Pre-registration is required for all classes. Call the 206-523-4483 between 10am-5pm, Monday-Saturday to register. Also see Class FAQs for more information.
Classes make great gifts! Call us for more information!
Current Offerings:
For a PDF of current Seattle Audubon classes (and field trips), click here.
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MARCH
Nature Photography - The Secret Behind the Shot
with Paul Bannick, photographer and author, Owl and the Woodpecker
With the publication of the Owl and the Woodpecker, Paul Bannick was established as one of the leading new wildlife photographers in America. An exhibit based on his book opened at the Burke Museum last year and is currently touring the US. Learn the techniques, strategies, and equipment Paul used to make his iconic images. The class will consist of one evening lecture and one three-hour hands-on field session at a local park to practice and see him in action. If you want to get the most out of the class, you should have a telephoto lens and be comfortable adjusting the exposure, shutter speed, and shooting mode settings on your camera.
Lecture: Wednesday, March 28nd, 2012; 7 – 9 pm
Location: The 2100 Building, Board Room
Field Trips: Field trip participants will sign up, in class, for one of four 3-hour sessions with a limit of 15 people in each session.
Sign up for one session on either Saturday, March 31st OR Sunday April 1st.
The field trip will run rain or shine and be held at Juanita Bay Park or another Seattle park, depending on weather.
Cost: $100 members, $120 non-members
Limit: 45 students lecture; 15 students/field trip
APRIL
Springtime Birding for Beginners
With Hans de Grys, Chemistry Teacher, Lakeside School, Master Birder and Recipient, MIT’s Inspirational Teacher Award
This course explores topics of interest to the beginning bird watcher including the basics of identification, feathers and molt, where to find birds (habitat and local hotspots), identifying spring birds in Washington, and birding by ear. While this class is an extension of my fall Intro to Birding class, no previous experience or knowledge is necessary to enroll.
Lecture: Thursdays, April 19 and May 3; 7 - 9 pm
Location: The Lakeside School, Allen-Gates Bldg, Room 101
Field Trips: Saturday, May 5, 8 to11am, location to be announced in class
Cost: $50 members, $65 non-members for lecture and field trip.
Limit: 20
Birds and Plants of the Shrub-Steppe
with Andy Stepniewski, author of Birds of Yakima County
This class will introduce you to the plant and bird communities of the shrub-steppe ecosystem in the Columbia Basin of eastern Washington. The instructor will present botanical tidbits relating to birds and touch on conservation issues. He will emphasize the relationships between Horned Larks, Sage Sparrows, Sage Thrashers, Brewer's Sparrows, Sage Grouse, and Vesper Sparrows and the preferred habitats of each within this unique mosaic of plant communities. Two leaders will conduct the day-long field trip to the Columbia Basin amidst spectacular wildflowers.
Lecture: Friday, April 27; 7-9 pm
Location: The 2100 Building, Board Room
Field Trip: Saturday, April 28, 6:30 am - 6:30 pm
Cost: $60 members; $75 non-members
Limit: 25
MAY/JUNE
2012 Birding by Ear – Learning NW Bird Voices
With Bob Sundstrom, Professional Birding Tour Leader & BirdNote Lead Writer
Tune up your ears in this popular class, where you’ll learn to get a handle on bird songs. Ideal for new birding-by ear students or veterans who want an intensive refresher. Day-long trips offer intensive field experience, and cover a variety of habitats within 100 miles of Seattle. For new birding-by-ear students, or veterans who want an intensive refresher.
Note: Registration is by field trip. You may register for one or both field trips.
Two evening lectures are included when you register for one or both of the two different full-day field trips. Carpool and meeting plans will be given in class.
Field Trip #1: Wednesday, May 30 – South Puget Sound
Field Trip #2: Wednesday, June 20 – East of the Cascades
Lectures: Tuesday, May 1 & Thursday, May 10; 7 – 9 pm
Location: The 2100 Building, Board Room
Cost: $100 members, $115 non-members, (for 2 lectures and 1 field trip)
$175 members, $190 non-members, (for 2 lectures and BOTH field trips)
Limit: 18 per field trip
Butterflies of the Puget Sound Region
With Idie Ulsh,
Past President Seattle Audubon
Founding President of Washington Butterfly Association
This relaxed and informative four-session course is back by popular demand! It is designed for people who wish to learn to identify and attract thirty of the most common butterfly species in the Puget Sound area. The course is photo-based and includes natural history, butterfly gardening, and butterfly photography using superb digital photographs of all species and topics with several handouts. Butterflying is a wonderful compliment to birding and teaching. Proceeds support SAS and WBA.
Classes: Tuesdays, May 15, 22, and 29; 7-9 PM
Location: Center for Urban Horticulture, Douglas classroom
Field Trip: Saturday May 19th or Saturday; June 2nd in case of weather cancellation on May 19th (Field session guaranteed)
Cost: Field Trip and Lecture: $75 SAS or WBA members, $90 non-members
Lecture only: $40 SAS or WBA members, $55 nonmembers
Limit: 15 for lecture and carpool field session;
Lecture only 20
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*Seattle Audubon classes can be held at three different locations. Please be sure to check where your class will be held. Here are the directions:
The Center of Urban Horticulture
CUH is located at the 3501 NE 41st St., Seattle, 98195. Take the Montlake Boulevard exit and drive north on Montlake Boulevard. Stay to the right as you cross the bridge and pass Husky Stadium. At the five-way intersection of N.E. 45th and Mary Gates Memorial Drive, turn right onto Mary Gates Memorial Drive. Continue to the bend in the road where Mary Gates Drive becomes N.E. 41st St. The center is on your right. NHS Hall and Isaacson Hall are in the first complex of buildings. Douglas Classroom adjacent to the greenhouse.
The 2100 Building
The 2100 Building is located at 2100 24th Ave S, Seattle, 98144. To get there from I-5: Take I-90 East toward Bellevue / Spokane exit. At exit 3, take ramp right and follow signs for Rainier Ave S. Bear right onto Rainier Ave S. Bear left onto S Walker St, and then immediately turn left onto 24TH Ave S.
Phinney Neighborhood Center
The Phinney Neighborhood Center is located at 6532 Phinney Ave N, Seattle, 98103. To get there from I-5: Take the NE 50th St/NE 45th St exit. Follow the 50th Street off ramp, and turn west onto 50th Street and travel west about 1 1/2 miles to Phinney Avenue North (watch the street signs after 6 stoplights so you don't get in the wrong lane accidently). The arterial curves to the right and becomes Phinney Avenue North. Travel north on Phinney about 1 mile. When the road veers to the left, turn right instead onto North 67th Street (just before Starbucks). The upper parking lot, which serves the Blue Building, is the first driveway to your right.