Area residents are invited to join birders from the Chautauqua-Warren Birding Association to learn beginning bird identification at Audubon Community Nature Center Friday, April 12.

The Chautauqua-Warren Birding Association (CWBA) is hosting a Beginning Bird ID Workshop at Audubon Community Nature Center from 5 to 6 p.m. Friday, April 12.

This introduction to bird identification will give what information needed to get started. Those learning will learn about everything from binoculars to field guides, from what to look for to how to tell birds apart.

Leading the event is Devin Banning, co-founder of the CWBA.

A SUNY Fredonia graduate, Banning currently serves on the faculty of the Fredonia School of Music as a graduate assistant while pursuing a Master’s degree. Though his career choice is in music, he is an avid birder and amateur naturalist. He frequently leads CWBA meetings and birding field trips with Katelyn Davis for the CWBA and Buffalo Ornithological Society.

Participants are encouraged to take 3-5 minutes to download the FREE Merlin Bird ID app onto their phone or smart device before the meeting and to download the “New York” bird pack.

There will be some binoculars to borrow, but those who have them are asked to bring them. Reservations are appreciated by calling 716-569-2345 during business hours or online through Programs and Events at AudubonCNC.org. Walk-ins are welcome.

Audubon will host its 024 Birdathon from Friday, April 26, through Sunday, May 5. Those interested can create their own team of birders and raise some money for a deserving college-bound student. Click through Programs and Events at AudubonCNC.org to form a birding team or make a donation.

Audubon Community Nature Center is located at 1600 Riverside Road, one-quarter mile east of Route 62 between Jamestown and Warren. Visit the nearly 600-acre nature preserve, check in on the live birds of prey, and hike the more than five miles of trails dawn until dusk daily for free.

The three-story Nature Center building houses interactive displays, a collection of live animals including the Hellbender exhibit, and the Blue Heron Gift Shop. Visitors are welcome Mondays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Sundays, 1 to 4:30 p.m. Nature Center members and SNAP/EBT cardholders have free building admission daily. Building admission is also free every Sunday for non-Nature Center members.

To learn more about Audubon and its programs, call 716-569-2345, find Audubon Community Nature Center on Facebook, or visit AudubonCNC.org.