JANUARY PROGRAM
Wednesday, January 11 at 7 p.m.
THE BIG YEAR WITH GREG MILLER
Greg Miller
Former member of the Board of Directors of
the Maryland Audubon Society and of
the Ohio Ornithological Society
Rare Book Room
Cleveland Museum of Natural History

Join us in a very special evening with Greg Miller as he talks about his “big year” in birding. Greg has been birding for almost 50 years and in all 50 states. He was formerly on the board of directors for Southern Maryland Audubon Society and the board of directors for the Ohio Ornithological Society.
In 1998 he did a Big Year in an effort to see as many species of birds as possible in one calendar year. Greg and two other birders broke the 700 mark. Their individual stories, as well as their competition, were documented in Mark Obmascik's bestselling book, The Big Year. The book became the basis for a movie of the same name which was released in October. Stars included Jack Black, Steve Martin, and Owen Wilson. Greg was the birding consultant for this film.

Greg will relate how he got started in birding, his early birding years with his dad, what motivated him to do a big year, and how that quest became chronicled in first a book and then a movie. Greg will also share his experiences as a bird consultant on the set.

So, for an insider’s look at Hollywood along with an entertaining look at the competitive side of birding, join us for what promises to be a lively evening. (For more information about Greg Miller, check out his blog at www.gregmillerbirding.com.

The Audubon Society of Greater Cleveland (ASGC) promotes the conservation and appreciation of birds and other wildlife through habitat preservation and educational activities. It is a chapter of the National Audubon Society and is one of northeast Ohio’s oldest continuously operating environmental organizations; founded in 1928. ASGC now has over 1,200 members throughout NE Ohio and owns over 500 acres of land protected as both Audubon Sanctuaries and Ohio State Nature Preserves. It restored and renovated a building located in the Audubon Blanche Katherine Novak Sanctuary as a regional Novak Education Center.

JANUARY FIELD OUTING
Saturday, January 21, 2012, 7:30 p.m.
"Owl Prowl"
Led by Jim Tomko
( Meet at the Audubon/City parking lot on the south side of Pioneer Trail a few hundred yards east of Page Road in Aurora. )

Join us for a night hike to hear the local “spirits” of our forest. This time of year some species of owls are beginning to set up their breeding territories by “hooting” and calling. They will sometimes respond to our calls, too! Let us see if we can lure some of these mysterious nocturnal creatures in close enough for a look and a listen !

Saturday Afternoon Backyard Naturalist Series
Saturday February 18, 2012 - 3:00–5:00 PM
Novak Education Center
382 Townline Road, Aurora
“Plumage Color in Birds and Other Dinosaurs”
Matthew D. Shawkey, Ph.D.

You can participate in the nation-wide bird count on a morning walk through the Aurora Audubon Sanctuary and spend the afternoon hearing about dinosaurs, our birds’ colorful ancestors. Mark your calendars and plan to make a day of it!

BIRDING 101 FOR BEGINNERS
September 2011 through June 2012

This fall, the Audubon Society of Greater Cleveland is planning a Beginning Birding 101 course for new birders (adults ) and young birders (12-18 years of age). The course will be offered on nine or 10 Saturdays beginning infrom 12:30-2:30 pm at the Audubon Education Center in Aurora. Class size is limited to 16. The course will cover basic identification of common birds of Ohio, bird anatomy and physiology, flight and migration, bird behavior, reproduction, ecology and conservation issues. Students are encouraged to set up bird feeders at their homes and participate in birding field trips offered by Audubon Society of Greater Cleveland. There is no charge for the course. If you are interested or know a young person who might like to help us start a Young Birders group, please email Sandy Buckles at: s-buckles@hotmail.com For a schedule of classes, click here

For a slide show introduction to birding, click here.
You need QuickTime to view the slide show. To download QuickTime, click here.