Are you curious about nature? Do you want to tune into the rhythms of the world around you? Birdwatching is an enjoyable, affordable, relaxing and endlessly rewarding way to connect more deeply with the outdoors. Whether you're a total beginner or looking to sharpen your skills, this fun and interactive seven-part series will introduce you to the tools, techniques, and wonders of birding - from spotting your first chickadee to recognizing warblers by their songs. Each 90 min class stands alone and can be taken independently. This series is geared toward adults and teens, will be classroom-based, and is open to all levels of birding experience!

Class 5: Nests, Eggs, & Young

From the intricate woven nests of songbirds to the simple ground scrapes of a Killdeer, we’ll explore the incredible instincts birds use to build safe havens. Learn how eggs vary in size, shape, and color, how incubation works, and how parents care for and protect their vulnerable young. •

• We’ll examine the diverse types of nests birds build, the materials they use, where they place them - reflecting adaptations to different environments and breeding strategies.
• Eggs & incubation - Examining the different shapes, sizes, colors, and textures of bird eggs. Understanding how birds incubate their eggs, the role of both parents and how long it takes for eggs to hatch.
• Caring for young: How birds feed and protect their young throughout the different stages of development from hatchling to fledgling.
• “Parasitic” birds who lay their eggs in the nests of other birds, and fool them into raising their young.
• How to supporting nesting birds and observe nests safety.
• Citizen science tools like NestWatch.

About the instructor

Christie Constantine is a passionate environmentalist, educator, and lifelong nature enthusiast dedicated to helping people connect more deeply with the natural world. As a certified Maine Master Naturalist, she combines scientific knowledge with a love of storytelling to inspire curiosity, understanding, and action in support of nature. Christie currently serves as Board Chair of Friends of BirdLife International, a global partnership of over 120 environmental organizations widely recognized as the world leader in bird conservation, and is also member of BirdLife’s Global Governing Council. She also serves as Board Secretary of BirdNote, a nonprofit media organization that uses sound-rich storytelling to spark conservation action. Christie also sits on the Supervisory Board of the Global Reporting Initiative, the leading global standard-setter for sustainability reporting, and is a trustee of the Stroudwater Neighborhood Association, where she co-founded and chairs the Living Landscapes Committee to promote biodiversity and native habitat restoration at the neighborhood level. Earlier in her career, Christie advanced initiatives in philanthropy, sustainability, and human rights, working across the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe. Today, she channels that global perspective into local engagement - inviting others to notice, appreciate, and protect the natural world.

About Maine Master Naturalists

The Maine Master Naturalist Program (MMNP)’s mission is to train volunteer naturalists who will enrich nature education in Maine. Since its founding in 2011, MMNP has trained almost 250 Maine Master Naturalists, who have gone on to volunteer more than 10,000 hours of nature education in Maine. MMNP offers a rigorous, ten month course where students learn about Maine’s plants, animals, geology, ecological systems, and more. Organized and taught by experienced Maine Master Naturalists and outside experts, the course provides hands-on learning in the classroom and in the field.