Introductory Level Classes:
The 2025 Breeding Birds class: May 15th and 22nd (evening classes), and May 17th and 24th (fieldtrips). This class is a great way to gain familiarity with ~200 species of birds that nest in our region. Emphasis will be on family- and species-level characteristics taught in the museum, and field trips to practice IDs. The class will be taught by Sammy Cowell, who grew up in the San Fernando Valley, studied biology and received his M.S. from Utah State on the breeding ecology of two woodpecker species, and has been teaching biology classes at Oxnard College and birding locally since he moved to Ventura County in 2017.
The class consists of two Wednesday evening workshops using slides and study skins, held at the WFVZ Museum from 6-8:30 pm. The fieldtrips will be held the following Saturdays from 7:30-11 am. The course provides 12 hours of instruction, and slides and other materials for home review. Fieldtrip locations will be announced at the museum classes; all will be in Ventura County. Extreme weather cancels fieldtrips, but we will try to reschedule on following Saturdays.
Costs are as follows: $100–$130 for people who paid as Members between 28 Feb 2024 and 28 Feb 2025; $150 for non-Members and brand-new Members; $100 for current college and high school students with valid ID. Children over 12 are welcome to join the class but must be accompanied by one adult; the cost will be charged as one person. Capacity is limited to <20 students to provide for quality field experiences for all. Registration is now open and will remain open until the class is filled; register and pay in advance through link below.
The 2025 Wintering Birds ID class was taught by Sammy Cowell over the course of 2 weeks in January 2025. The course emphasizes the identification of wintering birds of prey, sparrows and other passerines, shorebirds, and gulls. Two in-person lab classes are held on Thursday evenings from 6-8:30 pm, and field trips on Saturday mornings. Heavy rain cancels or may modify the length of the course. Registration for this course will open In November 2025.
Costs are as follows: $100-$128 for people who paid as Members between 1 April 2024 and 1 April 2025. $150 for non-Members and brand-new Members; $100 for current college and high school students with valid ID. Children over 12 are welcome to join the class but must be accompanied by one adult; the cost will be charged as one person. Capacity is limited to <20 students to provide for quality field experiences for all. For all introductory classes priority will be given to WFVZ Members.Please contact Education at wfvz dot org for specific questions.
For payment for classes please visit our Events page.
Please contact Education at wfvz dot org for specific questions.
Professional Level Classes:
Vocalizations of southern California riparian and chaparral birds: Taught in April 2025 by Dr Linnea Hall, an avian ecologist with >30 years of identifying passerines of the western US by vocalization. More than 8 hours of intensive instruction and a handbook of information on how to group bird vocalizations by types provided.
Times/Dates: An evening Zoom introduction will be held on April 23rd from 6:30-8 pm; morning field sessions are from 7 to 11 am on April 25th and 26th (sites TBD). 15 people maximum; open only to professional biologists or those in training for a field biology/enviromental sciences career who have at least 2 years of southern California bird ID experience, or who have taken Ornithology (or equivalent) and have one year of field experience. Extreme weather cancels fieldtrips, but we will try to reschedule to a following weekend.
Pricing: $200 for Non-Members; $140-$170 (a 15-30% discount!) for people who paid as Members between 1 March 2024 and 1 March 2025; $120 for current college students with valid ID. Register and pay in advance through link below.
An advanced reference for the class is Pieplow, Nathan. 2019. Peterson Field Guide to Bird Sounds of Western North America. Hardcover – Illustrated. This is NOT REQUIRED, but is an amazing source of advanced information about vocalizations of bird species of North America, so is highly recommended.
Nests and Eggs Workshop: November 2025. Taught by Dr. Linnea Hall and Mr. René Corado, and guest nesting bird specialists. This is a 3-day workshop covering all southern California bird families, including more than 150 species. Classes are held fin the museum from 9 am to 3 pm on days 1 and 2 (1 hr lunch break each day); 8-11 am in the field on day 3 (weather permitting), then 1-3 pm at the museum for closing work.
Days 1 and 2 (Thurs and Fri): Classroom introduction to the breeding ecology of birds, and the nests and eggs
Day 3 (Sat): On the third morning we will meet at a local field site in Ventura County to see/practice identifying nest locations for T/E and special status species, along with other species. Return to museum for specimen review and closing Q and A.
Pricing: $200 for Non-Members; $140-$170 for WFVZ Members; $120 for current college students with valid ID. Class registration opens 2 months before date. Registration for this class will open in September 2025.
For payment for classes please visit our Events page. Thank you!
Please contact Education at wfvz dot org for specific questions.
