When the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology's popular course "Spring Field Ornithology" convenes March 24, the instructor-of-record will be same renowned biologist, author and teacher who has attracted inquisitive bird enthusiasts for 21 years -- with some returning year after year to repeat the experience.
But Stephen W. Kress doesn't take all the credit for leading the university's longest-running noncredit course. Some of his best teaching assistants, said Kress, the National Audubon Society's vice president for conservation, are up in the trees. Or on the water. Or in the air.
"Spring Field Ornithology is designed to let the birds themselves be the primary teachers," said Kress of the eight-week course that offers Wednesday evening multimedia lectures and Saturday field trips. "The job of my students is simply to pay attention to what the birds are telling us through their behaviors and songs."
The Cornell lab is now accepting sign-ups for either the Wednesday evening seminars, which run from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., or the Saturday field trips. The enrollment fee for either the seminar series or the field trip series is $105, while the fee for both is $195. Members of the Laboratory of Ornithology are eligible for a discount in enrollment fees, and Cornell students may take the course for college credit. Enrollment is limited to ensure small field groups.
When enrolling by phone with a major credit card, the number in the Ithaca area is 254-2440. Callers outside the Ithaca area can phone (800) 843-BIRD. To enroll by mail with a check payable to Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, the address is: SFO, Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology/AMW, 159 Sapsucker Woods Road, Ithaca, N.Y. 14850; e-mail cornellbirds@cornell.edu.
The course, now beginning its 22nd year, attracts people from all walks of life, including lawyers, landscape architects, homemakers and daycare providers. The only criteria is a love of birds. "I think everyone should take this course," said one Ithaca-area participant. "It's a real eye-opener."
SFO students not only learn the names of their feathered friends but also come to understand why they do some of the things they do. They learn, for example, why mockingbirds imitate other birds. "Mimicry has its advantages," said Kress, whose reputation as an excellent instructor is enhanced by his lively sense of humor. "For males, it's like a badge that they can show off to attract females; for females, it's like being able to read their date's resume."
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