Friends of the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve (GTM Research Reserve) is offering a new birding course titled If You Can Name It, You Can Love It, led by Linda Burek, a certified Florida Master Naturalist. This five-week course offers an exciting opportunity to explore the diverse birdlife of the GTM Research Reserve which is one of 30 National Estuarine Research Reserves in the country, featuring a dynamic and ever-changing landscape with interconnected habitats from the ocean to the forests. This unique environment protects and nurtures a wide variety of plants and animals, illustrating the profound impact humans have had on preserving and altering this ecosystem.

Burek, an experienced naturalist and ornithologist, brings extensive knowledge to this course. She has served as the lead compiler for the St. Augustine Christmas Bird Count and has been actively involved in the St. Augustine Alligator Farm and Zoological Park’s nesting bird counts. Additionally, she is a board member of the St. Johns Audubon Society and the Saint Augustine Camera Club, where she leads bird walks and educational programs.

Participants will learn about the various bird species in the area, gain tips for identifying common birds, utilize birding apps and discover local birding hotspots. The course includes practical field sessions for hands-on learning.

Classes are scheduled from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on September 6, 13, 20, 27, 2024, and October 4, 2024, with an optional field trip to Fort Mose Historic State Park from 8:30 to 10 a.m on on October 11, 2024, and an optional boat tour on October 18, 2024.