| The main idea is for you to learn basic nature-study
techniques with Jim. This doesn't mean that you have to study full time. In fact, it's OK
if you want to spend most of your time alone, just enjoying the peacefulness and the
proximity of plants and animals. |
If you want to learn
nature-study techniques, browse through Jim's Backyard
Nature website. That site consists of hundreds of pages covering hundreds of topics.
The pages suggest what can learned with Jim.
Vladimire Wingate studying flower
anatomy with Jim
during a workshop in Mexico in 2006
Maybe these are Jim's two most popular workshops:
HOW TO BIRDWATCH
In the Birding class we take walks and learn how to
use binoculars and a field guide to identify what we see. We get straight the several
orders of birds (the Woodpecker Order, the Dove Order, etc., as described on Jim's Pigeon-Holing Your Birding Finds webpage. We
learn how to use field marks and how to make
your Life List. In fact, we cover all the
themes mentioned on Jim's Backyard Birds page.
You might enjoy seeing the list of birds identified in the
Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve in the Mexican state of Querétaro, which is where Jim is
now.
HOW TO IDENTIFY FLOWERING PLANTS
We take a walk, collect some blossoms, then sit
down and key them out. We'll learn what's
special about every flower by seeing how it differs from Jim's Standard Blossom. You can get a taste of what it's like to look
closely at flower anatomy by browsing through Jim's Flower-Types Good to Know page. In fact, you can get an idea of just
how many things there are to be introduced to by looking through the links on Jim's Backyard Plants page. You might enjoy seeing the list of vascular plants identified since Jim arrived here in
April, on informal walks around Polly's Bend.
When you browse through Jim's entire Backyard Nature website, you'll see that these two workshops are just
two of many, many possible ones. |