| 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): Spring
Event Information
Date & Time:
Select Saturdays and Sundays, 9 a.m.
Location:
Trails
Types:
Courses and Programs, Outdoor Adventure
Length:
1 to 2 Hours
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: 3 days prior
Spring Dates
- Saturday May 10; 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (instructor: Heather Hosten)
- Sunday May 18; 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (instructor: Barry Coombs)
- Saturday May 24; 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (instructor: Barry Coombs)
- Saturday May 31; 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (instructor: Heather Hosten)
- Sunday June 8; 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (instructor: Heather Hosten)
- Sunday June 15; 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (instructor: Barry Coombs)
- Saturday June 28; 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (instructor: Heather Hosten)
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.
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.
