In response to the need for an in-depth birding program for beginners, the Hog Island Audubon Camp in Maine will be offering for the first time in June of 2015 a residential session entitled "Breaking into Birding."

Staffed by Pete Dunne and other ornithologists, this 5 ½-day program will include field trips and workshops on the basics of identification, use of binoculars, bird behavior, birding etiquette and the use of apps., etc.

Participants will travel by boat to the restored Atlantic Puffin and Tern colony on Eastern Egg Rock as well as visit and understand a variety of different local habitats. And later in June a second new program, entitled "Hands-on Bird Science", directed by Scott Weidensaul, will also be launched and is designed for those folks who want to get really involved in the "doing" of ornithology. This includes the censusing of breeding birds, bird-banding, preparing study skins, recording bird sounds, and using the latest technology to track birds on their journeys.

A trip to see the Puffins is also part of this itinerary.

For more information on these and other Maine programs, go to hogisland.audubon.org/registration