Birder's Certificate Program - Online Lectures

Take your birding skills to a new level! The Birder's Certificate Program (BCP) for Mass Audubon members, has been offered annually since 2004 and is a key component in our ongoing efforts to provide the finest educational programs to the birdwatching community. The BCP is equivalent to an undergraduate-level ornithology course.

Eleven monthly lectures cover a wide range of subject matter, including avian systematics, biology, field identification, physiology, behavior, vocalization, ecology, and conservation. Student comprehension will be evaluated through homework assignments for each module. Students who successfully complete the online program will receive a completion certificate.

The online lectures and virtual classroom are designed to be used on Microsoft Teams, which is free to download. An email reminder and link will be sent 48 hours before the program starts. A desktop or laptop (Mac or PC) is recommended for full functionality and best results. With tablets or phones, you may have trouble accessing the virtual classroom and program materials. You should download and install the Teams app for full functionality - using Teams in the browser is not recommended. If you are planning to use a computer owned by another organization (such as a work or school device), you may encounter security or firewall issues that will need to be addressed by that organization's IT department. Mass Audubon is not able to assist with issues involving another organization's settings.

SCHEDULE:

Systematics & Nomenclature with Bill Gette: August 15, 9:00 am-12:00 pm

Evolution & Speciation with Martha Gach: September 12, 9:00 am-12:00 pm

Field Identification with Wayne Petersen: October 17, 9:00 am-12:00 pm

Feeding Ecology with Correne George: November 14, 9:00 am-12:00 pm

Anatomy & Physiology with Flavio Sutti: December 5, 9:00 am-12:00 pm

Bird Conservation with John Herbert: January 23, 9:00 am-12:00 pm

Feathers & Flight with Scott Santino: February 20, 9:00 am-12:00 pm

Migration with Bill Gette: March 20, 9:00 am-12:00 pm

Avian Vocalization with Wayne Petersen: April 17, 9:00 am-12:00 pm

Breeding Behavior with Wayne Petersen: May 8, 9:00 am-12:00 pm

Field Ornithology with Lyra Brennan: June 5, 9:00 am-12:00 pm

Cancellation policy: A nonrefundable nontransferable $150 deposit due at time of registration. Balance is due in full 30 days prior to first class. Students have up to three years to complete course work. Refunds will not be made during the class year.

For more information, visit www.massaudubon.org/birderscertificate.