diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 39e9b4a..f5946ee 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -49,3 +49,11 @@ include_species_list.txt
 whitelist_species_list.txt
 /nbproject/private/
 .DS_Store
+
+# --- AvianVisitors: local-only material, deliberately not shipped ---
+# Claude Code session data
+.claude/
+# Large source / reference imagery kept on disk for working
+avian/assets/references/
+# Superseded assets retained locally
+avian/assets/_legacy/