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Time: Begins Monday May 19, 2008 at 3 PM and ends Friday May 23 at 10 AM

Location: May 19-21 – Coyote Creek Field Station in Alviso, near San Jose, CA; May 22-23 – Big Sur Ornithology Lab in Andrew Molera State Park, Big Sur, south of Carmel, CA

Participants: 10

Registration Fee: $650 early registration (by April 7), otherwise $750/person.

Description: Please join the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory (SFBBO) and Ventana Wildlife Society (VWS) in cooperation with the Institute for Bird Populations (IBP) for an advanced ageing and sexing of passerines workshop on May 19-23, Monday – Friday, 2008.

The action-packed week will consist of presentations, field mist-netting, banding, and processing at multiple locations, field trips to renowned birding locations.  Breakfasts and lunches will be provided.  A schedule of events will be posted when it becomes available.

The accurate identification, ageing, and sexing of North American near-passerines and passerines generally is complicated by a high degree of variation in size, plumage, and molt patterns found within each species, subspecies, and age/sex class. Biologists use various techniques for accurate ageing, sexing, and identification of birds in the hand and the field. The understanding of these concepts is crucial to accurate data collection and analysis. In this training workshop, participants will receive instruction on advanced bird identification, ageing, and sexing methods.  This workshop will not provide training on how to mist-net, band, or handle birds.

Instructors: Peter Pyle, IBP Biologist, and the author of The Identification Guide to North American Birds, Part I will be the primary instructor.  Secondary instructors include VWS Senior Wildlife Biologist Karen Ritchie, VWS Wildlife Biologists Jessica Griffiths and Nellie Thorngate, and SFBBO landbird biologist Gina Barton.

Who should attend: We have designed the workshop for ecologists, wildlife biologists, conservationists, biological consultants, and federal and state employees.  Participants should already be familiar with basic mist-netting, banding, and bird handling techniques.  Participants will be trained in a synthesis of methods pertaining to identification, ageing, and sexing of landbirds in the hand and in the field. The course will focus on ageing passerines and other landbirds to SY/ASY using molt limits, which allows for the calculation of juvenile recruitment and survival as used by MAPS programs and other population studies.

How to register: Please fill out the registration form (click here for the form) for the May 19-23, 2008 workshop.  Return the form with your check or credit card information by April 7, 2007 for “Early Enrollment” (must be received by mail by April 11).  You may also fax in your registration. Please note that enrollment is limited to 10 participants on a first-come/first-serve basis. Also, the workshop will be held rain or shine.

For further questions regarding workshop dtails, contact Jessica Griffiths at (831) 624-1204 or jessicagriffiths@ventanaws.org. For questions regarding specific registration or payment, please contact Cathy Keeran at (877) 897-7740 or info@ventanaws.org

Meeting Location, Directions, and Overnight Locations: The workshop will begin on Monday May 19th at around 3 PM, and end on Friday May 23 at around 10 AM.  A schedule of events will be posted as it becomes available.  The Monday meeting location will be in Milpitas, CA, and the Friday ending location will be in Big Sur, CA.  When you register, we will contact you personally with directions to the exact meeting location. 

Flights: If you arrive by plane you have a choice of three airports, San Jose, Oakland, or San Francisco.  The San Jose airport is the closest.

Car: If you are not arriving by car, we suggest you rent a car at the airport.  However, if you arrive at the San Jose airport carpooling may possibly be arranged.

Lodging:  Listed below are possible accommodations for the evening of May 19-20 located in the vicinity of Milpitas, CA and accommodations for the evenings of May 21-22 located in the vicinity of Big Sur, CA.

• Milpitas Lodging (evenings of May 19-20 2007)
• Hilton Garden Inn Milpitas, 30 Ranch Dr, Milpitas, CA, 408-719-1313. From $159/night weekdays.
• Candlewood Suites Inn Milpitas, 40 Ranch Dr, Milpitas, CA, 408-719-1212. From $139/night weekdays.
• Hawthorn Suites Milpitas, 321 Cypress Dr, Milpitas, CA, 408-383-9500.  From $119/night weekdays.
• Homestead Milpitas/Silicon Valley, 330 Cypress Dr, Milpitas, CA, 408-433-9700.  From $90/night weekdays; queen bed.
• Best Western Brookside Inn, 400 Valley Way, Milpitas, CA, 408-263-5566. From $79/night.
• Travelodge Milpitas Silicon Valley, 378 W Calaveras Blvd, Milpitas, CA, 408-263-0500.  From $60/night; discounts available (AAA 10%).
  
  
• Big Sur Lodging (evenings of May 21-22 2007)
• Big Sur Campground and Cabins: 831-667-2322, located off Hwy 1
  Cabin rates range from $55-$221 for a queen size bed or 1-2 people.  All cabins are wooden structures, have fire pits and a picnic table.  Tent cabins for $55/night have no heat and no bathroom, but come with queen size bed.  All linens and towels are provided.  Public bathhouse with hot showers, sinks and flush toilets.
• Ripplewood Cabins: 831-667-2242, located off Hwy 1
  Rates range from $75 to $135.  Amenities may include queen or double bed, kitchen, deck, and fireplace.  No personal checks accepted.
• Glen Oaks Hotel: 831-667-2105, located off Hwy 1
  Rates range from $79 to $140 depending on bed sizes.
• River Inn: 800-548-3610, located off Hwy 1
  Rates range from $100 to $200 depending on bed size and view.
• Big Sur Lodge: 800-424-4787, located off Hwy 1 in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
  Rates range from $119 to $179 depending on bed size and amenities. 
• Big Sur Inn (Deetjen’s): 831-667-2377, located off Hwy 1
  Rates range from $125 to $195 depending on bed sizes; only 20 rooms available in rustic buildings.
  
  For a complete listing of lodging possibilities in Big Sur contact the Big Sur Chamber of Commerce.

Campgrounds in Big Sur

• Andrew Molera State Park: 831-667-2316, located off Hwy 1
  Campsite $9 per night (up to 4 people per site), first come first serve, no reservations.  Tent camping only, .25 mile trail from parking area to campsites.  Fire pits and picnic tables.  Pit toilets, running outdoor faucets.  This campground is within walking distance to the Big Sur Ornithology Lab, to the beach, and Big Sur River.

• Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park: 800-444-7275, located off Hwy 1
  Campsite $20 per night.  Car/camper pull-in sites.  Fire rings and picnic tables.  Flush toilets, running water, and hot showers.
  
  
• Fernwood Campground: 831-667-2422, located off Hwy 1
  Tent site $20 per weeknight.  No extra fee for electric hook-up.  Car pull-in sites.  Fire rings and picnic tables.  Flush toilets, sinks, and hot showers.

• Big Sur Campground and Cabins: 831-667-2322, located off Hwy 1
  Tent sites are $25, and additional hook-up sites are available at additional costs.  Car pull-in sites.  Fire rings and picnic tables.  Flush toilets, sinks, and hot showers.

More Options:
If you would prefer to stay in a hotel anywhere on the Monterey Peninsula there is a wonderful service that will find an accommodation for you free of charge.  All you need to tell them is the type of accommodation you would like and your price range, and they will assist you in finding an accommodation and making your reservation.  Call Monterey Peninsula Reservations at 888-655-3424.

Workshop report: See a report on the 2007 Peter Pyle Workshop in the May 2007 BSOL Update.