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INSTITUTE FOR FIELD ORNITHOLOGY

HUMMINGBIRDS

CANCELLED

27 July-3 August 2008
Bisbee, Arizona
Instructors: Sheri L. Williamson and Tom Wood

COURSE DESCRIPTION

From urban gardens to exotic birding hotspots, hummingbirds hold equal fascination for both novice and expert birders. In this workshop you will learn natural history, behavior, ecology, and identification of North American hummingbirds, with special emphasis on the fifteen species that occur in summer in southeastern Arizona.

In many species, the gaudy plumage of adult males is virtually unmistakable, while the more subtle colors and intricate patterns of females and immature males present identification challenges on par with raptors, gulls, and shorebirds. These popular birds also have a tendency to wander far afield, so a working knowledge of a variety of species is an asset to virtually any birder anywhere in North America. Mornings will be spent in the field, while afternoons will be divided between classroom sessions and additional field time. Classroom presentations will focus on hummingbird natural history and aspects of identification progressing from basic to advanced, including aging and sexing, molt, behavior, voice, and wing sounds. Field trips will visit a variety of birding hotspots of particular interest to hummingbird aficionados but will not neglect the many other species that make this region so special.

INSTRUCTOR

Tom Wood and Sheri Williamson are native Southwesterners with decades of experience in birding and conservation. Tom served as director of a nature center and wildlife refuge in Fort Worth, Texas, where he met and married Sheri, a birder and wildlife enthusiast since childhood. In 1988, the two moved to southeastern Arizona to serve as resident managers of The Nature Conservancy's Ramsey Canyon Preserve. They left TNC in January 1996 to found a new conservation organization, the Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory. Tom is a photographer and master bird-bander. Sheri's publications include magazine articles, a guide to attracting and feeding hummingbirds, the Blue-throated Hummingbird account for The Birds of North America, the trogon family account for The Sibley Guide to Bird Life & Behavior, and A Field Guide to Hummingbirds of North America in the Peterson Field Guides Series.

WORKSHOP LOCATION

Mild climate, diverse habitats, and its proximity to Mexico make Bisbee and the surrounding region a birder's paradise. It's also an ideal living laboratory for the study of hummingbirds, boasting more regularly occurring species than any comparable area north of Mexico. Late summer is the best time to observe resident, migrant, and vagrant hummingbirds as well as an excellent time of year for a variety of other species from sparrows to raptors. "Monsoon" thunderstorms reduce temperatures and create a second spring, complete with wildflowers, butterflies, and renewed nesting activity.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Workshop activities will include lots of relaxed feeder watching interspersed with short hikes on easy to moderately demanding trails. Late summer in Arizona can be hot with temperatures in the upper 90s, so bring sunscreen and containers for liquids to help avoid dehydration.

WORKSHOP PRICES

Price: $1795
Single room supplement: $427

Price includes ground transportation during the workshop, lodging, breakfasts, most lunches, and closing dinner. Workshop is limited to 12 participants.

ABA Institute for Field Ornithology, ABA
4945 N 30th St, Suite 200, Colorado Springs, CO 80919
719/578-9703 x235 . fax 719/578-1480 . ifo@aba.org