Delta Marsh Bird Observatory offers training opportunities for volunteers through daily banding and through workshops like the following.
Delta Marsh Bird Observatory presents:
A Year of Learning Birds for 2024
April 23 – Pretending to band a bird
7 p.m. – Virtual
In this workshop we will pretend to band birds and practice what we have learned about reading Pyle’s guide on a variety of images. Workshop is free. Please email [email protected] to register.
May 19 – Delta Marsh Bird Observatory Great Canadian Bird-a-thon
9 a.m. – English Garden Entrance at Assiniboine Park (460 Assiniboine Park Dr)
Join us for a spring walk at the English Garden. This time of year is always exciting as many migrants are back and the trees are full of colours. This is the Observatory’s only fundraiser of the year so help us help the birds. Workshop is free but donations are greatly appreciated. Please email [email protected] to register.
May 23/24/25/26 – Learn to Band Birds Course
7:00 a.m. – Oak Hammock Marsh Wildlife Management Area
This in-depth course will give you the basics of banding birds. Mornings will be spent banding and practicing your skills. Afternoons will be spent indoors learning to read Pyle and practicing ageing specimens. Snacks are included. Workshop is $300. Please email [email protected] to sign up.
June 8 – Beginning Birder Walk at Bunn’s Creek
9 a.m. – Bunn’s Creek Centennial Park (365 McIvor Ave)
Join us for a spring walk at Bunn’s Creek and see who might be back. This time of year is a great time to start learning birds in the field as most species are back and colourful. Workshop is free. Please email [email protected] to register.
July 15 to October 1 – Volunteer at Delta Marsh Bird Observatory
6:30 a.m. – Oak Hammock Marsh Wildlife Management Area
Fall banding starts up and it is a great way to practice what you have learned and to gain even more experience. Please email [email protected] to sign up.
July 24 – Bird Extraction
7:00 a.m. – Oak Hammock Marsh Wildlife Management Area
Join our Bander-in-Charge and get in depth practice removing birds from the mist nets. Workshop is free. Please email [email protected] to sign up.
August 20 – Confusing Fall Warblers
7 p.m. – Virtual
Warblers at this time of year are very trick and confusing. This workshop will help you sort them all out. Workshop is free. Please email [email protected] to register.
September 24 – Waterfowl Identification
7 p.m. – Virtual
Waterfowl can look very different at this time of year. Discover the many species of waterfowl living in Manitoba. Workshop is free. Please email [email protected] to register.
October 6 – Volunteer Appreciation
1 p.m. – Oak Hammock Marsh Wildlife Management Area
Thank you to all the volunteer who help make the banding possible. Please join us for a late lunch and a few surprises. Please email [email protected] to register.
November 26 – Vireos, Flycatchers and more!
7 p.m. – Virtual
There are many groups of songbirds. We will learn to identify some of the lesser-known groups. Workshop is free. Please email [email protected] to register.
December 17 – Colour abnormalities in birds
7 p.m. – Virtual
Join this workshop to learn about colour in bird feathers and how sometimes things go awry. Workshop is free. Please email [email protected] to register.
Please see the website for more information about Oak Hammock Marsh.