine your identification skills. Charts and handouts, as well as links to great bird identification sites, will be provided. The lectures will be recorded, and registrants will have access to the recordings at least through March 2026.

Field trips will be offered and added as the instructor judges the weather and bird numbers. Field trips will include instruction and focus on pelagic birds, discussing diagnostic field marks and practicing the knowledge & skills that will help you ID birds on your own or on future Naturalist trips to similar locations. This will reinforce what you have learned in the lectures and give you a chance to practice your identifications.

• Please initially only sign up for one trip. There are 40 students in the course and 64 field trip slots, so there are plenty to go around for everyone to attend one field trip. (One trip is the requirement to get a badge for the course. If you are not badge-motivated, the field trips are optional.)
• Please wait until Saturday, November 22, at 7:00 am to sign up for a second trip. This is an honor system.  (If we notice this week that students are signed up for more than one trip, we will have to adjust rosters.)
• Right now, there are eight field trip options with three different destinations. The Edmonds trips, which are closest to Seattle, should end by mid-afternoon. The other two are much further afield, will take all day with an early start, and involve a willingness for carpooling and caravanning. The Port Angeles & Olympic Coast Trip will also involve a ferry ride for those of us coming from the Seattle area.  Please take some time before you sign up to read the field trip descriptions to get the right match for yourself.  
• Please commit to attending the full duration of the field trip you choose.  Arriving late or leaving early are not an option for these trips with multiple destinations.  While we understand that "life happens", last-minute cancellations are more work for the trip leaders and can lead to pressure on course leaders to add extra field trips at the end. We will resist the pressure! 

Course Cost including field trips: $70 per person, $108 for non-members

SKILL BADGE:

To receive the badge, you need to participate in the lectures and at least one field trip that has a focus on Pelagic Birds.

Scholarships are available:

APPLY FOR A SCHOLARSHIP

This course will help the Naturalists program fulfill its obligation to support the Mountaineers' financial viability.