This class will be led by Danielle Kacshube from the Institute for Bird Populations and is intended for experienced bird banders. The morning field sessions will be an opportunity to review and improve skills including the operation of and removal of birds from mist nets, bird-handling, and in-hand ageing and sexing techniques. During these sessions, Dani will address advanced skills such as skulling, refining the scoring of various characteristics, and interpreting these characteristics for age and sex determinations. The afternoon lecture sessions will focus on theories of molts and plumages and how to apply these concepts to the birds captured during the morning banding sessions. Classes are very individualized and the rate of progression will be dependent upon the skill level of the participants.

We can accept up to 9 students in this class, with a minimum enrollment of 5 students. We will not hold the class if the minimum enrollment is not met. Please do not buy plane tickets or make other travel arrangements until we have confirmed the minimum enrollment has been met. We will make a decision about whether to hold the class at the latest a month before the class begins.

Before attending an advanced class, participants should be able to handle and set up mist-nets; be able to extract birds from mist-nets; and have familiarity with ageing hatch-year versus after-hatch-year birds. Participants should come prepared with questions that have arisen during their banding operations and prepared to work with the instructor to focus on the particular skills they would like to improve upon.

Tuition for the class is $1,300. This includes the banding class and most learning supplies. Participants may choose to stay at the historic farmhouse on the Clifton Institute property for an additional $200. This includes a bed, bedding, breakfast Monday through Thursday, lunch Monday through Thursday, and dinner on Monday and Tuesday. The farmhouse offers basic amenities, plus the beauty of an undeveloped 900-acre field station. Each bedroom contains two bunkbeds and can sleep up to four people. The farmhouse has two-and-a-half bathrooms, a kitchen, and two common areas, as well as offices used by the Clifton Institute staff. Airlie Conference Center is the next nearest accommodation if you would prefer to make your own arrangements. There are several other hotels, as well as several restaurants and grocery stores, available in nearby Warrenton.

Class will begin at noon on Sunday and end at 5:00PM on Thursday. Participants are welcome to arrive at the farmhouse as early as noon on Saturday and depart as late as noon on Friday.

To register please fill out the registration form here and email it to info@cliftoninstitute.org.

Prairie warbler photo by Cameron Darnell.