Workshop: Gull Identification

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Part I: Saturday, February 3, 2024 (1:00-4:00pm)

Part II: Sunday, February 4, 2024 (8:00am-12:00pm)

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Cost - $25 

($10 for Saturday lecture only)

*Contact us to register*

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Back by popular demand, this two-part workshop will get you started on unraveling the mysteries of gull identification. 

Believe it or not, most gulls are not very difficult to tell apart even though adult and juveniles of most species look very different. We’re going to give ourselves confidence by identifying the easier plumages of our common species, and then tackle the more challenging intermediate plumages and the less-common species. By breaking down each identification into manageable choices, these accessible, fascinating, and rewarding group of birds will soon become downright easy (for most birds, most of the time, anyway!)

Part I
Saturday will be indoors at the Freeport Public Library will be divided into two sections (you need not be present for both):

1:00 pm-2:30 pm – Beginning Gull Identification. Using Powerpoint and book resources, we’ll start with the basics of gull identification, such as feather topography and aging. We’ll then focus on our most common species: Ring-billed, Herring, Great Black-backed, Laughing, and Bonaparte’s Gulls.

2:45 pm-4:00 pm – Advanced Gull Identification. Now comfortable with the basics, we’ll move on to the uncommon species: Lesser Black-backed, Iceland, Glaucous, and Black-legged Kittiwake. Next up will be the rarities: Little, Black-headed, and yes, even the gull-formely-known-as-Thayer’s. We’ll touch upon “Megas” such as Short-billed, Slaty-backed, and Sabine’s, and we’ll discuss hybrids. Finally, we’ll apply what we have learned to tackle and understand some identification quandaries, such as the famous “Westbrook Gull” before we finish up with some photo quizzes to test our new-found knowledge.

Part II:
Field Workshop: Sunday (8:00am – 12:00pm):

We’ll meet in Portland to carpool around the area to apply what we have learned. We’ll spend some time with our most common species: Herring, Ring-billed, and Great Black-backed, and then seek out Iceland and Glaucous, and perhaps we’ll find something even better!

We hope that you will join Derek for this workshop to foster appreciation for this fascinating group of birds. 
 

To get an idea of what to expect, see our reports from the 2019 and 2014 workshops in partnership with York County Audubon. 

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Bird Feeding Basics and Problem Solving

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Spring & Fall 2024 TBA; 6:30 - 8:00pm

Gardiner Area Adult Ed, Gardiner Area High School

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Cost - TBA

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An introduction to creating a successful bird feeding garden, including food, feeders, pest issues, habitat, and conservation, using a powerpoint presentation chock full of expert advice, beautiful bird photos and helpful tips. Derek will help you help birds in an enjoyable and successful backyard habitat. And yes, we can keep squirrels off feeders too!

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