Membership | Price (+HST) |
---|---|
Single | $85/year |
Single Plus | $120/year |
Family | $130/year |
Family Plus | $175/year |
Contributing | $300/year |
Supporting | $600/year |
Sustaining | $1,000/year |
Benefactor's Circle | $2,500/year |
Director's Circle | $5,000/year |
President's Circle | $10,000/year |
Let’s Go Birding! (for beginners): Fall
Event Information
Date & Time:
Select Dates Sept-Nov
Location:
Trails
Types:
Courses and Programs, Outdoor Adventure
Admission:
Pre-Registration Required, Ticketed Event
Event Description
Would you like to learn about Ontario bird species and how to identify them in the field? Are you interested in taking up birding as a hobby? If either of these questions resonate with you, then “Let’s Go Birding” is the program for you!
- Fee: $25 per session + $2 Service Fee & HST (Members 10% off)
- Registration Closes: 2 days prior
- Registration opening Wednesday June 23, 11 a.m.
Fall Dates
- Tuesday Sept 9; 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. (instructor: Angelique Mori)
- Sunday Sept 14; 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. (instructor: TBD)
- Tuesday Sept 16; 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. (instructor: Barry Coombs)
- Wednesday Sept 17; 5 to 8 p.m. (instructor: Heather Hosten)
- Saturday Sept 20; 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. (instructor: TBD)
- Tuesday Sept 23; 5 to 8 p.m. (instructor: Angelique Mori)
- Wednesday Sept 24; 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. (instructor: Barry Coombs)
- Saturday Sept 27; 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. (instructor: Barry Coombs)
- Tuesday Sept 30; 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. (instructor: Angelique Mori)
- Saturday Oct 4; 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. (instructor: Barry Coombs)
- Tuesday Oct 7; 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. (instructor: Angelique Mori)
- Sunday Oct 12; 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. (instructor: Barry Coombs)
- Saturday Oct 14; 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. (instructor: Barry Coombs)
- Saturday Oct 18; 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. (instructor: Barry Coombs)
- Saturday Oct 19; 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. (instructor: TBD)
- Saturday Oct 21; 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. (instructor: Angelique Mori)
- Saturday Oct 25, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. (instructor: Heather Hosten)
- Saturday Oct 26; 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. (instructor: Barry Coombs)
- Saturday Nov 5; 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. (instructor: Barry Coombs)
- Sunday Nov 8, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. (instructor: Heather Hosten)
- Saturday Nov 12; 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. (instructor: Barry Coombs)
Join other birders and learn how to identify a variety of birds in the field, using features such as colour, size, shape, behaviour, habitat, and bird song. To provide you with a high quality experience, each session is kept to a small group size of 12 registrants. Sessions take place in a variety of habitats on RBG lands, including the Arboretum, Hendrie Valley, Princess Point, or Rock Chapel. Participants will be notified of the next program’s location via email at least 48 hours prior to each program date. 2-3 hours long, perfect for beginners.
Looking for an intermediate program? Try “The Joy of Birding!”
Instructors

Heather Hosten
Instructor Bio
Heather Hosten started birding with the RBG’s birding program in 2018. She liked it so much that she joined the RBG as a volunteer and is now excited to be leading birding walks. She enjoys birding with friends and has volunteered with a local bird banding station. When she is not birding, Heather works as a speech language pathologist and enjoys gardening and needlework.

Barry Coombs
Instructor Bio
Barry Coombs is an experienced and avid birder and bird advocate. He has led many outings for the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club, the Ontario Field Ornithologists and the Toronto Ornithological Club. He volunteers for the Long Watch bird survey of the Royal Botanical Gardens and has contributed to several Fall, Christmas and Point Counts. A very active advocate for birds, Barry is co-chair of Birdsong Hamilton and is a member of the board of FLAP (Fatal Light Awareness Program) Canada. As a lifelong visual artist, Barry has exhibited his work domestically and internationally.

Angelique Mori
Instructor Bio
Angelique Mori is a passionate birder with over 20 years field experience and has worked as a Nature Interpreter at the RBG since 2015. An active member of the Ontario Field Ornithologists, her bird illustrations have been published in FLAP Canada and she was awarded the 2014 NANPS Garden Award for her commitment to maintain & restore her urban property to provide an oasis to diverse species, attracting over 130 bird species! As a dedicated eBirder with Cornell, Angelique has ranked in Ontario’s top 100, and is approaching her 5th year eBird checklist streak.
To prepare for your birding session, please consider the following:
- Please dress appropriately for the weather and wear sturdy, close-toed shoes.
- We will be hiking slowly for a few kilometers over the course of 2-3 hours.
- Please bring a water bottle, and snacks in case you get hungry.
- Binoculars are a must, but if you don’t have a good pair, we can lend you a pair for the outing.
- Although we love animals, please leave your pets at home.
- To protect our natural ecosystems, we ask you to stay on the trails and refrain from feeding the wildlife.
Register for RBG’s Courses & Workshops
Pre-registration required for all Courses and Workshops. View all upcoming courses and workshops from all categories at rbg.ca/publicprograms.
Tips for Registering
- Pre-Registration is required for all RBG Courses & Workshops
- Member discounts: Current RBG Members automatically receive any indicated discounts when logged in to their RBG account using the email address associated with the membership.