Course Overview

This 10-chapter course provides a comprehensive view of the most likely bird species migrating back to our region in our Spring season. Broken down by region and arrival period, early or late, learn the facts to identify species or refresh your current knowledge.

  • Build ID skills through video, sounds, and facts on 109 species

  • Gain insight on where and how to spot birds with expert tips

  • Learn about migration and how climate change is impacting birds

  • Take the ultimate challenge – how many could you identify this season?

Course curriculum

A 10-chapter course to learn the basics of birdingwatching

  • 1

    Chapter 1: Spring Migration in New England

    • Chapter 1 Overview

    • Lesson 1: Spring Bird Migration in New England

    • Lesson 2: Early Arrivals to New England

    • Lesson 3: Later Arrivals to New England

    • Lesson 4: Species Checklist - Record Your Bird Sightings

    • Short Survey: Share our bird knowledge level and course goals
  • 2

    Chapter 2: Early Arrivals: Woods and Gardens

    • Chapter 2 Overview

    • Lesson 1: Slideshow - Early Arrivals: Woods and Gardens

    • Lesson 2: Facts to ID - Early Arrivals: Woods and Gardens

    • Quiz: Identify these 7 Early Arrivals to the Inland Woodlands and Edge
  • 3

    Chapter 3 - Early Arrivals: Open Country

    • Chapter 3 Overview

    • Lesson 1 Slideshow - Early Arrivals : Open Country

    • Lesson 2: Facts to ID - Early Arrivals: Open Country

    • Quiz: Identify these 7 Arrivals to the Open Country
  • 4

    Chapter 4 - Early Arrivals: Freshwaters

    • Chapter 4 Overview

    • Lesson 1 Slideshow - Early Arrivals: Freshwaters

    • Lesson 2: Facts to ID - Early Arrivals to Freshwaters

    • Quiz: Identify these 7 Early Arrivals to the Freshwaters
  • 5

    Chapter 5 - Early Arrivals: Ocean Edge

    • Chapter 5 Overview

    • Lesson 1 Slideshow - Early Arrivals: Ocean Edge

    • Lesson 2: Facts to ID - Early Arrivals: Ocean Edge

    • Quiz: Identify these 7 Arrivals to the Ocean Edge
  • 6

    Chapter 6 - Late Arrivals: Woods and Gardens

    • Chapter 6 Overview

    • Lesson 1 Slideshow - Late Arrivals: Woods and Gardens

    • Lesson 2 Facts to ID - Later Arrivals: Gardens and Woodlots

    • Quiz: Identify these 7 Late Arrivals to Woods and Gardens
  • 7

    Chapter 7 - Later Arrivals: Freshwaters

    • Chapter 7 Overview

    • Lesson 1 Slideshow - Late Arrivals: Freshwaters

    • Lesson 2 Facts to ID - Later Arrivals: Freshwaters

    • Quiz: Identify these 7 Late Arrivals to Freshwaters
  • 8

    Chapter 8 - May Warblers and Vireos

    • Chapter 8 Overview

    • Lesson 1 Slideshow - May Warblers and Vireos

    • Lesson 2 Facts to ID - May Warblers and Vireos

    • Quiz: Identify these 7 May Warbler and Vireos
  • 9

    Chapter 9 - Later Arrivals: Ocean Edge

    • Chapter 9 Overview

    • Lesson 1 Slideshow - Late Arrivals: Ocean Edge

    • Lesson 2: Facts to ID - Later Arrivals to the Ocean

    • Quiz: Identify these 7 Late Arrivals to the Ocean Edge
  • 10

    Chapter 10 - Migration & Conservation

    • Chapter 10 Overview

    • Lesson 1: Migration, Climate Change, and Supporting Conservation

    • Lesson 2: Spring Migration Checklist and Challenge

    • Lesson 3: Take the Challenge - Submit Your Checklist!

Your Birding Expert

New England's resident birder and author guides the way

Senior Instructor

Peter Alden

Peter Alden is a world renowned naturalist, lecturer, ecotourism guide and author of 15 books on North American and African wildlife, including the National Audubon Society’s Regional Field Guide Series. He is considered to be an authority on birds and larger mammals of the world and is often consulted by the media and the ecotourism industry for his expertise. Peter is also a highly entertaining and widely sought after lecturer on topics that include world wildlife, the Polar regions, invasive plants and biodiversity.

Bonus Items

As part of this course, you get the following extra items

  • Get to know the most common migrants

    Become skilled at bird identification and get to know the most common birds migrating to New England by region.

  • Audubon Field Guide to New England Signed by Author, Peter Alden

    Take the challenge test by recording your species on a checklist and submit your score. Score 90% for a free field guide, 60% for 50% off.

  • Comprehensive Checklist

    Organized by region and season, use this handy tool to record your sightings. New England is home to many varied ecosystems and learn which species can be found where.

This course is entirely online

A fun, informative way to learn the basics from an expert

  • Self-paced, no deadline to complete the course

  • Return to the lessons as often as you want

  • All course materials - instruction, videos, quizzes are accessible via web browser

Course Fee

Sign up with secure payment options

Spring Migration Checklist

Your guide to learning the key migrants in New England

Each chapter will review the main bird species, their traits and sounds, by region and the arrival season.

Social proof: reviews

5 star rating

Great fun and well-delivered

Beth Clary

Great fun and well-delivered information. Mr. Alden is clear and shares tidbits of bird trivia, history and perhaps little known facts that add to the genera...

Read More

Great fun and well-delivered information. Mr. Alden is clear and shares tidbits of bird trivia, history and perhaps little known facts that add to the general information about becoming a birder.

Read Less
5 star rating

A truly fun experience

Molly Nye

A truly fun experience, full of surprising information, like the biological background of the blue jay and the fact that the tufted titmouse is related to th...

Read More

A truly fun experience, full of surprising information, like the biological background of the blue jay and the fact that the tufted titmouse is related to the chickadee.

Read Less
5 star rating

Really, really good

Christopher Bensley

I found it easy to progress through, got me hooked. I like how they mixed in photos with tips and videos. you can go back and forth so you can skip to a sect...

Read More

I found it easy to progress through, got me hooked. I like how they mixed in photos with tips and videos. you can go back and forth so you can skip to a section you want to learn more about. Also price is very reasonable for all you get.

Read Less