ITHACA, NY (607NewsNow) — This year, the Cayuga Bird Club is offering its Spring Ornithology course with Dr. Stephen Kress for a 50th year.

The course, which runs from March 24th through May 19th, 2026, is designed to help bird enthusiasts sharpen their identification skills and deepen their understanding of bird behavior. The course covers a range of topics each week including courtship, family life, migration, conservation, and how to create a bird-friendly habitat on your own property.

Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned birder, this course offers something for everyone. Each session features presentations with bird photography, videos, and recorded bird songs, making the learning experience both educational and immersive. With a mix of in-person classes at Kendal at Ithaca and a simultaneous Zoom option, attendees can choose the format that works best for them. For those who can’t make the live sessions, recordings will be available for viewing through November.

“There’s nothing required ahead of time, all you need a desire to learn about birds and to come in ready to learn. I’ve had people take the course half a dozen times because it serves as a great reminder on the vast world of ornithology that goes on around us,” says Dr. Kress.

Founder of Audubon’s Project Puffin and having served for many years as Director of the Audubon Seabird Restoration Program and Hog Island Audubon Camp in Maine, Dr. Stephen Kress has authored numerous books, articles, and online courses on birds and conservation. Dr. Kress enjoys sharing his deep knowledge of bird life and making it accessible for people at all levels.

“I frequently meet people who tell me that the course has changed their life. They’re amazed at how much is going on around them once they start to see, listen, and pay attention to all of the topics we cover in each session. It opens their eyes in a way they haven’t been opened before,” Dr. Kress states.

The cost of the course is $125 per person and includes a membership to the Cayuga Bird Club. Find registration information here and direct any questions about the course to cbc.ornithology@gmail.com.