[CT Birds] query about bird photography

[Carol Ansel]

Sorry if this is slightly off-topic, but here goes...

My school offers fellowships annually so we can pursue personal  
interests.  I used to take photos "way back when" with a Pentax  
K-1000.  So I do know a bit about photography, and I have a pretty  
good sense of composition, etc.  I was thinking that a really cool  
fellowship (we can apply for up to $5000) would be to buy a new  
camera and take some lessons or a course in nature and/or bird  
photography.  (Not sure if I would go digital or film - any advice/ 
thoughts?)  The coursework/lessons doesn't necessarily have to be  
local, as long as I could do it for a total of $5000.  It would have  
to take place between mid-June and the end of August, though.  Anyone  
know of any possibilities that they would recommend?  (Of course, I'm  
being a little bit of a "last minute Charlie," and the application is  
due next Friday - but any quick thoughts off the top of the heads of  
bird photographers would be much appreciated).

Oh, and so that the list doesn't get clogged up, remember to apply to  
me directly - carolansel at gmail.com

Thanks!

Carol Ansel
Mystic, CT