Duck Butts

A New Approach to Duck Identification

Do you know what these ducks are?

Do you know what these ducks are? *Scroll to the bottom of the page for the answer!

Have you ever taken a field trip to Bosque del Apache and had to leave multiple ducks, especially the females, unidentified?   Have you ever caught a quick glimpse of a flock of ducks in flight and been completely baffled? Or maybe you’ve scanned the waters of Elephant Butte Lake and determined the ducks to be “too far” to identify. Or maybe you aren’t even sure what the true difference is between a duck and a grebe. These are all problems of the past! Our Birder’s Guide to Duck Butts lecture and field workshop will unravel these mysteries and help make you a better birder.

Many birders tend to focus on the color and plumage details of a bird as the most important means of identification, but this often leads to confusion and worse, misidentification. Our program is designed to take a very different approach to identifying ducks in the field. We will focus mainly on the structural differences and behavior of each species to identify them. First you will learn a quick tip for differentiating between a dabbling duck and a diving duck simply by looking at its butt. Then, we will use head and body structure, along with behavior and plumage to solidify the bird’s ID.

We spend the day at Bosque del Apache NWR and/or Elephant Butte Lake State Park where we can expect to see multiple species of ducks (dabblers and divers) up close and personal. This will give us the opportunity to compare similar species, together, at close range, at a distance, and in flight.

 

20% of all profits donated to local nonprofit partners!

 

Now offering discounts for multiple workshop registrations. See “Pricing & Payments” tab for details

 

 

Friday December 4th, 2015

We will be gathering for dinner at 5:00 pm at O’Neill’s Pub on Central and Washington. After dinner, at 6:00 pm, we will move next door to Newton’s Cradle Office Space where the workshop presentation will be held. If you prefer to eat dinner on your own you are more than welcome to  just meet us at Newton’s Cradle at 6:00pm for the presentation.

 

Saturday December 5th, 2015

Depart from Albuquerque at 7:00 am from the Nativo Lodge on San Mateo and I-25. We will be providing transportation in a van so you can catch a snooze on the way if you like. Please bring or have breakfast beforehand.

We will head south to Bosque Del Apache NWR near Socorro where we will spend the majority of the day. We will have lunch mid-day at the refuge headquarters. A wrap-up dinner will be held in Socorro on our way home.

Return to Albuquerque by 8:00 pm.

Although we will typically adhere to the above itinerary, the exact schedule of the tour is liable to change depending on local conditions and of course the birds!

Dress

Informal throughout. Multiple warm layers, along with warm gloves and hat, are a must for cold mornings. Sturdy footwear is recommended. We will have at least one scope with us but you are encouraged to bring your own as well.

 

Group Size

Maximum group size is 20 participants although we typically have less. We have 2 to 4 guides for this workshop depending on participation.

 

Tour Pace

Hiking is minimal, flat, and leisurely. We will mostly be standing from viewing areas close to the van. We will stay at each birding location discussing the birds for extended periods. A leisurely lunch will be taken mid-day.

 

Food

Dinner will be taken at local restaurants. Vegetarian options are available. Will will provided some snacks and water, but you will need to bring a sack lunch with you.

 

Transportation

Our vehicle will depend on the group size often we are in a 15 passenger van. It is important that all participants be able to ride in any seat in the van.

 

Cost

 $125.00 (+ 7% tax)

This price includes the Friday evening class ($25) and the Saturday field workshop ($100).  All transportation from the departure point (Nativo Lodge), guide fees, snacks, and water are included. Meals and other expenses are not included in this price. We do offer the option to attend the lecture portion only for $25, please inquire if interested.

 

Discounts available for multi workshop registrations. Discount pricing is as follows.

2 Workshops – 5% discount – $237.50

3 Workshops – 10% discount – $337.50

4 Workshops – 15% discount – $425

5 Workshops – 20% discount – $500

If you are registering for multiple workshops please complete the registration form for one workshop and send us an email detailing which workshops you would like to participate on. We will then confirm your registration for all workshops and send you an invoice for full payment. 

 

Reservations & Confirmation

To reserve your spot for this workshop you will need to complete the following:

  • Complete the workshop registration form found under the “Registration” tab
  • Complete payment on the “Payment Options” tab. Your spot will not be reserved until we receive full payment for the workshop.

(If you are registering for multiple workshops please complete the registration form for one workshop and send us an email detailing which workshops you would like to participate on. We will then confirm your registration for all workshops and send you an invoice for full payment.)

 

After completing your reservation we will contact you via email to confirm your reservation and provide you with additional information about your workshop. We will require you to complete the Liability Waiver (Click link to download the Liability Waiver). You can return the waiver to us via Fax or Post, or you may return it to us in person during the workshop class. Liability Wavier is required to participate in the workshop

In the case that you must cancel your reservation BRANT will allow a one-time transfer of payment to an upcoming workshop as long as the transfer takes place at least 1 week prior to the workshop date. Please contact us to discuss this option. If you do not wish to transfer payment to an upcoming workshop we will refund 50% of your payment up to 2 weeks prior to the workshop date. Within two weeks of the workshop date the entire payment amount is non-refundable.

Registration Form

Fill out the following form to register for the trip. (If you prefer a hard copy, you can print the registration form and return it to us via fax or mail. Workshop Registration Form – Click the link to download PDF)

Remember that your spot is not reserved until we have received your full payment for the workshop. For payment options click on the “Payment Options” tab above.

If you are registering for multiple workshops please complete the registration form for one workshop and send us an email detailing which workshops you would like to participate on. We will then confirm your registration for all workshops and send you an invoice for full payment. 

 

Duck Butts Registration Form

Workshop Date

 

Contact & Travel Information

  • Please make sure to enter all information in full.
  • Primary Participant

  • Second Participant (Not Required)

 

Medical & Dietary Information

  • Please include any information that will help to to create the most safe and enjoyable experience possible.
  • Primary Participant

  • Second Participant (Not Required)

 

Emergency Contact

  • Please provide the name and contact information in case of emergencies while we are on tour. If this contact is the same for both participants you only need to enter it once.
  • Primary Participant

  • Second Participant (Not Required)

 

Non-Profit Partner

  • BRANT donates 20% of our profits from each workshop to a local non-profit to support environmental conservation, research and education. Please select which organization you would like us to support on your behalf.
 

Payment Method

  • Please indicate how you have submitted your deposit. Remember that your registration is not complete until you have submitted payment. To complete payment follow the instructions under the "Payments" tab at the top of this page.
 

How Did You Find BRANT?

  • Please indicated how you heard about us. You can select multiple answers if needed.
 

Notes

 

Verification

Payment

To pay online use the PayPal button below:

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Checks should be made payable to “BRANT”  for the amount outlined below:

Cost Tax Total
$125 $8.75 $133.75

7522 Edith Blvd. NE

Albuquerque, NM

87113

If you are registering for multiple workshops please complete the registration form for one workshop and send us an email detailing which workshops you would like to participate on. We will then confirm your registration for all workshops and send you an invoice for full payment. 

*Photo is of a Male Ring-necked Duck & Female Canvasback.