The following classes are sponsored by the SCVAS Education Committee. To register please call the office at (408) 252-3740. All cancellations require 72-hour prior notification for refunds.

FULL: Audubon Field Seminar: "Breeding Birds of Yuba Pass, Sierra Valley, and the Gold Lakes Region"
Friday May 31 through June 3rd.
Location: Sierra Valley
Cost: $125 members; $160 non-members.
Leader: Bob Power.

The northern Sierra offers a spectacular array of nesting birds, from White-headed Woodpeckers and Hermit Warblers to Yellow-headed Blackbirds and Green-tailed Towhees. We typically see 100+ species of birds during this workshop, few are species available to study in the South Bay, and all are stunning. With a four-day trip, we are able to explore these unique habitats at leisure.

Additional Information: Trip fees cover continental breakfast and bag lunches for those staying at the Buttes Resort in Sierra City. We will meet at 1 PM at Yuba Pass on May 31st, and then meet at 7AM in Sierra City on June 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.

We organize carpools each morning on location. We will have a maximum of three vehicles for our field trips. Please do not sign up for this workshop if you're not prepared to carpool around Sierra Valley. Carpooling expenses are shared by the participants; typically $5/person/day. Transportation, lodging, and meals are the responsibility of each participant. Shared meals are available for participants who stay in or near to Sierra City. Detailed itinerary will be forwarded upon registration.

Trip is limited to 11 participants.

FULL: Audubon Field Workshop: "Alaska -- Denali and Kenai Fjords National Parks."
Friday June 21 through July 5th.
Cost: $3950/person, double-occupancy; $975 single supplement.
Leader: Bob Power and David Wimpfheimer

Two spectacular national parks mark the northern and southern bounds of this trip: Denali and Kenai Fjords. Denali, with the incomparable Alaska Range and around every corner a chance for Grizzly Bear, Moose, Caribou, or one of Alaska's other magnificent mammals. Nearby, the Denali Highway's extraordinary scenery harbors more mammals: Long-tailed Jaegar, Arctic Warbler, and other species at the limits of their range. Taking no back seat is Kenai Fjords, with its immense ice fields, breathtaking mountains rising from the ocean, and thousands of breeding seabirds. June marks the peak of breeding activity with all of our target species in their finest plumage. The birds we'll be seeking comprise a long list of highlights: Whitewinged Crossbill, Three-toed Woodpecker, Northern Hawk-owl, Long-tailed Jaeger, Horned Puffin, Arctic Tern, Kittlitz's Murrelet, Willow Ptarmigan, Gyrfalcon, and so many more. There are fabulous birding trips, amazing birding trips, wonderful birding trips -- and then there's Alaska!

Additional Information: Fees do not include airfare. A portion of your fees represent a taxdeductible donation to Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society, supporting our educational programs. Trip limited to 10 participants.

Deposit of $1000 due by 1/15/13 to hold reservation.

Bob and David have been co-leading field trips for 8 years and engage participants in a comfortable balance between exhilarating birding and general enjoyment of the natural world.

FULL: Audubon Field Seminar: "Eastern Sierra Mid-Summer Birding Dream"
Tuesday July 16 through July 21st.
Location: Saddlebag and Mono Lake and Beyond!
Cost: $175 members; $210 non-members.
Leader: Bob Power.

The east slope of the Sierra offers a spectacular array of breeding, post-breeding and migratory birds, from Williamson's Sapsuckers and Clark's Nutcrackers to Osprey and Green-tailed Towhees. With a six-day trip, we're able to explore a number of unique habitats including the alpine zone surrounding Saddlebag Lake, the high desert sage grasslands of the historic ghost town of Bodie, the extraordinary tufa formations of Mono Lake and the basalt columns of Devils Postpile National Monument. We typically see 120+ species of birds during this workshop, few are species available to study in the South Bay, and all are stunning.

Additional Information: Fees cover: Kayaking, Bodie Entrance, Devil's Postpile Entrance, and Saddlebag Ferry. A portion of your fees go directly to supporting SCVAS Educational Programs.

Class size is limited to 11. We organize carpools each morning on location. We will have a maximum of three vehicles for our field trips. Please do not sign up for this workshop if you're not prepared to carpool each day. Carpooling expenses are shared by the participants and are not part of the base fee; typically $5/person/day.

Altitude: Lee Vining is our daily departure point at 7,000 ft. in elevation. We venture off one day to Saddlebag Lake at 10,000 ft. and above. It is not unusual for participants to feel the effects of the altitude and may require a couple days to acclimate.

Physical activity: Each day involves some hiking at altitude. While at a birder's pace, it is still hiking at altitude. One morning is spent kayaking along the south shore of Mono Lake. Participants on this trip should be in reasonable physical condition and should consult their doctor if altitude is a concern.