Birding in Fort Collins

Facilitator: Susan Puder, photo822@yahoo.com, 970-893-4872 (Home) and 609-276-0541 (Cell) Dates: Wednesdays, May 15 — 29, 2024 (3 weeks) Time: 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM Texts: None Presentations: None Required Location: Senior Center, Foxtail 2. Class Limit: 24

Birding 101—basics of birdwatching, how birds evolved, what it takes to be a bird, uniqueness of birds, their importance, and their declining populations, including a discussion on binoculars and scopes, and feeders and food.

Here They Come: Spring Migration—Basics of why and how birds migrate, ways and patterns of migration, how radar is used, hazards and declines in bird populations, and what when, and where to look for birds in the spring.

Field Trip—The final day of the series will be a field trip to a local hot spot looking for migrating birds traveling through the Fort Collins area.

Susan Puder has been a serious nature and wildlife photographer for over 30 years, using Nikon equipment. Her work has been exhibited in New York City and throughout New Jersey, winning many photo competitions, including the New Jersey Federation of Camera Club’s TOPS in New Jersey. She is a Field Contributor to Nature Photographer Magazine, with articles published in ten issues. Susan was an instructor at Stockton University/Continuing Studies and was both a judge and presenter for the New Jersey Federation of Camera Clubs. She recently moved from NJ to Fort Collins. Susan is a dedicated environmentalist who supports the preservation of open lands and wildlife. As an avid birder, she started the Southern Ocean Birding Group in New Jersey, and is a Board member of the Friends of Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge. New Jersey Birds and Beyond is her first published book. Her work can be viewed at her website www.eaglecreekphotos.com.