Founded in 2011, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at WMU offers high quality non-credit programs for mature adults in the greater Kalamazoo community. This volunteer organization works with WMU emeriti, faculty, and staff to offer courses, events, and trips year-round. More information and registration can be found at their website https://wmich.edu/olli.
Here are the OLLI courses being taught by our members:
Birdwatching Basics and Beyond!
Taught by Donna Keller and Gail Walter
Wed. 4/17, 4/24, 5/1; 9-11 AM
The City of Kalamazoo Parks and Recreation
Course Description: Join Audubon Society of Kalamazoo’s Donna Keller and Gail Walter for this introductory course on the basics of birdwatching. The three 2-hour sessions will begin in the classroom learning about a variety of topics including fundamentals of bird identification, feeding, backyard habitat enhancements, bird health and safety tips, field guides and other birding resources, bird song identification, and Kalamazoo’s Peregrine Falcons. Following the classroom portion of each session, participants will head outside (weather permitting) with binoculars to put the lessons into practice.
How to Save a Billion Birds for $3.49
Taught by Gail Walter
March 19, 5–7 PM
College of Health and Human Services
Course Description: Window collisions kill a billion birds a year in the US. Birds that have flown thousands of miles on migration can die in seconds at a window. Glass is an indiscriminate killer with a serious impact on bird populations. Perhaps surprisingly, most mortalities occur at residential buildings. However, there are more homes than commercial or public buildings and most homeowners have had the experiences of a bird collision at a window. This presentation will discuss why glass is so dangerous for birds and will provide affordable options to prevent bird collisions, with examples of available products.