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Live, online, 50-minute, weekly class for ages 13-18
A perfect balance of academic and social with discussion opportunities, bird family presentations, and review games
Small classes with 3-10 students per class section
Access to a Class Board to post your recent bird sightings and photos
Student input used to determine weekly class topics
No homework or assignments (just getting outside to watch birds 😉)
This class is delivered using Google Classroom and Google Meet. Students must have a Google email to enroll.
$16/50-minute live, online class
Classes sold as sessions (6-week sessions) Please reach out for information about prorated options for mid-session enrollment.
This class meets live, online on Wednesdays at 1pm CDT/CST
A second section of this class meets through Outschool on Thursdays at 3pm CDT/CST. Email for more information.
Upcoming Session Dates
Spring 2025 Session #3: 4/2, 4/9, 4/23, 4/30, 5/7, 5/14* 4 spots left!
Fall 2025 Session #1: 9/10, 9/17, 9/24, 10/1, 10/8, 10/22*
Fall 2025 Session #2: 10/29, 11/5, 11/12, 11/19, 12/3, 12/10*
*Break week in this session, no class on 4/16, 10/15, and 11/26
If you want to meet other people who love birds and being outside as much as you, then this is the perfect class for you! In each class, students will meet to share their recent bird sightings, swap birding tips, and learn about one taxonomic Order and/or Family of birds each week. This is an inclusive group that welcomes beginner and expert birders alike.
Each 50-minute, live, online class will follow this rough outline:
Recent Bird Sightings: Share your pictures and recent bird sightings on a Padlet collaboration board. Talk with other members of the group about birds in your area, swap birding tips/resources, and enjoy getting to know each other. At the end of the sharing time students will be broken up into small groups for a brief (5-8min) conversation with other learners in the class.
Bird Order/Family Study: Learn about one order and/or family of birds each week. You may choose to print a note-taking page to fill in during the presentation. I recommend storing the page from each week in a binder to make a reference booklet.
Review Game: Compete with classmates in a game of online bingo or connect 4 to review the bird order/family of the day and test your knowledge. The review game winner's name will be entered in a drawing for prize t-shirt. The drawing will be held at the end of the session celebration/game day.
Spring 2025 Session #3 Topics
4/2: Charadriiformes/Rostratulidae - Painted-Snipes
4/9: Charadriiformes/Scolopacidae - Sandpipers and Allies
4/16: Break Week - no class
4/23: Podargiformes/Podargidae - Frogmouths
4/30: Passeriformes/Vireonidae - Vireos
5/7: Passeriformes/Viduidae - Wydahs and Indigobirds
5/14: End of Session Celebration! Game day and prize drawing
**Topics for Fall 2025 will be available in late-April after student vote.
Past Class Topics
Struthioniformes/Struthionidae - Ostriches
Tinamiformes/Tinamidae - Tinamous
Casuariiformes/Casuariidae - Cassowaries and Emu
Apterygiformes/Apterygidae - Kiwis
Anseriformes/Anatidae - Ducks, Geese, and Swans
Galliformes/Cracidae - Guans, Chachalacas, and Curassows
Galliformes/Odontophoridae - New World Quail
Galliformes/Phasianidae - Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies
Columbiformes/Columbidae - Pigeons and Doves
Musophagiformes/Musophagidae - Turacos
Cuculiformes/Cuculidae - Cuckoos
Caprimulgiformes/Caprimulgidae - Nightjars and Allies
Nyctibiiformes/Nyctibiidae - Potoos
Steatornithiformes/Steatornithidae - Oilbird
Apodiformes/Apodidae - Swifts
Apodiformes/Hemiprocnidae - Treeswifts
Apodiformes/Trochilidae - Hummingbirds
Gruiformes/Rallidae - Rails, Gallinules, and Coots
Gruiformes/Aramidae - Limpkin
Gruiformes/Gruidae - Cranes
Charadriiformes/ Chionidae - Sheathbills
Charadriiformes/Charadriidae - Plovers and Lapwings
Charadriiformes/Thinocoridae - Seedsnipes
Charadriiformes/Jacanidae - Jacanas
Charadriiformes/Scolopacidae - Sandpipers and Allies
Charadriiformes/Alcidae - Auks, Mures, and Puffins
Charadriiformes/Laridae - Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers
Phoenicopteriformes/Phoenicopteridae - Flamingos
Podicipediformes/Podicipedidae - Grebes
Opisthocomiformes/Opisthocomidae - Hoatzin
Gaviiformes/Gaviidae - Loons
Sphenisciformes/Spheniscidae - Penguins
Ciconiiformes/Ciconiidae - Storks
Suliformes/Phalacrocoracidae - Cormorants and Shags
Pelecaniformes/Ardeidae - Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns
Cathartiformes/Cathartidae - New World Vultures
Accipitriformes/Accipitridae - Hawks, Eagles, and Kites
Strigiformes/Strigidae - Owls
Trogoniformes/ Trogonidae - Trogons
Coraciiformes/Alcedinidae - Kingfishers
Coraciiformes/Meropidae - Bee-eaters
Piciformes/Ramphastidae - Toucans
Piciformes/Indicatoridae - Honeyguides
Piciformes/Picidae - Woodpeckers
Falconiformes/Falconidae - Falcons and Caracaras
Psittaciformes/Strigopidae - New Zealand Parrots
Psittaciformes/Cacatuidae - Cockatoos
Psittaciformes/Psittaculidae - Old World Parrots
Psittaciformes/Psittacidae - New World and African Parrots
Passeriformes/Thamnophilidae - Typical Antbirds
Passeriformes/Rhinocryptidae - Tapaculos
Passeriformes/Furnariidae - Ovenbirds and Woodcreepers
Passeriformes/Pipridae - Manakins
Passeriformes/Cotingidae - Cotingas
Passeriformes/ Tyrannidae - Tyrant Flycatchers
Passeriformes/Ptilonorhynchidae - Bowerbirds
Passeriformes/Meliphagidae - Honeyeaters
Passeriformes/Orthonychidae - Logrunners
Passeriformes/Psophodidae - Whipbirds and Wedgebills
Passeriformes/Eulacestomatidae - Ploughbill
Passeriformes/ Vireonidae - Vireos, Shrike-Babblers, and Erpornis
Passeriformes/Oriolidae - Old World Orioles
Passeriformes/Vangidae - Vangas, Helmetshrikes, and Allies
Passeriformes/Paradisaeidae - Birds-of-Paradise
Passeriformes/Laniidae - Shrikes
Passeriformes/Corvidae - Crows, Jays, and Magpies
Passeriformes/Paridae - Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice
Passeriformes/Alaudidae - Larks
Passeriformes/Pnoepygidae - Cupwings
Passeriformes/Hirundinidae - Swallows
Passeriformes/Sylviidae - Sylviid Warblers, Parrotbills, and Allies
Passeriformes/Regulidae - Kinglets
Passeriformes/Sittidae - Nuthatches
Passeriformes/Certhiidae - Treecreepers
Passeriformes/Polioptilidae - Gnatcatchers
Passeriformes/Troglodytidae - Wrens
Passeriformes/Cinclidae - Dippers
Starlings and Mynas (Passeriformes/Sturnidae)
Passeriformes/Mimidae - Mockingbirds and Thrashers
Passeriformes/ Turdidae - Thrushes and Allies
Passeriformes/Bombycillidae - Waxwings
Passeriformes/Mohoidae - an extinct group of Hawaiian Honeyeaters
Passeriformes/Estrildidae - Waxbills, Munias, and allies
Passeriformes/ Fringillidae - Finches, Euphonias, and Allies
Passeriformes/Emberezidae - Old World Buntings
Passeriformes/Passerellidae - New World Sparrows
Passeriformes/Icteridae - Troupials and Allies
Passeriformes/Parulidae - New World Warblers
Passeriformes/Cardinalidae - Cardinals and Allies
Parent Reviews
" What an amazing class!!! The teacher is very prepared with lots of questions, ideas and feedback for the students! This was a great opportunity for my student! Ms. Gerth is an expert in her field and does a great job bringing it to the students!"
-Sarah B.
" This is a wonderful class. My son is an avid birder and it is sometimes difficult to find classes that interest him, but also teach him something that he does not already know about birds. Not only has he learned so much, but he also has a group of peers that he looks forward to interacting with each week. His teacher is patient, friendly, and does great job facilitating this class."
-Kristen V.
"My daughter is currently in her second semester in this course, and she loves it. Heather is a great teacher, she makes the class fun while helping kids learn great information about bird families."
-Lori R.
"I cannot express in words how much I love this club for my son who loves birds and wants to be an ornithologist someday. It's been a great way for him to meet other people who share this interest, and he's learned a tremendous amount. I'm very thankful for it. Heather is a kind and knowledgeable teacher who makes the club fun."
-Shelli P.
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