New Classes will be available soon.

General Information

Fee: The fee for each course is $150 for Houston Audubon members ($175 for non-members).
Location: Classroom sessions are held from 7:00-8:45 PM at the Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary in the administration building.
Registration: To register, please use the secure online registration form or contact the HAS office, 713-932-1639.

Sparrow Identification: January 3-21, 2012

Secretive and challenging to identify are what make this group of birds Fun. The Upper Texas Coast is a great place to see wintering sparrows. Learn the key principles of identification that will enable you to separate the 17 different species that are possible. After this class you will no longer call sparrows little brown birds, you will recognize them as sparrows.

Classes: Tuesday, January 3, 2012    Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Field Trips: Saturday, January 7, 2012      Saturday, January 21, 2012. Field Trips are 8 AM - 4 PM.
On the field trips you may stay the entire time, meet us later, or leave early.

Wintering Waterfowl: February 9-18, 2012

The Upper Texas Coast is an amazing area for wintering waterfowl. Each year we have thousands of ducks (24 species possible) and thousands of geese (5 species possible) and Mergansers (2 species). While the identification of male ducks is often straightforward, the same cannot be said of the more cryptically colored females. Therein lies the challenge and fun of duck identification. We will learn techniques for separating the 24 species of ducks, the different species of geese, and the mergansers.

Classes: Thursday, February 9, 2012    Monday, February 13, 2012
Field Trips: Saturday, February 11, 2012      Saturday, February 18, 2012. Field Trips are 8 AM - 4 PM.
On the field trips you may stay the entire time, meet us later, or leave early.

Spring Warblers: March 13-24, 2012

People come from all over the world to the HAS High Island Sanctuaries to experience the migration and arrival of the "jewels" of the bird world. Learn about the remarkable migration journey of these small and beautiful birds. Learn the principles to identify the 37 different species of warblers that are possible to see in our area.

Classes: Tuesday, March 13, 2012    Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Field Trips: Saturday, March 17, 2012      Saturday, March 24, 2012. Field Trips are 8 AM - 4 PM.
On the field trips you may stay the entire time, meet us later, or leave early.

Instructor For Classes:

Glenn Olsen has had a passionate interest in nature, especially birds, since early childhood. He also offers birding and nature classes through Rice University's Continuing Studies Department that are co-sponsored by Houston Audubon. Glenn served on the Houston Audubon Board of Directors; he is also active with the Native Plant Society of Texas and has served as its state president. Glenn Olsen shares his passion for birds and nature through his company GO Birding Ecotours, featuring birding trips, and classes. Find out more at the GO Birding Ecotours website. Contact Glenn at h.glenn.olsen@gmail.com or 713-854-4657.