Eavesdropping on Nature

Live Online Course with George Bumann
October 7–28, 2026
Wednesdays 11 am - 12:30 pm (PT)
Full Course Details

In this four-week course, naturalist and wildlife expert George Bumann invites you to tune into the signals, sounds, and subtle cues of the more-than-human world. By learning to interpret animal behavior and environmental patterns, you’ll begin to uncover a hidden layer of communication that can deepen your awareness, sharpen your perception, and transform how you move through any landscape.

We live surrounded by constant communication in the natural world — alarm calls, movement patterns, shifts in behavior — yet most of us have lost the ability to notice, interpret, and respond to these signals. What if those “background” sounds and movements are actually rich with meaning? What if the crows calling overhead are reacting to a predator you haven’t seen yet, or a sudden silence is telling you something just changed?

In this course, we’ll explore how to read the language of wildlife and landscapes. Drawing on both scientific understanding and traditional ways of knowing, we’ll begin to recognize patterns in animal behavior and develop the skills to interpret what those patterns reveal, whether it’s sensing the approach of an eagle before it appears, tracking the movement of a deer you can’t see, or understanding why certain animals remain hidden while others reveal themselves.

As we build this awareness, we’ll tap into our own innate capacity to perceive and understand these signals — abilities that have always been part of being human, but are often dulled by modern life. With practice, the world around us begins to feel more alive, more legible, and more connected.

This course runs from October 7 – 28, 2026, with live classes held on Wednesdays from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (PT) via Zoom. Recordings will be available for registrants who miss a session.

Bioneers Learning offers a limited amount of scholarships for individuals to attend this course. These scholarships are meant to ensure diverse participation and representation, prioritizing financial support for persons from under-resourced communities. Bioneers values bringing together people from a multiplicity of identities and backgrounds. We encourage persons from ALL backgrounds/identities/communities to apply! You are welcome here, apply now: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSffd7DGBd7ZKPLhuQyBmKpL1OocRT6fBP5gSQmeZzfrOJRyKg/viewform?usp=publish-editor