"THANK YOU so much for this course! I am noticing more and more how this new way of listening is seeping into all parts of my life and shifting the way I am present in the world, and I love it.
I also notice that being able to pay better attention to the songs of the birds individually is helping my overall bird language skills, the same way it's easier to listen to a foreign language and not tune out if I understand some of the words. So... wonderful, altogether.
Thank you!"
~Susannah M., CA
"I loved your course. I have been birding for 20 years and wish I'd had this approach from the get go! Thanks."
~ Carolyn M.
"In six weeks, I went from hearing a cacophony of birdsong noise in my back yard where I might recognize only one bird or two at the most, to being able to discern different songs or calls. I am likely to know what species of bird is singing, even though I may not see it.
This is exactly what I hoped to learn from the class and I got what I wanted. Even better, I now know I can continue to use the techniques from the class and expand my knowledge about the birds, songs and calls to include more of the birds in my area.
I am amazed at what I have learned, and how comfortable I am with the process. I found that I learned a great deal from the other students in the class sharing their experiences and sharing mine.
I recommend it to anyone who is interested in learning who is singing in their back yard or at their favorite vacation spot, or the cabin in the woods, to anyone who wants to learn a bit of bird song, and ways to remember it."
~ Cheryl J., Parent/Data Network Design/Volunteer, CA
“I love Kristi’s approach to learning bird song. She breaks down the lessons into specific “tools”/skills for helping to identify and remember bird’s songs. Her lessons build gradually, and you begin to recognize a few birds and their families well using the tools and then can continue to practice on your own.
She and the other mentors and TA’s provide support but not always answers. The struggle to personally identify bird songs helps you build true skills for continued learning. You are not fed answers you won’t remember but tools to build with in your future.
I am able to recognize more birds by song now and I have skills to help me as I encounter new birds. I have also gained so many birder friends from around the world through this course.
My “tool belt” is filled with skills and ways to help me remember, compare and learn about the amazing birdsongs in our world. I highly recommend this course for novice and experienced birders who want to enrich their birding experience.”
~ Anne Marie C., Preschool Teacher, MD
“Kristi Dranginis is the best bird coach ever.”
~ Deborah D., Small Business Owner
"Thank you so much for this course. Your lessons are fabulous. I'm actually a professional (but very visual!) ornithologist, who also has no musical roots and struggles to ID calls and songs, even for birds that I observe regularly! I think, however, that your tricks will come in very handy, and I plan to work them into my birding routine. Love your teaching style. Thanks for making bird education fun! Keep up the great work." ~ Jessica S., Ornithologist
"Kristi brings a meticulous system of observation to the art of birding that I haven’t seen with other expert birders."~ Dwight F., Accountant, CO
"Thank you very much for your mentorship. It was wonderful to spend time watching your videos. You have provided me with tools and confidence to continue on my own for a while. I am truly grateful."
~ Stephanie B.
"I've got a "testimonial" that goes all the way back to the bird song class from almost a year ago. I think the class has just started-and we were encouraged to come up with our own ways to transcribe Birdsong into something we would remember. I went to the Bosqe del Apache with Brant. Raymond VanBuskirk pointed out the flight call we were hearing as a greater yellowlegs. I thought it sounded like "trick or treat." So today at bitter Lake Wildlife refuge, I was watching some shore birds flying and making a loud call. I thought, that sounds like trick-or-treat again – which helped me hone in quickly on the ID. I kept hearing lots of yellowlegs trick-or-treaters as I went through the refuge! I would never have remembered that call and whose it was if I hadn't followed Kristi's advice and come up with my own words for the call."~ Deanna N., Public School Employee, NM
"Kristi, you taught me how to learn about birds, not just bird facts."
~ Elyse K., Dentist, CO
"Kristi helps bring the world of birds and bird songs alive in a way that helped me, a newbie, to better see and hear birds. She is so very knowledgeable and approachable, a gem as a teacher and as a birder."
~ Suzanne N-K, Self-employed, NY
“I want to thank you so much for the class! I’m sad it’s the last week! I’ve learned so much and am much more tuned into bird song than ever before. Thanks to being more aware of the songs, I noticed the song of Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - a bird I never knew before. And then, a couple weeks later, I realized a pair had built a nest on our tree!! Such a lovely discovery thanks to all this!” ~ Dr. Sandra de S., Psychologist
"Learning bird songs has so enriched my experience in nature. I’ve been noticing this last few weeks how different my experience is compared to last year at this time (before I took the courses) - I am hearing & seeing more birds; I often recognize bird songs & calls without really thinking about it; I am learning new songs more quickly & easily; I am better at locating birds based on hearing their calls; its been such a wonderful learning process & so enriched my daily walks."~ Teresa B., Canada
"Your teaching method is amazing. It feels holistic and connected, not just 'head' learning. So much fun learning this way."
~Judy J., Artist
"This is a most valuable course! The resources, daily exercises, and personal interaction combine to make it an exceptional learning experience. My ability to identify birds by their songs and calls has increased substantially and I made friends at the same time."
~ Janet D., Retired CA
“Just great to be guided and have some structure around bird songs. The class opened me up to many different possibilities about learning bird songs, like listening to the songs on my computer.
I liked that it was offered online so we could go at our own speed, and integrate it into our life’s. Also, getting to know the bird songs in the habitat where I live was awesome.”
~Betsyann G. , CA
"Learning Bird Song has been a truly inspiring and fun experience for me. I have always loved listening to birds but felt frustrated that I found it difficult to identify most of them. Now, thanks to this course, I no longer just hear the birds, but I am learning to truly listen to them. I feel I am listening to an exquisite orchestra of nature, and do not have an overwhelming need to ID the birds who are singing. I am happy to simply allow the bird music to surround me, as I soak it all up. But to my surprise the techniques I have learned to practice in this class now help me distinguish some of the orchestra participants without even trying to "figure it out". So I can appreciate each of the birds, just as I would appreciate each of the instruments in a symphony orchestra without straining to ID the musical part each particular one is playing.
Kristi's enthusiasm, expertise, sense of humor and down to earth encouragement at every step of the learning process in this course has been a huge help This includes her challenges, times of frustration and learning breakthroughs during her bird journey. We had plenty of laughs to guide us when new information became a bit daunting! Each of the TAs and mentors echo this dedication as they shared the nuts and bolts of their bird journeys in the class as well. We were challenged to do our best but without the pressure to do so."
~ Lisa P., Retired Occupational Therapist, MT
"I thoroughly enjoyed this course. We covered many different bird families and techniques and tools to identify some of the many bird songs. Mentor sessions were fantastic and a time for student sharing of victory and challenge. Kristi and her team of Mentors and TA’s present material in detail and in very doable lessons. You will not be disappointed with the experience and what you learn. These experiences have elevated my hobby beyond my expectations. I also have the tools going forward to build my knowledge on all these wonderful winged feathery friends. I look forward to more."
~ Tom R., 74 Year Old Part Time Psychiatrist, CT
“This was my first bird song course and am so thankful that I started here instead of a course that focused on technical things. You helped me understand that our connection to these amazing creatures can be as or more meaningful than learning all the facts.”
~ Evon Z., Educator, PA
“I appreciate every link, video, hint, technique, lesson you shared. The treasure trove of tools comes from your personal experience, so I feel that I am getting 10 times the information. Because the mentor sessions are taped, I can see them again, and find something new I failed to remember the first go around. The TA sessions were fab primarily because the TA's questions place the important point of that lesson up for discussion. This, in turn, encouraged everyone to offer up what worked for them, thus more teaching. This is an ideal approach. I love it.”
~Cheryl J., CA
"I would recommend the Bird Song course to anyone who wants to feel the joy of having a true connection with birds, learning which birds you hear singing and developing camaraderie with other bird lovers."
~ Susie F., Retired Registered Nurse/Personal Trainer/Ski Instructor CO & DE
I am a retired software developer who has been a nature photographer specializing in birds for the last 30 years. I spend most of my time birding in Washington State. Kristi and her assistants have created a magical online environment. This is not a talking heads class, this is a class where participation is encouraged. There are many activities that go outside the box such as drawing the shape of bird sounds. I feel that I now have a framework to hang both familiar and unfamiliar bird songs on. Thank you.
~ Rosland P. Retired Software Devleoper/Photographer - WA
