Heidi Hughes: Bird Watching, and Identifying Birds Using Apps, Books, Etc.
Heidi Hughes did a number of small lectures and workshops throughout our region, focusing on bird watching. Heidi works for the Agassiz Audubon Society, and her expertise has been sought after and cherished by our patrons. She provides detailed presentations using slideshows and often introducing and incorporating the use of new technology, such as phone apps, that patrons can use on their own to better their knowledge and assist them while bird watching. She also takes the groups on walks around the neighborhood, pointing out birds, showing patrons different habitats, and suggesting good locations for bird watching.
75 participated
We distributed evaluation forms following the program to help us understand what patrons learned, what they liked about the program, and to collect public comments. We expect that the programs will help patrons be better able to identify birds on their own, and that their knowledge of new resources available to them will increase. We expect that they would learn more about Minnesota's native bird population, and that their interest in the natural world around them would increase.
96% of participants replied that after these programs, they learned something new about bird watching. 51% said that they enjoyed these programs because it helped then learn a new skill; 94% said they enjoyed them because they increased their knowledge, and allowed them to better understand a topic; 43% said the programs allowed them to spend quality time with friends and family; 47% said the programs helped them to generate or refine their ideas and goals. 100% said that these programs increased their interest in Minnesota's native bird population. Public comments included, "thank you for sharing such a wealth of information," and "your passion on the subject matter is infectious- fantastic."