Tracking workshops

Sue Morse, the founder and program director of Keeping Track, will be in Ithaca on January 30, 31, and February 1st to present a series of indoor workshops (at Ithaca College) and outdoor field trips (at locations near Ithaca). Sue has tremendous tracking skills and years of experience in wildlife biology, and she has a special ability to see natural features from an animal's point of view. These sessions offer an unparalleled opportunity to anyone interested in the natural world, ecology, tracking, wildlife science, or conservation. The schedule of workshops and field trips appears below, and registration information follows that. For more on Sue’s background and the Keeping Track program, go to www.keepingtrack.org.

Schedule:

Friday, Jan. 30, 7:00-9:00 pm, Mammal Foot Morphology Workshop
Sue will share her remarkable collection of freeze-dried mammal feet. You’ll get to examine beautifully preserved specimens ranging from weasel to moose to cougar, while Sue explains their adaptations and the way foot architecture is reflected in tracks. This lively and often humorous discussion is guaranteed to increase your understanding of the evidence animals leave on the ground and on the ways they move.

Saturday, Jan. 31, 9:00 am-5:00 pm, Field Trip I
Here is your chance to really deepen your awareness of the natural world. Sue brings a unique perspective on the ways habitats provide for the needs of wildlife, and she’ll provide insights ranging from the small but important details that distinguish similar types of tracks to the significance of an animal’s presence and behavior in a particular place at a particular time.

Sunday, Feb. 1, 9:00 am-5:00 pm, Field Trip II
This second field trip will be at a different location, and will provide a new set of opportunities for understanding the tracks and sign we find on many levels. Whether you have a natural history background, a conservation orientation, and/or previous experience in tracking, you’ll come away with a better appreciation of why animals do what they do and go where they go.

Sunday, Feb. 1, 6:00-9:00 pm, Focal Species Workshop and Wrap-Up
In this intensive session Sue will explain the concepts of area-sensitive species, core territories, corridors, and why the protection of critical habitats is necessary for the survival of wide-ranging predators. We’ll share some food, ask lots of questions, and learn more about the power of science-based citizen wildlife monitoring to make a difference.

Costs:

Single evening workshop: $25

Single day-long field trip: $65
One field trip plus one evening workshop: $85
Two field trips: $120
Two field trips plus one evening workshop: $140
Two field trips plus two evening workshops: $155

Questions? Call or email Linda at lminkspiel@twcny.rr.com, 607-844-8522.

How To Register: Fill in the form, save it, and attach it to an email to Linda at lminkspiel(at)twcny.rr.com, OR send an email to Linda with the necessary information included, OR print the form, fill in the information, and send it with a check to: Linda Spielman, 18 Rochester St., Dryden, NY 13053.

Sue will also be presenting a talk (free and open to the public and featuring her incredible wildlife photography) on Saturday evening from 7:00 to 9:00 pm, titled Animals of the North, What Will Global Climate Change Mean for Them? More details on that to come.