HCC offers spring birding courses

This spring, Hagerstown Community College’s Continuing Education and Community Services Division is offering two birding courses for aspiring and experienced bird watchers.

The first class, “Spring Birding—Migratory Song Birds Class and Field Trip,” will be held on Wed., May 16, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., with a field trip to occur the following week on Sat., May 19, from 7 to 10 a.m. Class discussion topics will include migration, silhouettes, identification, equipment, and bird habitat with a special emphasis on locating birds in Washington County and Maryland in general. Students will use the knowledge they gain from the class session to identify local birds on the field trip. Students are asked to bring binoculars and a bird book, dress in layers, and wear waterproof shoes. Cost is $41.

The second class, “Mysterious Creatures of the Night: Evening Wildlife Walk,” will be held on Sat., May 19, from 7:30 to 10 p.m. Students will be guided through in the Indian Springs Wildlife Management Area near Clear Spring, Md., with the hopes of seeing nocturnal animals such as barred and screech owls, whip-poor-wills, woodcocks, beavers, deer, bats, frogs, toads, and insects. Students are asked to bring binoculars and flashlights and to dress in layers and wear hiking boots or other supportive shoes. Cost is $21.

Courses will be taught by HCC instructor, area birding specialist, and Maryland Park Service Ranger Dave Weesner. For more information or to register, call 240-500-2236, or go to www.hagerstowncc.edu/coned [1].