(AT) Texas Raptor ID Class

Hello BPTMN Members:

Want to learn more about Texas raptors from an internationally recognized raptor expert?  Here is your opportunity.  Please note there is a $100 class fee, for which you will receive 6 hours of training from one of the world’s best experts and teachers, according to Gailon Brehm, BPTMN Member and Texas Ornithology Society (TOS) Regional Director for North Central Texas.  The first session starts this Friday, so register today!

Program:  Texas Raptor ID Class

Speaker:  Bill Clark, internationally recognized raptor expert (and Texas resident)

Description:  This class will cover material helpful to any birder with an interest in advancing their knowledge of raptor identification, whether they have previously taken one of Bill’s raptor classes or not. On Friday evening, Bill will review the 28 diurnal raptor species to be covered by type, ending with a more thorough coverage of vultures, Osprey, harrier, and falcons. The second hour on Friday will cover the many differences between Sharp-shinned Hawk and Cooper’s Hawk identification in the field.

Saturday morning, Bill will cover in detail six species of buteonines, followed by coverage of our two eagles. Saturday afternoon sessions begin with a detailed discussion of unusual raptor plumages. The final hour starts with coverage of three kites, then four rare raptors, two specialty falcons, how to document rarities, and a Raptor ID summary. Rarities covered will include Short-tailed Hawk, Zone-tailed Hawk Ferruginous Hawk, Harlan’s Hawks, and Prairie Falcon.

Bill Clark has studied raptors since the 1960’s, when he first began to band migrant raptors. He has lived in the Rio Grande Valley since 2002, where he studies and bands resident and migrant raptors of south Texas. Bill has authored a field guide to the raptors of Europe, another for the raptors of Africa, one for the raptors of Mexico and Central America, and two different field guides to the raptors of North America. Bill has observed raptors in 56 different countries, and before the pandemic, he regularly conducted workshops on raptor identification in Texas, in other states and even on other continents.

Dates:  Friday evening, September 24 and Saturday, September 25, 2021

Cost:  Fee for this virtual class is $100 for 6 hours of instruction. A significant portion of the proceeds will go to support Texas Ornithological Society programs and activities.

Online Platform:  Zoom

Registration:  http://texasbirds.org/events.php

If you don’t already have an account with Neon, you will need to create one (using a valid email address) to register. If you have previously taken a TOS class or registered online for a TOS meeting, then you already have a Neon account.

The class will be recorded so that registrants can review the material on their own later, or in case they can’t be present for one or both days of the live presentations.

Logging AT:  Log under AT: BPTMN: Other Pre-Approved Training with ‘Raptor ID Class’ in the description box.

Contact for More Information:  Gailon Brehm, g-brehm@msn.com, PTAS Member and TOS Regional Director for North Central Texas

Other Information:

For an additional fee of $50, 10 lucky individuals will have the chance to meet up with Bill on Sunday morning September 26, for a morning of hawk-watching at a prime location for observation migrant raptors. This activity will be outdoors and mask-wearing will be mandatory.

Linda Nixon
BPTMN Communications Director