Audubon Master Birder Program
The Audubon Master Birder Program is an “education for service” program. In other words, participants receive advanced training in field ornithology in exchange for their volunteer service for Audubon Society of Greater Denver and the community.
What is an Audubon Master Birder?
Current Audubon Master Birders
How do I request a program or assistance from an Audubon Master Birder?
Audubon Master Birder requirements
What is an Audubon Master Birder?
A Master Birder is someone who strives to inspire others
to want to learn about and care for birds and bird conservation.
Master Birders are ambassadors for birds, bird conservation and Audubon Society of Greater Denver. They are a resource for the general public.
- As ambassadors, they are official representatives of the organization that promotes bird watching, stewardship of bird habitats and involvement in Audubon Society of Greater Denver.
- Master Birders can answer frequently asked questions with accurate, verifiable facts and good communication skills.
- Being a resource does not imply that they have all the answers, however, they can do a respectable job in finding the answers.
- Master Birders enjoy working with people. They can empathize with members and the general public, share in the joys and disappointments of their bird stories, make them feel included in the organization and can inspire them to appreciate, learn about and care for birds.
Master Birders are competent bird watchers and knowledgeable, experienced and passionate about birds, bird conservation and Audubon Society of Greater Denver.
- Master Birders have completed an 12-month training program, which includes significant time improving their birding skills in the field.
- Master Birders have demonstrated their competency by completing all the certification requirements of the program.
- Master Birders enjoy birds, bird watching and bird conservation and are passionate about sharing their avocation with others.
- Master Birders are familiar with Front Range birds, their habitats and birding hotspots.
Master Birders are active volunteers of Audubon Society of Greater Denver.
- Each Master Birder contributes a minimum of 48 hours of service to ASGD annually.
- While Master Birders can help with a plethora of jobs at ASGD, priority volunteer activities for Master Birders include:
| > Leading bird walks for ASGD members, the public and visiting birding groups. > Answering the “bird hotline” phone calls, mail and email questions. > Presenting community outreach programs on bird topics and ASGD. > Conducting bird counts and citizen science projects on ASGD sponsored projects. > Assisting in bird conservation efforts. > Staffing informational booths at festivals or events. > Assisting staff in developing exhibits, handouts, website content, etc. to help educate the public on bird topics. |
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How do I request a program or assistance from an Audubon Master Birder?
Contact Susan Smith at 303-973-9530 or ssmith@denveraudubon.org.
Please provide details on what kind of assistance or program you need, along with specific dates and times. Please bear in mind that all Master Birders are volunteers and we are not be able to fulfill every request. The more advance notice you can provide for program requests, the better chance that it will work on someone's calendar!
Current Audubon Master Birders
| Mentors: | 2007 Graduates: | ||
| Ann Bonnell * | Fran Blanchard | ||
| Doris Cruze* | Mary Ann Bonnell | ||
| Tina Jones* | Bill Eden | ||
| Hugh Kingery* | Kris Koff | ||
| Urling Kingery* | Barbara Masoner | ||
| Betty Oliver | Mary Ellen Sargent | ||
| Harold Oliver | Karen von Saltza | ||
| *Member of the steering committee. | |||
