Nature Watching: How to Find and Observe Wildlife

Course Overview

Travel into the stunning beauty of the natural world with a professional tracker and learn the fascinating skills of wildlife tracking.

Course No. 80190

This 24-episode course with expert tracker Casey McFarland teaches you to:

• Identify animal tracks and signs
• Interpret bird language and behavior
• Blend into natural environments
• Follow wildlife trails and patterns
• Understand animal communication methods

Develop practical tracking skills through demonstrations and field stories that reveal the hidden lives of animals in their habitats.

Key Topics Covered:

• Animal track identification
• Bird behavior and nests
• Camouflage and stealth techniques
• Wildlife marking behaviors
• Trailing and gait analysis
• Seasonal tracking strategies
• Ecological relationships

Video Lectures

01: Signs and Sounds of the Wild (18 min)

Introduction to wildlife tracking and what it reveals about animals and ecosystems.

02: Bugs and the Backyard Serengeti (18 min)

Exploring insect life and the tracks they leave behind.

03: What Feathers Tell Us about Birds and Flight (22 min)

Anatomy of flight feathers and wing design categories.

04: Paws, Claws, and Hooves: Who Stepped Here? (18 min)

Identifying common animal tracks and their signatures.

05: Migratory Trails Explain Much about Life (16 min)

Understanding animal migration patterns and trail interpretation.

06: Camouflage and Becoming Invisible (14 min)

Techniques for blending into natural environments.

07: Bird Nests and the Stories They Tell (23 min)

Bird nest identification and construction methods.

08: Animal Bedding and the Dream World of Deer (18 min)

Reading deer bedding spots and related behaviors.

09: Using Your Eyes and Ears Outdoors (20 min)

Heightening sensory awareness for wildlife observation.

10: Marking Behavior: What a Funny Way to Talk (19 min)

Understanding animal scent marking and communication.

11: Bird Language and the Art of Listening (10 min)

Interpreting bird vocalizations and alarm calls.

12: Trees and Life: Food, Homes, and Communication (21 min)

Animal signs found on and around trees.

13: Wildlife Mating Behavior (16 min)

Tracking signs of animal mating rituals.

14: Making a Map with the Moon, Clouds, and Stars (17 min)

Creating mental maps using celestial navigation.

15: How Long Ago Was an Animal Here? (15 min)

Estimating the age of tracks and signs.

16: Holes, Burrows, and Life Underground (9 min)

Identifying animal burrows and underground activity.

17: What Scatology Teaches If We Don’t Look Away (20 min)

Learning from animal scat analysis.

18: Is That a Front or Back Foot? Left or Right? (20 min)

Distinguishing track orientation and anatomy.

19: Gaits: How Animals Walk and Run (19 min)

Recognizing animal movement patterns.

20: Exploring the World of Winter Wildlife (16 min)

Winter tracking strategies and snow trail interpretation.

21: Becoming a Great Tracker (17 min)

Fundamentals of trailing animals over distance.

22: Advanced Tracking and Trailing (16 min)

Refining trailing techniques and recovery methods.

23: What the Beaver Teaches Us about Our Planet (15 min)

Ecological impact of beaver activity.

24: Testing Yourself: The Wildlife Tracking Exam (21 min)

Review of key tracking concepts and principles.