Date: 4/18/25 3:16 pm From: rebecca.fenning via groups.io <rebecca.fenning...> Subject: [LACoBirds] LA Birders Webinar: Rethinking Field Guides with Tom Stephenson
Dear Birders,
You are invited to the next LA Birders webinar:
Webinar: Rethinking Field Guides for Better Bird Identification
Join expert Tom Stephenson for an engaging scientific webinar exploring the
evolution of field guides and their role in bird identification. This talk
will examine the history of field guides, highlighting the limitations of
their traditional taxonomic organization and the challenges it presents to
birders.
Tom will discuss how using direct comparisons and detailed photographs can
significantly enhance identification skills, offering a more effective and
efficient approach. This webinar will also address the shortcomings of the
“birding by impression” method, providing evidence-based strategies for
improving accuracy in the field.
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced birder, this webinar will
offer valuable insights into refining your bird ID techniques.
This webinar will be livestreamed on our YouTube channel
<https://tinyurl.com/2y6efp3f> and will also be recorded for later viewing.
Please use the YouTube link above (alternatively:
https://tinyurl.com/2y6efp3f) which will take you directly to LAB’s main
page, where the live webinar should be visible once it begins at 7pm.
Become a LAB Member! Though our webinars will always remain free and
available to all, members of Los Angeles Birders have access to live
webinars via Zoom, invitations to special LAB-only field trips, priority
sign-up on LAB field trips & events, and discounts on paid LAB programs. To
learn more about membership, please see our website
<https://www.labirders.org/>!
Looking for a past webinar? Don’t forget that a list of all of our
previously recorded webinars <https://www.labirders.org/webinars.html> is
available on our website – which might come in handy if you want to study
up before a field trip, or if you're looking to build your birding skills
from home! Just scroll all the way down, past our upcoming and most recent
online programs and you'll find a list of webinars sorted by category.
These recordings are all viewable via our YouTube
<https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHbAhQTFVaeowMCl-sD2e0g> page.
Upcoming Programs
4/19 Exploring the LA County chaparral with Naresh Satyan and Lance Benner
(member field trip)
4/22 Rethinking Field Guides for Better Bird Identification with Tom
Stephenson (webinar)
4/26 Tejon Ranch with Frank and Susan Gilliland (member field trip) - FULL
4/27 Sepulveda Basin with Rebecca Marschall (member field trip)
5/4 First Sundays at the Huntington with Katy Mann (member-only field trip)
5/11 Long Beach migration with Christine Jacobs (member field trip)
