Bird Watching 101: Food, Feeders and Behavior

$50.00
no certificate

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$75.00
with CEU Certificate*

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Course Description

Who do you think benefits the most from feeding and observing wild birds - the birds or us? People of all ages, from all walks of life, study birds with interests that range from occasional pleasure viewing to an outright passion resulting in lengthy trips and major investments. But one thing all bird watchers share is the excitement generated when a particular bird of interest or rarity is spotted -- similar to the thrill of the hunt, it satisfies our need to discover. Unlike traditional hunting, however, bird watching is about admiring the beauty of the birds in their natural habitats.

Bird watching is such an exciting world to explore. Amazing birds can even be found in your own backyard! There is a great deal of joy derived from an afternoon spent watching these beautiful creatures. Many families participate in bird watching across generations, with grandparents and grandchildren often finding a shared interest when they are bird watching together.

This self-paced online course covers bird identification and location, feeding, types of birdhouses, equipment, emergency care and behavior and habitats. Whether you are a casual backyard bird watcher or a serious enthusiast, you'll soon discover that the more you watch birds the more you will want to learn about them.

Course Requirements

There are no requirements for this course other than a high school reading level and a desire to learn more about North American wild birds. I'll give suggestions for feeders, food and bird watching guides, but you won't need to have any of them to participate in the course.

Course Goals

There are many goals that I would like students to reach when taking this bird watching course. Here are just a few:

1. Develop a wonderful hobby that helps with stress and boredom and doesn't cost a thing.

2. Enrich your life by watching birds fascinating behaviors.

3. Healthier garden, healthier environment by having a yard full of birds.

4. Learn how to provide a refuge for birds and what to do in emergencies.

Course Materials

All course materials will be provided in your online classroom.

Course Structure

Lesson 1: The Joys of Bird Watching
Lesson 2: Where to Find the Birds
Lesson 3: Tools for Bird Watching
Lesson 4: Feeding Your Birds
Lesson 5: Bird Feeders and Bird Baths
Lesson 6: Bird Houses
Lesson 7: How to Identify Birds
Lesson 8: Seasonal Bird Watching
Lesson 9: Bird Watching Emergencies
Lesson 10: More Information and Further Reading

Grading Policy

Each lesson will include a lesson review quiz along with an assignment. Students will successfully complete this course by mastering all learning outcomes with 70% or higher overall grade.

Learning Outcomes

By successfully completing this course, students will be able to:

Know reasons why people watch birds.
Describe the best places to watch birds.
Know the tools used to watch birds.
Describe the best practices for feeding birds.
Describe ways to identify birds, and
Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher.

Assessment Guide

Assessment	Points
In the beginning	100
Lesson 1: Assignment	10
Lesson 1 Exam	7
Lesson 2 Assignment	10
Lesson 2 Exam	11
Lesson 3 Assignment	10
Lesson 3 Exam	7
Lesson 4 Assignment	10
Lesson 4 Exam	5
Lesson 5 Assignment	10
Lesson 5 Exam	10
Lesson 6 Assignment	10
Lesson 6 Exam	8
Lesson 7 Assignment	10
Lesson 7 Exam	6
Lesson 8 Assignment	10
Lesson 8 Exam	6
New Bird	100
Lesson 9 Assignment	10
Lesson 9 Exam	4
Lesson 10 Assignment	10
Final Thoughts	100
Final Exam	35
Total Points:	499