2011 Mono Basin Bird Chautauqua
Program Information
Friday, June 17
Saturday, June 18
Sunday, June 19
Leader and presenter biographies
Other things to do during Chautauqua week
Group size limits, kids, and things to know
Get out and give back to the land! What better way to kick off the Mono Basin Bird Chautauqua than to help clean up the land that we all enjoy and make it a safer place for the birds. We'll be cleaning up the south shore of Lundy Lake for three hours in the morning. We will provide the gloves, trash bags, and water, but be sure to bring sunscreen, wear close-toed shoes, and be prepared for the elements. The plants, birds, bugs, and people will be forever indebted to your service, and you can brag all weekend about how you helped out! No charge and open to all.
Thursday 9:00am–12:00pm
meet at Mono Lake Committee Information Center & Bookstore
Old Marina weed pull (volunteer project and get-together)
If you've just arrived in the Mono Basin or if you still have energy after collecting trash all morning don't miss the invigorating invasive weed pull at Old Marina. Native birds need native plants for foraging and nesting. Come join us and exercise your passion for a healthy landscape by removing non-native white sweet clover. Many hands make light work and a remarkable difference in the young lives of sprouting native plants. You bring the elbow grease and enthusiasm and we'll provide the water, trash bags, and gloves. Be sure to also bring sunscreen, wear close-toed shoes, and be prepared for the elements. Everyone will marvel at your muscles and dedication to improving the habitat for birds in the Mono Basin. No charge and open to all.
Thursday 2:00pm–5:00pm
meet at Mono Lake Committee Information Center & Bookstore
Bridgeport Reservoir surf and turf (field trip)
Peter Metropulos
Join Peter Metropulos for an exploration of wetlands and lake habitat of Bridgeport Reservoir. Bridgeport Reservoir sits within beautiful Bridgeport Valley between the Sierra Nevada and Sweetwater ranges. Waterfowl, grebes, terns, pelicans, and shorebirds grace the surface and shores of this popular fishing reservoir. In 2008 a pair of Sandhill Cranes nested at Bridgeport Reservoir—a new record for Mono County documented by Peter! This trip will include some birding by boat to get improved access to the abundant bird life on this reservoir.
Friday 6:30am–11:30am
$20 additional program cost, maximum number: 7
Lee Vining Community Center
Pines, peaks, and passes (field trip)
Kristie Nelson
Mammoth Pass near Mammoth Lakes is a low gap in the Sierra Nevada range which influences the surrounding area. The gap allows snow and rain to spill over from the relatively moist west side to the drier east side of the Sierra. This trip will explore the many distinct coniferous forest types of this unique region. We will progress from sagebrush steppe to stands of Jeffrey and then lodgepole pine forests. We will visit majestic red firs, mountain hemlock, western white pine, and finally investigate the white bark pine and tree line at 9,100 feet above sea level. Species we hope to see and hear include Williamson's Sapsucker, Western Tanager, Mountain Bluebird, Clark's Nutcracker, and others. After lunch atop the Minaret Vista enjoying the views of the Ansel Adams Wilderness, we will descend to Crowley Lake Reservoir. The Owens River delta at Crowley is one of the most productive birding sites in Mono County, hosting an array of shorebirds, ducks, and migrants.
Friday 7:00am–3:00pm
Lee Vining Community Center
Crowley Lake: Sagebrush and waterbirds galore! (field trip)
Debbie House
Crowley Lake Reservoir, formed by the damming of the Owens River and cradled in the Long Valley Caldera, offers spectacular views of the High Sierra to the west and the Glass Mountain and White Mountain ranges to the east. Crowley is nestled amid a mix of sagebrush, wet meadows, and small alkali lakes, and attracts a variety of breeding and migrant waterbirds. It is a great four-season birding location! June is the peak of the breeding season, so we should see several species of nesting ducks, shorebirds, and grebes, plus some over-summering non-breeders and late or early migrants. We also will view the largest Bank Swallow colony in the eastern Sierra, enjoy the beautiful song of the Sage Thrasher, the subtle beauty of the Brewer's Sparrow, and if we are really lucky, run into some Greater Sage-Grouse.
Friday 7:00am–1:30pm
Lee Vining Community Center
Lundy Canyon ramble (field trip)
Zach Smith
We will head up Lundy Canyon with no real expectations of what we will see, basically just enjoying the wonderful assemblage of breeding birds of this Eastern Sierra drainage. The mixture of open water (reservoir), riparian, coniferous, and sagebrush habitats found in this canyon attracts a nice diversity of birds, and these habitats are quite accessible via the main road and short trails along the creek. Since we will be in the heart of nesting season, we will likely spend some time observing birds at various stages of their breeding cycles. Among the birds to be expected include mergansers, quail, sapsuckers, woodpeckers, pewees, vireos, jays, dippers, nuthatches, creepers, kinglets, wrens, chickadees, thrushes, grosbeaks, swallows, warblers, juncos, towhees, sparrows and finches. We will keep our ears and eyes open for owls and raptors as well. We will be walking mostly on dirt roads/trails with some light off-trail walking possible.
Friday 7:30am–11:30am
Lee Vining Community Center
Yosemite high country transect (field trip)
Pete Devine
We'll make our first stop at Tioga Pass, the highest highway pass in California, so we can get a taste of the Sierra Nevada's alpine zone. A short walk in the thin air here may turn up White-crowned Sparrow, Prairie Falcon, Lewis' Woodpecker or even an Alpine Robin, far from the suburbs. We descend from here to Tuolumne Meadows for a longer walk that will include lodgepole forest, riparian zone, open meadow and some lively ponds. Clark's Nutcracker, Pine Grosbeak, Townsend’s Solitaire, and Mountain Bluebird are prospects here. Further west we'll make stops at Tenaya Lake, Olmsted Point, and the Snow Creek area in hopes of encountering Sooty Grouse, Black-backed Woodpecker, Williamson's Sapsucker and the song of the Hermit Thrush. Bring a lunch, water, warm layers, and a full gas tank. We'll aim to picnic at a scenic spot and see what birds come to us. Strong sunscreen, UV sunglasses, and a sunhat will be important equipment for the high elevations. We'll be driving Highway 120 East as far as Porcupine Flat, about 65 miles round-trip. The park entry fee will be waived for this educational excursion.
Friday 7:30am–3:00pm
Lee Vining Community Center
Birding Lee Vining Canyon (field trip)
Will Richardson
Lee Vining Canyon is one of the Eastern Sierra's premier birding locations. It offers a variety of habitats and breathtaking views. Of particular interest is the habitat progression as Lee Vining Creek drains from the high alpine mountains of Yosemite and Tioga Pass down through the canyon and out into the arid, sage-scrub surrounding Mono Lake. American Dippers, Townsend's Solitaires, Warbling Vireos, Yellow Warblers, and nuthatches are among the many species that we may see on this trip.
Friday 7:30am–11:30am
Lee Vining Community Center
Birding South Tufa and the Jeffrey pine forest (field trip)
John Sterling
In a small area around the southwest shore of Mono Lake we'll find birds that nest in sagebrush scrub and in dry, mature coniferous forest. These may include Lewis' Woodpecker, Gray Flycatcher, Violet-green Swallow, Pinyon Jay, Clark’s Nutcracker, Rock Wren, Sage Thrasher, Western Tanager, Green-tailed Towhee, and Brewer's and Sage Sparrows. We'll also identify and talk about shoreline water birds.
Friday 7:30am–11:30am
Lee Vining Community Center
Birds and Blossoms in the Bodie Hills (field trip)
James Wilson & Steve McLaughlin
What a treat! A full day in the Bodie Hills (which were recently considered for status as a new National Monument) with two longtime Eastern Sierra residents and Friends of the Inyo board members. Steve's encyclopedic botanic knowledge combined with James' animated yet approachable birding style will have your inner birder and botanist hungry for more. The Bodie Hills form the northern boundary of the Mono Lake Basin, and provide habitat for Sage Grouse, Pronghorn, and many species of rare plants. We'll look for songbirds in riparian areas and wet meadows in the morning, and move into the uplands in the afternoon to look at the spring wildflowers and search for upland birds such as Sage Grouse, Sage Thrasher, and Brewer's Sparrow. We'll end the day near the site threatened by a proposed gold mine, hear about the recent political developments and possibilities for protection. Bring water, lunch, sunscreen, and binoculars.
Friday 8:00am–4:00pm
Lee Vining Community Center
Parker Lake Trail wildflower walk (field trip)
Ann Howald
Join Ann Howald on a moderately paced hike up the trail to Parker Lake. We'll begin in the sagebrush community, hiking up to the shady conifer and aspen forests around the lake. We'll point out the common trees, shrubs, and wildflowers along the path, discussing the ways in which these plants are adapted to their environments, and their pollinators and predators. Any birds, insects or other critters that we come across will be identified as well. Bring lunch and plenty of water.
Friday 8:00am–12:30pm
Lee Vining Community Center
Nature awareness: Introduction to integrated tracking and awareness (workshop/field trip)
Peter Bergen
Participants will experience the basics of tracking: clear print identification, track measurement, aging, sign tracking, and scat identification along active animal runs and trails. Mindfulness of the entire surroundings is key to any tracking adventure. After considering the hazards in the landscape, we will experiment with and stretch our sensory awareness in relationship to the environs that we share with the animals we are investigating. Some say tracking is serious business, but Peter always finds it to be fun. So come prepared for some serious fun as we focus attention on track and trail and open our hearts to the mysteries they reveal. Open to kids of all ages.
Friday 8:00am–12:00noon
Lee Vining Community Center
June Lake Loop and more bird walk (field trip)
Mike Prather
Join Mike Prather on this birding tour of the scenic June Lake Loop. The route covers a variety of habitats and therefore we should see a variety of birds. Reservoirs such as Grant Lake may hold lingering loons or mergansers. Mountain conifers and aspen riparian are home to many species–Mountain Chickadees, Olive-sided Flycatchers, Western Tanagers, and many more. This year Mike will also explore the June Lake burn area near the loop which will undoubtedly yield woodpecker species.
Friday 8:00am–1:00pm
Lee Vining Community Center
Kayaking the south shore ($85 additional program cost)
Stuart Wilkinson & guide
Late spring reveals snow-capped mountains towering over a glassy Mono Lake, a great time to kayak! Join Stuart Wilkinson of Caldera Kayaks and a Mono Basin naturalist for a guided expedition along Mono's south shore. This natural history kayak tour will cover a wide variety of topics relating to this unusual Great Basin lake, such as birds, geology, ecology, history, and politics. Expect to see underwater tufa towers, brine shrimp, lake-bottom springs, and a variety of birds. Some kayak experience is helpful, but not necessary; kayaks and safety equipment are provided. Minimum age is 14 years old, and must be accompanied by a parent.
Friday 8:30am –1:30pm Maximum number: 12
meet at Navy Beach
Exploring June Lake, an afternoon amble (field trip)
Bob Power
Join Bob Power on this birding tour of the scenic June Lake Loop. The route covers a variety of habitats and with some luck, a variety of birds, from Yellow-headed Blackbirds to Osprey. We'll sample the June Lake burn area for woodpeckers, the west and east ends of the Loop for a variety of habitats, as well as June Lake and Grant Lake Reservoir. We will be birding among wildflowers, volcanoes, and spectacular granite peaks.
Friday 12:45pm–5:00pm
Lee Vining Community Center
Birding Lower Parker Canyon (field trip)
Santiago Escruceria
Join Santiago Escruceria on this leisurely, level birdwalk through Lower Parker Canyon. We will explore riparian and meadow habitats in a quiet region of the Mono Basin. We may encounter a good variety of birds from Red-breasted Sapsuckers to Mountain Bluebirds and warblers to Long-eared Owls (no promises). Be prepared to walk a couple of flat, mostly shaded miles and to enjoy spectacular views of the Sierra crest and Mono Lake.
Friday 1:00pm–4:30pm
Lee Vining Community Center
Meet the chipmunks (workshop/field trip)
John Harris
Learn about the Mono Basin's diverse and engaging chipmunks in a workshop and field trip. Chipmunks are familiar campground inhabitants, but distinguishing the six species that inhabit the Mono Basin can be difficult. After a brief presentation on chipmunk biology and identification using photos, field guides and museum specimens, we'll check a set of traps near Lee Vining. We should be able to see Sagebrush, Yellow Pine, and Lodgepole chipmunks near town and we'll discuss other good locations in Mono Basin to look for chipmunks and other mammals that may be out during the day. Open to kids of all ages.
Friday 1:00pm–4:00pm
Lee Vining Community Center
Bird vocalizations (indoor workshop)
Tom Hahn
This workshop focuses on improving our skills as auditory birders. In the first half, we'll practice recognizing different kinds of sounds that birds make (e.g., pure tones vs. harmonic sounds), as well as how birds assemble sounds into sequences (vocalization syntax). To do this, we'll use a combination of computer-generated visual representations of songs (sound spectrograms), and playback of sounds at both normal and reduced speed. These general acoustic recognition skills form the basis for recognizing vocalization features most useful in field identification. In the second half of the workshop, we'll apply what we learned to some specific bird vocalizations that we're likely to hear during the Bird Chautauqua. We'll use the fundamentals we learned to better understand what makes some vocalizations sound spectacularly different from one another, and to discriminate between notoriously challenging sound-alikes. You should come away with general skills useful in learning to identify bird sounds, and also build specific familiarity with some of the June bird songs of the Mono Basin and Eastern Sierra. You may get the most out of this workshop if you already have some auditory birding experience, but beginners can also benefit and are welcome.
Friday 1:30pm–5:30pm
Scenic Area Visitor Center conference room
Wild words (workshop)
Sarah Rabkin & Charles Atkinson
For lovers of landscape, language, and life, the wildly varied Mono Basin can be one endless writing invitation. This workshop, co-led by an essayist and a poet, offers both new and seasoned writers a series of outdoor writing exercises to sharpen our attention, to pique our curiosities, and finally to coax our best words into the world. Bring a notebook and writing implement, and—if you wish—a portable field stool, chair or pad. We'll make time to write, discuss, and share (always optional).
Friday 1:30pm–5:00pm
Lee Vining Community Center
Shorebird viewing station
Volunteer staff
Take a walk down the State Natural Reserve boardwalk below the Mono Lake County Park and check out resident or migrating shore birds and lake birds. Spotting scopes will be available as will local birders to help with bird identification. Come and go as you please during this three-hour time period. Open to kids of all ages.
This is a free event—no registration necessary.
Friday 3:00pm–6:00pm
State Natural Reserve Boardwalk below the Mono Lake County Park, north shore
Willow Flycatchers, Brown-headed Cowbirds, and the
potential extirpation of an endangered species in the
Mono Basin
(presentation)
Chris McCreedy
One unexpected outcome of the restoration of Mono Lake's tributarieswas the return of endangered Willow Flycatchers to Rush Creek. PRBO Conservation Science discovered nesting pairs in 2001, over 50 years after this species had last been found to breed on Rush. The population initially increased, but since 2004 it has decreased annually – to only six adults found in 2010. We have found that Brown-headed Cowbirds are a primary cause of the declines seen at Rush. We will discuss our findings and PRBO and the Mono Lake Committee's program to minimize cowbird effects on Mono songbird populations.
Friday 4:30pm–5:30pm
Mono Basin Visitor Center auditorium
Tenth annual gala dinner and gathering
Chef Linda Dore
Join us early Friday evening at the Lee Vining Community Center as we continue our tenth annual Mono Basin Bird Chautauqua! Meet old friends, chat with field trip leaders and presenters, socialize, eat, and make merry. Dinner will once again be prepared by one of Lee Vining’s finest chefs, Linda Dore.
Menu:
Dinner breads and butter
Organic greens salad with sugar snap peas and mandarin oranges and orange honey mustard dressing
Marinated and grilled Angus tri tip with a choice of homemade BBQ sauce or mustard caper sauce
Italian herbed grilled chicken (lemon, garlic, basil, oregano....)
Roasted butternut squash and quinoa lasagna
Sautéed fresh zucchini and garlic tomatoes with roasted new potatoes
Mini chocolate cupcakes with raspberry cream cheese frosting
Oatmeal cookie bars with maple drizzle
Iced tea, lemonade, water
The Gala Dinner is a separate à la carte event where you can register friends and family.
Friday 5:30pm–7:30pm $20 additional program cost
Lee Vining Community Center
Twilight birding (field trip)
Late June brings some of the longest and most active birding days of the year in the Mono Basin. Join Oregon naturalist Steve Shunk for an early evening adventure of birding into the dusk. We will ply some active birding spots in the Mono Basin for early evening activity that may include nighthawks, poorwills, and winnowing snipes. We may even search for an owl or two once daylight is extinguished. We will use our ears as well as our eyes in this nearby bird outing. Bring layered clothing for cooler weather after the sun sets.
Friday 7:00pm–9:30pm
Lee Vining Community Center
Twilight birding II (field trip)
Join Mono Basin researcher Chris McCreedy for a parllel early evening adventure of birding into the dusk. We will ply some active birding spots in the Mono Basin (but not necessarily the same spots as our sister field trip) for early evening activity that may include nighthawks, poorwills, and winnowing snipes. We may even search for an owl or two once daylight is extinguished. We will use our ears as well as our eyes in this nearby bird outing. Bring layered clothing for cooler weather after the sun sets.
Friday 7:00pm–9:30pm
Lee Vining Community Center
Who gives a hoot (workshop)
Join Burleigh Lockwood to learn which owl says what. We will discuss raptors in general and compare owls with hawks. Many “biofacts” will be shared along with mounted specimens for a real hands-on experience. We'll also learn how to hoot! This has consistently been one of the Chautauqua's most popular events. Open to kids of all ages.
Friday 7:00pm–8:30pm
Scenic Area Visitor Center conference room
Quiet environments and dark night skies: defending the best places for immersive listening and stargazing (evening presentation)
Kurt Fristrup
Noise and light pollution are burgeoning problems for protected natural areas. These forms of wasted energy have grown much faster than population in the U. S. Noise and stray light can have large footprints. A loud motorcycle at the wrong place on Tioga Road can send audible noise out to the boundaries of Yosemite National Park; a single aircraft can affect over 1200 square miles every instant of its flight. The light domes from large cities can affect skies more than 100 miles away. Although transboundary issues will take time and cooperation among multiple stakeholders to resolve, many parks are making progress in sustaining access for large numbers of visitors while reducing transportation noise inside the park, and encouraging visitors to be quieter during their visits. This presentation will summarize ongoing inventories of acoustic and photic resources in parks. It will summarize what is known regarding the effects of noise and stray light on park visitors, wildlife, and the integrity of park settings. It will also address what we do not know: many forms of plausible impacts have not received adequate scientific attention.
Friday 7:30pm–9:00pm
Scenic Area Visitor Center auditorium
A tale of two gull colonies (evening presentation)
Kristie Nelson & Caitlin Robinson-Nilsen
Historically California Gulls nested exclusively at arid, inland lakes like Mono. But in 1980 they began breeding in the San Francisco Bay when 20 gulls nested in salt evaporation ponds. 1980 was the year Mono Lake gulls abandoned their historic colony location in response to coyote predation and a lowered lake level. The San Francisco Bay population grew to over 46,000 birds in 2010, surpassing the once-dominant Mono population. In the Bay, California Gulls have negative effects on ground-nesting birds and are major predators of eggs and chicks of American Avocets, Black-necked Stilts, and Western Snowy Plovers. In December 2010, the former salt pond that hosted over 24,000 nesting gulls was breached for the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project, displacing the majority of the gulls at that colony. Biologists with San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory are researching the movements of displaced gulls by re-sighting banded birds and studying the impacts these displaced gulls are having on nesting waterbirds. Biologists with PRBO Conservation Science have been monitoring the Mono Lake gull population for almost 30 years. Join PRBO Conservation Science’s Kristie Nelson and San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory's Caitlin Robinson-Nilsen for this scientific tale of two colonies.
Friday 7:30pm–9:00pm
Mono Lake Committee theater & gallery
Bird vocalizations (optional field trip)
Tom Hahn
Are you an early, early riser? This brief, one-hour field trip will focus on listening to birds. Many kinds of birds live as much in an auditory world as they do in a visual one. Meet in front of the Lee Vining Community Center for an optional early hour-long walk listening to the dawn chorus. This is a free, optional, prelude to the 6:00am Bird vocalizations field trip; no registration necessary.
Saturday 5:00am–6:00am
Lee Vining Community Center
Bird vocalizations (field trip)
Tom Hahn
This field trip is the "hands-on" companion to the Bird vocalizations workshop on Friday. The goal is to take what we learned in the Friday afternoon workshop out into the field to attempt to apply it in practice. We'll specifically search for some of the species with extremely different vocalizations that live side-by-side so we can listen to and compare them as they sing at the same time (we hope!), such as Sage Sparrow/Sage Thrasher/Brewer's Sparrow, and Vesper Sparrow/Savannah Sparrow. Likewise, we'll seek out singing individuals of some species that sing challengingly similar songs, such as Green-tailed Towhee/Fox Sparrow, American Robin/Western Tanager/Black-headed Grosbeak, and Cassin's Finch/House Finch. This trip should help solidify the general principles discussed in the Friday workshop, and provide practical experience with field identification of Mono Basin and Eastern Sierra bird songs.
Saturday 6:00am–11:00am
Lee Vining Community Center
Cottonwoods to bristlecones (field trip)
Rich Stallcup
After an early departure, an 80-minute drive will get us to the lowlands of Westgard Pass near the north end of Big Pine on Highway 395. We will bird the remnant riparian habitat of the Owen's River floodplain, Tollhouse Spring, pinyon-juniper woodland, and have lunch at the Schulman Grove of bristlecone pines. In the afternoon we will explore elsewhere in the southern White Mountains, always watching for birds and other life forms.
Saturday 6:00am–5:00pm
Lee Vining Community Center
Rush Creek romp (field trip)
Chris McCreedy
We will begin in big sagebrush scrub habitat, then move to the Rush Creek narrows, a scenic cataract pinching the Rush Creek floodplain. We will look for sagebrush birds including Green-tailed Towhee, Sage Thrasher, Sage Sparrow, and Gray Flycatcher. The Rush Creek narrows signifies the confluence of Walker Creek and Rush Creek, and it marks a boundary between trembling aspen riparian of higher elevations, and mixed willow-cottonwood riparian of lower elevations. Riparian birds include Dusky Flycatcher, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Warbling Vireo, Black-headed Grosbeak, MacGillivray’s Warbler, and often, singing Willow Flycatchers. You will learn to identify Dusky, Gray, and if present, Willow Flycatchers. In addition, the narrows meadow is a frequent location for vagrant sightings. Time permitting, we will then journey to the Rush Creek delta, a prime shorebird haunt on Mono Lake.
Saturday 6:30am–1:30pm
Lee Vining Community Center
Bridgeport Reservoir surf and turf (field trip)
Ted Beedy & Keith Hansen
Join Ted Beedy for an exploration of wetlands and lake habitat of Bridgeport Reservoir. Bridgeport Reservoir sits within beautiful Bridgeport Valley between the Sierra Nevada and Sweetwater ranges. Waterfowl, grebes in courtship, terns, pelicans, and shorebirds grace the surface and shores of this popular fishing reservoir. A pair of Sandhill Cranes have recently been nesting at Bridgeport Reservoir and there is a chance of seeing or hearing these rare Mono County birds. This trip will include some birding by boat to get improved access to the abundant bird life on this reservoir.
Saturday 6:30am–11:30am
$20 additional program cost, maximum number: 14
Lee Vining Community Center
Photo walk with Bob Steele (field trip)
Bob Steele
Join professional bird photographer Bob Steele as we explore digital bird photography in the field. We'll look for easy-to-photograph subjects to allow for the primary focus to be on technique and fundamentals. Topics discussed and explained will include camera setup, equipment, exposure techniques, composition, flash use, digital field evaluation of images, and approaching subjects. Minimum equipment requirements for the workshop are: Digital SLR body; 300mm lens; teleconverters, tripod, and flash (if available). For more information about Bob Steele, and to preview some of his photography, check out his website.
Saturday 6:30am–11:00am
Lee Vining Community Center
Big day and more! Southern Basin transect (field trip)
David Wimpfheimer & Bob Power
The main theme of this program is to observe a wide variety of birds by visiting several habitats. However, there is also a secondary focus on taking the time to appreciate plants and other aspects of the area's rich natural history. The pace will be less frantic than other Big Day birding tours so there will be more time to focus on bird identification, by sight and sound, and behavior. The group will concentrate on the southern part of the Mono Basin; from conifer forest above the June Lake Loop to riparian woodland, to sagebrush steppe and the Highway 120 Jeffrey pine burn area near Mono Mills. We will be out all day so be sure to bring lunch, sunscreen, and plenty of water!
Saturday 7:00am–4:30pm
Lee Vining Community Center
Birding the aspens for sapsuckers and more (field trip)
Steve Shunk
The aspen-lined canyons of the Mono Basin offer some of the most exciting and productive summer birding in California. Join Oregon naturalist and North American woodpecker specialist Steve Shunk as he explores the riparian richness of the region. Expect a thorough primer on the natural history of aspen woodlands and especially their nesting woodpeckers. In addition to studying woodpecker behavior, we will also search for a host of nesting songbirds, including Mountain Bluebird, MacGillivray's Warbler, Western Tanager, Bullock's Oriole, and Black-headed Grosbeak, as well as many birds of the adjacent mixed-conifer forest.
Saturday 7:00am–11:00am
Lee Vining Community Center
Burger's Retreat bird walk (field trip)
Susan Steele
We'll drive up and over a steep moraine out of Lee Vining Canyon on our way to a privately-owned secluded nature reserve only a short distance from the masses of visitors passing through Yosemite. We'll stroll through a rich variety of habitats including sagebrush, meadow, willow thickets, aspen groves, conifers and even outcroppings of rocks. Green-tailed Towhees, woodpeckers, warblers, flycatchers, and many others may make an appearance.
Saturday 7:00am–11:00am
Lee Vining Community Center
Lundy Canyon bird walk (field trip)
Peter Metropulos
Spend a morning enjoying birds and other forms of wildlife in one of the Mono Basin's most spectacular locations—Lundy Canyon. The mixture of aspen-cottonwood-willow riparian habitat with mature conifers provides prime habitat for a variety of Eastern Sierra birds. The awesome scenery, including displays of wildflowers, picturesque historical sites, beaver lodges, butterflies, and breathtaking rocky peaks should provide additional flavor to the outing. During one or two miles of walking we will make a special effort to locate nesting birds, as well as locating birds by song. This bird walk will be offered on both Saturday and Sunday mornings.
Saturday 7:00am–10:30am
Lee Vining Community Center
Jordan Creek bird walk (field trip)
Dave Shuford
Jordan Creek graces the slope of the southern lateral moraine of Virginia Creek, feeding the Mono Basin from the northwest. This "island" of aspen riparian habitat in a sea of Great Basin scrub supports riparian species such as Bullock's Oriole, MacGillivray’s Warbler, Yellow Warbler, and Lazuli Bunting, as well as dryland species such as Black-throated Sparrow, Rock Wren, and Fox Sparrow. In the upper elevations of Jordan Creek representatives from the Sierra montane forest such as Cassin's Finch, Western Tanager, Mountain White-crowned Sparrow, Mountain Bluebird, and Blue Grouse can be found. PRBO Conservation Science has documented the Jordan Basin as supporting one of the highest diversity of birds in the Eastern Sierra. This hike will mostly be off-trail with moderate to strenuous hiking and we are bound to see a number of species that aren't found in the lower elevations of the Mono Basin.
Saturday 7:30am–12:00noon
Lee Vining Community Center
Bohler Canyon potpourri (field trip)
Ali Sheehey
Join Ali on a moderate hike through the aspen-lined Bohler Creek area—a less-traveled canyon of the Mono Basin. While Ali will talk about anything (and everything) she sees along the way, birds are likely to be a part of the equation. The rest will depend on the spring thaw and current weather. Regardless, Ali’s natural history expertise will inform and entertain you!
Saturday 7:30am–12:30pm
Lee Vining Community Center
Birding mixed habitats (field trip)
John Sterling
Join John Sterling for an exploration of wetlands, meadows, cottonwoods, aspen groves, conifers and sagebrush habitat. We'll see wrens, warblers, waterbirds, woodpeckers, warbling vireos and many more in a progression of habitats ranging from the Mono Lake shoreline to Lundy Lake. The last portion of this trip may involve a short but moderately uphill hike at nearly 8,000 feet in elevation.
Saturday 7:30am–11:30am
Lee Vining Community Center
Birding Horse Meadow (field trip)
Karyn O'Hearn
Horse Meadow is perched up among moraines south of Lee Vining Canyon and is less traveled than other areas in the Mono Basin. This walk will explore Upper Horse Meadow and environs, including the mix of meadow, sagebrush, aspen, and conifer forest habitats, which usually provides a wide range of bird sightings. The area also provides a gorgeous, bird's-eye view of Mono Lake.
Saturday 7:30am–11:30am
Lee Vining Community Center
Lee Vining Canyon bird walk (field trip)
Sarah Stock
Lee Vining Canyon is one of the Eastern Sierra's premier birding locations. It offers a variety of habitats and breathtaking views. Of particular interest is the habitat progression as Lee Vining Creek drains from the high alpine mountains of Yosemite and Tioga Pass down through the canyon and out into the arid, sage-scrub surrounding Mono Lake. American Dippers, Townsend's Solitaires, Warbling Vireos, Yellow Warblers, and nuthatches are among the many species that we may see on this trip.
Saturday 7:30am–11:30am
Lee Vining Community Center
A birder's take on bugs (field trip)
Erik Westerlund
Most birds eat bugs—they have evolved strategies and adaptations for capturing insects, while insects have evolved ways to protect themselves from birds. This field trip will explore a wide array of habitats in search of bugs and birds while giving participants the foundations for identifying the major orders of insects. Join ranger-naturalist Erik Westerlund and explore the microcosmic world of bugs through a bird(er)'s eye. Open to kids of all ages.
Saturday 8:00am–12:00noon
Lee Vining Community Center
June Lake Loop and more bird walk (field trip)
Mike Prather
Join Mike Prather on this birding tour of the scenic June Lake Loop. The route covers a variety of habitats and therefore, we should see a variety of birds. Reservoirs such as Grant Lake may hold lingering loons or mergansers. Mountain conifers and aspen riparian are home to many species—Mountain Chickadees, Olive-sided Flycatchers, Western Tanagers, and many more. This year Mike will also explore the June Lake burn area near the loop which will undoubtedly yield woodpecker species.
Saturday 8:00am–1:00pm
Lee Vining Community Center
Convict Lake: Birds and botany, rocks and remnants (field trip)
Cathy Rose
Mile-long Convict Lake, located at 7600' about 40 miles south of Lee Vining, lies in a glacial basin under Laurel Mountain and Mount Morrison, two towering metamorphic peaks. A trail encircles the lake, and the easy walk-around is a scenic place to see birds (nesting Green-tailed Towhees and Brewer's Sparrows sing from the sagebrush), plants (including Aspens and Cottonwoods with warblers), and perhaps a trilobite fossil in the Ordovician rocks. Convict Creek, which can be viewed safely from a boardwalk, roars into the west end of the lake. Wear sturdy shoes, and bring your camera and a snack.
Saturday 8:00am–12:30pm
Lee Vining Community Center
Tarns and kettles (field trip)
Karen Amstutz
Come spend the morning at the crest of the Sierra. At nearly 10,000 feet above sea level, we will find ourselves immersed in the beauty of the alpine edge and the edge of Yosemite National Park. Among glacial tarns and kettles, lodgepole and whitebark pines, peaks and meadows we will meander in search of nesting Mountain Bluebirds, Spotted Sandpipers, Cassins Finches, and many more. Tioga Pass is a thoroughfare for birds and we could easily be surprised by a rare sighting as we explore seeking birds and other wildlife in this rich variety of habitats. Bring hat, sunscreen, warm layers, water, and snacks.
Saturday 8:00am–12:00noon
Lee Vining Community Center
Skimmers, darners, and saddlebags (field trip)
Zach Smith & Will Richardson
Pray for sunny skies on this morning Odonate (dragonflies and damselflies)-seeking trip. The freshwater Dechambeau Ponds are a bit of a wildlife oasis on the north side of Mono Lake that attracts several dragonfly species. We can hope to see bluets, dancers, darners, skimmers, meadowhawks, saddlebags, dashers, and pondhawks. We will focus on observing these bugs through binoculars, but will likely net some of the more common species for up-close inspection. There will also likely be opportunities to photograph these predatory insects. We may be doing some bushwhacking so wear appropriate pants and shoes. Bring a net and a field guide if you have one. Leaders will have a net. All bugs will be released.
Saturday 9:00am–12:30pm
Lee Vining Community Center
Nature awareness: Expanding our senses (workshop/field trip)
Peter Bergen
Moving like the bobcat through the cottonwoods, listening for bird alarms, witnessing the secret life of another creature that seems unaware of your presence ... all are possibilities as we focus on enhancing our sensory awareness through activities in fun and mischievous ways. Plan on being in close contact with the natural world. You may come back a little dusty and damp with a smile on your face. Bring plenty of water and a bandanna. Open to kids of all ages.
Saturday 9:00am–12:00noon
Lee Vining Community Center
Sketching what you see (workshop)
Sarah Rabkin
Do you yearn to capture nature's details in vibrant images? Science illustration techniques take years to master, but the essential quality that makes this art so compelling—a capacity for enthusiastic attentiveness—is already yours. This workshop introduces simple tools for creating your own alluring visual record of a day afield. Beginners are most welcome. Bring a notebook, pen, pencil, and a portable field stool, chair, or pad.
Saturday 1:30pm–5:00pm
Lee Vining Community Center
Introduction to image editing (workshop)
Bob Steele
Join professional bird photographer Bob Steele as we explore digital photo editing in Photoshop and Photoshop Elements. Topics discussed and demonstrated will include: image storage and backup strategies, converting RAW images using Adobe Camera RAW (PS and PSE plug-in), basic image editing for JPEG and TIFF images, sizing and sharpening images for different outputs—email, internet, printing—and a group discussion with questions and answers. For more information about Bob Steele, and to preview some of his photography, check out his website.
Saturday 1:30pm–5:00pm
Mono Lake Committee theater & gallery
What’s the Mono Lake Committee up to? (field trip/presentation)
Geoff McQuilkin
Join Mono Lake Committee Executive Director Geoff McQuilkin for a taste of the many exciting programs that keep the Committee staff busy all year round. From the protection of Mono Lake, restoration of Rush and Lee Vining creeks, and support of sound science to the many incarnations of educational opportunities for students, members, and visitors of all sorts, the Committee makes it easy for you to engage with Mono Lake. Bring your questions and prepare to know more about the Mono Lake Committee than all your friends!
Saturday 1:30pm–2:30pm
meet in front of the Mono Lake Committee Information Center & Bookstore
Birding Lower Parker Canyon (field trip)
Santiago Escruceria
Join Santiago Escruceria on this leisurely, level birdwalk through Lower Parker Canyon. We will explore riparian and meadow habitats in a quiet region of the Mono Basin. We may encounter a good variety of birds from Red-breasted Sapsuckers to Mountain Bluebirds and warblers to Long-eared Owls (no promises). Be prepared to walk a couple of flat, mosly shaded miles and enjoy spectacular views of the Sierra crest and Mono Lake.
Saturday 2:00pm–5:30pm
Lee Vining Community Center
Restoring aspen habitat for birds in the Sierra Nevada (field trip)
Ryan Burnett & Stella Moss
Join PRBO Sierra Nevada Director Ryan Burnett and Eastern Sierra Program Leader Stella Moss on this tour to discuss the restoration and conservation of aspen habitat and its associated avifauna in the Sierra Nevada. We will tour aspen stands along Virginia Creek that are being restored by the Bureau of Land Management. This tour is intended to provide a more in-depth discussion of birds as indicators to guide land management and the unique ecology of aspen habitat that makes it so important to Sierra Nevada birds. We will stop at several aspen stands along the creek and discuss PRBO's results from monitoring aspen restoration treatments and of course we will also be on the lookout for all of the aspen-associated bird species and discuss their ecology and conservation.
Saturday 2:00pm–4:30pm
Lee Vining Community Center
Fields' guide to ospreys (field trip)
Lisa Fields
We will begin with a talk about Osprey life history and what makes the Mono Lake population so unique. This will be followed by viewing active Osprey nests in the South Tufa area. If we are lucky the chicks will be large enough to offer us a glimpse. Although we won't be doing much walking we will be in exposed areas so please bring a hat, water, and sunscreen. Open to kids of all ages.
Saturday 2:30pm–5:30pm
Lee Vining Community Center
Bird Words (workshop)
Michael Ross
Bird calls and songs, the distinctive vocabulary of bird watchers, and the fascinating behavior of our feathered friends are all motivations to writers. Join children's book author Michael Ross for a journey into the world of birds where observation will lead to inspiration to play with words and create your own unique writing. Great for families and anyone young at heart. Great for young and bright-eyed humans!
Saturday 2:30pm–5:30pm
Lee Vining Community Center
Owens Lake is wet and wild again (presentation)
Mike Prather & Pete Pumphrey
Water diversions to the City of Los Angeles turned the home of thousands of birds into a desiccated playa, which became the largest single source of small particle air pollutants in the United States. As part of the process of controlling dust, the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power began to apply water to the lakebed in 2001. When the water returned, so did the birds, in such numbers that the Owens Lake has been designated an Audubon Important Bird Area and is now a resource of hemispheric significance. It hosts over 200 species; 17 of special concern, and the largest inland population of nesting Snowy Plovers in California. As many as 62,000 birds have been seen in Big Day counts. Over the past year, more than 35 stakeholder groups have been working to develop a master plan in which one of the objectives is to preserve and enhance this amazing bird habitat. Mike Prather and Pete Pumphrey of the Eastern Sierra Audubon Society present the story of this planning effort and Owens Lake's past resurrection and future.
Saturday 2:30pm–3:30pm
Scenic Area Visitor Center auditorium
Survivor! A story of adaptations (workshop)
Burleigh Lockwood
Burleigh could speak on the subject of dirt and have an audience riveted for hours. She's back this year with a new presentation about the desert. What is a "desert" and what are the characteristics of the Eastern Sierra, Great Basin, and the Mojave, the three desert environments that meet in eastern California? Could you survive if you couldn’t move to water and shade? Plants can! What kind of plants and animals live in this uniquely diverse desert area. What adaptations are necessary for them to survive in a desert? Allow Burleigh to educate and entertain you in her usual style. Open to kids of all ages.
Saturday 4:30pm–6:00pm
Scenic Area Visitor Center conference room
Critter caper trap setting (field trip)
John Harris
This is an optional field trip that does not count toward your registration fee/limit, but registration is required. We will go out and look for signs of mammals and places to set live traps in preparation for the next day's field trip. We will investigate the lives of a number of small mammals, including Panamint kangaroo rats, Great Basin pocket mouse, and sagebrush chipmunk. We'll also keep our eyes and ears out for some of the east side bird specialties including Sage Sparrows, Sage Thrashers, and Juniper Titmouse, and Gray Flycatcher. Open to kids of all ages.
Saturday 5:00pm–6:30pm
Lee Vining Community Center
Astrobiology in the field (evening presentation)
Pamela Conrad
We will talk about how one prepares for field work on another planet by practicing in analogous environments on the Earth, including at Mono Lake. As an example, we will address the problem of how to study the habitability of an environment when you have no idea what kind of life might be there to exploit it. This will all be related to the upcoming launch of the Mars Science Laboratory to Mars in late November of this year.
Saturday 7:30pm–9:00pm
Scenic Area Visitor Center auditorium
Photographing Mono Basin bird life (evening presentation)
Marie Read
Join acclaimed wildlife photographer Marie Read on her quest to photograph the beautiful birds of the Mono Lake Basin. In addition to seeing some spectacular photos of birds—both dazzling close-ups and stunning action shots—you’ll learn plenty of ways to improve your own bird photography. You can get a sneak preview at Marie’s website.
Saturday 7:30pm–8:30pm
Mono Lake Committee theater & gallery
Enchanted evening: Stories and stars on the lakeshore (evening presentation)
Karen Amstutz & Lisa Murphy
In the days before internet, TV, and radio, there were more Chautauquas, campfires, and storytelling. We bring them all together under the splendor of a dark Mono Basin sky where stories and stars come alive. Yosemite National Park Service ranger Karen Amstutz will share amazing facts, strange fiction, and personal observations about the bird of her heart. Yosemite National Park Service ranger Lisa Murphy will lead us across the night sky for an evening of astronomical wonder. This program is for humans of all ages!
Saturday 8:00pm–9:30pm
meet at the South Tufa area
From Lee Vining, drive approximately 5 miles south on Highway 395. Turn left on Highway 120 East and travel another 5 miles to the South Tufa/Navy Beach turn-off. Turn left following the signs to the left toward the South Tufa parking lot.
Night moves: Nature after dark (field trip)
Burleigh Lockwood
After a short drive to an old ranch, we will make our way to the barn area, checking the trees for resident birds settling in and waking up for the coming night. In the barn area, we will settle down to watch a spectacular aerial show as the bats begin to emerge. We will listen to their echolocation calls by using a "bat detector" and maybe get some good pictures (flash will not bother them). Dress warmly and bring a flashlight and a low chair or blanket. Not recommended for very small children.
Saturday 8:00pm–10:00pm
meet in front of the Scenic Area Visitor Center
Learning the songs and calls of Sierra Nevada birds (field trip/workshop)
Ryan Burnett
Join PRBO Conservation Science's Sierra Nevada Director Ryan Burnett for an early morning birding-by-ear workshop. Ryan will introduce participants to identifying Sierra birds by their songs and calls (and you might even get to look at a few too). Participants will be introduced to the great diversity of birds and their vast repertoire of songs and calls in Lee Vining Canyon's aspen groves, sagebrush fields, meadows, and lush riparian corridors. All levels of experience are welcome. While we will focus on song recognition including pneumonics and other tricks for learning vocalizations, we will undoubtedly cover natural history and conservation of many of the species we encounter.
Sunday 6:30am–9:30am
Lee Vining Community Center
Bridgeport Reservoir surf and turf (field trip)
Ted Beedy & Keith Hansen
Join Ted Beedy for an exploration of wetlands and lake habitat of Bridgeport Reservoir. Bridgeport Reservoir sits within beautiful Bridgeport Valley between the Sierra Nevada and Sweetwater ranges. Waterfowl, grebes in courtship, terns, pelicans, and shorebirds grace the surface and shores of this popular fishing reservoir. A pair of Sandhill Cranes have recently been nesting at Bridgeport Reservoir and there is a chance of seeing or hearing these rare Mono County birds. This trip will include some birding by boat to get improved access to the abundant bird life on this reservoir.
Sunday 6:30am–11:30am
$20 additional program cost, maximum number: 14
Lee Vining Community Center
Birding the shore of Bridgeport Reservoir (field trip)
Rich Stallcup
This short overview of the birds of Bridgeport Reservoir should reveal a diverse species list and, perhaps thousands of birds. We will scope from two turnouts along the reservoir's south side then bird the east boat launch (where there are bathrooms). Of course we will admire any non-avian native creatures that walk, fly, slither, or scurry by. This trip involves a half-hour drive each way between Lee Vining and Bridgeport.
Sunday 7:00am–11:30am
Lee Vining Community Center
Birds and burns(field trip)
Steve Shunk
More than 100 years of fire suppression in western forests have left tinderboxes of unburned fuel and upset the forest's ecological balance. On this trip we will explore both recently burned and unburned patches of the world's largest Jeffrey pine forest on the southern edge of the Mono Basin. Wandering through the blackened columns left by a lightning-caused fire, we'll discover a rarely enjoyed new world of wildflowers, resprouting shrubs, and once-proud pines fast becoming homes for Black-backed and Hairy Woodpeckers and other cavity-nesters. Join North American woodpecker specialist Steve Shunk for an interpretation of western forest ecology and the keystone roles of the forests' woodpeckers. Expect a moderate meander of approximately four miles through one of the Eastern Sierra's most under-appreciated ecosystems.
Sunday 7:00am–11:30am
Lee Vining Community Center
Mono dunes critter caper (field trip)
John Harris
Join John for a morning of checking live-traps and track plots to discover Mono's desert mammal fauna. We will be trapping in the dunes on the northeast side of the lake; an environment that also supports Utah Juniper woodlands. We should see a number of the small mammals that characterize the Great Basin, including the Dark kangaroo mouse, Ord's and Panamint kangaroo rats, Great Basin pocket mouse, and sagebrush chipmunk. We'll also keep our eyes and ears open for some of the east-side bird specialties of the area including Sage Sparrow, Sage Thrasher, Juniper Titmouse, and Gray Flycatcher. John's field trip received rave reviews last year! Open to kids of all ages.
Sunday 7:00am–11:00am
Lee Vining Community Center
Birding Burger’s Retreat (field trip)
Dave Shuford
We'll drive up and over a steep moraine out of Lee Vining Canyon on our way to a privately-owned secluded nature reserve only a short distance from the masses of visitors passing through Yosemite. We'll stroll through a rich variety of habitats including sagebrush, meadow, willow thickets, aspen groves, conifers and even outcroppings of rocks. Green-tailed Towhees, woodpeckers, warblers, flycatchers, and many others may make an appearance.
Sunday 7:00am–11:00am
Lee Vining Community Center
Lundy Canyon bird walk (field trip)
Peter Metropulos
Spend a morning enjoying birds and other forms of wildlife in one of the Mono Basin's most spectacular locations—Lundy Canyon. The mixture of aspen-cottonwood-willow riparian habitat with mature conifers provides prime habitat for a variety of Eastern Sierra birds. The awesome scenery, including displays of wildflowers, picturesque historical sites, beaver lodges, butterflies, and breathtaking rocky peaks should provide additional flavor to the outing. During one or two miles of walking we will make a special effort to locate nesting birds, as well as locating birds by song.
Sunday 7:00am–10:30am
Lee Vining Community Center
Behavior, physiology and natural history of High Sierra birds (field trip)
Tom Hahn
This trip up into the Tioga Pass vicinity will be a great opportunity to see, hear, and otherwise get to know many of the birds of the Sierra Crest. We'll talk about the various research on physiology and behavior of high-elevation birds that has been done over the past 40 years around Tioga Pass, with particular emphasis on how small songbirds cope with challenging mountain weather, and how they orchestrate their annual schedules of breeding, plumage molt, and migration in this capricious environment. We'll make a particular effort to find, observe and talk about the natural history of mountain white-crowned sparrows, gray-crowned rosy-finches, Cassin's finches, rock wrens, pine siskins, and red crossbills, all of which have been studied in the area (some since 1968!). We will of course check out any and all other birds encountered. We are very likely to stray extensively from road shoulders and trails on this field trip, including trekking across snow in search of foraging rosy-finches at the base of the slopes east of Tioga Lake.
Sunday 7:30am–11:30am
Lee Vining Community Center
Exploring the Mono Basin (field trip)
Greg Stock
Join Yosemite National Park geologist Greg Stock for a combination driving/hiking tour of the stunning geology of the Mono Basin. From volcanic craters to glacial moraines, massive mountains to tufa towers, the Eastern Sierra holds some of the most spectacular and accessible geology anywhere in the world. This field trip will present, in understandable fashion, the geologic stories behind such scenic wonders as Mono Lake, the Mono Craters, Lee Vining Canyon, and Tioga Pass. If you've ever wanted to know more about what formed the diverse landscapes of the Mono Basin, this trip is for you.
Sunday 7:30am–11:30am
Lee Vining Community Center
Lee Vining Canyon bird walk (field trip)
Susan Steele
Lee Vining Canyon is one of the Eastern Sierra's premier birding locations. It offers a variety of habitats and breathtaking views. Of particular interest is the habitat progression as Lee Vining Creek drains from the high alpine mountains of Yosemite and Tioga Pass down through the canyon and out into the arid, sage-scrub surrounding Mono Lake. American Dippers, Townsend's Solitaires, Warbling Vireos, Yellow Warblers, woodpeckers, and nuthatches are among the many species that we may see on this trip.
Sunday 7:30am–11:30am
Lee Vining Community Center
Exploring Rattlesnake Gulch (field trip)
David Wimpfheimer & Bob Power
This unique area, the oldest known gold mining site in the Eastern Sierra, is a quiet, dramatic place unlike any other location in the Mono Basin. A riparian habitat of willow and aspen holds typical breeding species such as Calliope Hummingbird, MacGillivray's Warbler, and Green-tailed Towhee. Adjacent sage and bitterbrush habitat offer a different group of birds. Rocky expanses and unlimited vistas provide good raptor watching. This is a fun and scenic area with lots of great boulders and old cabins that will not only interest birders, but photographers as well.
Sunday 7:30am–11:00am
Lee Vining Community Center
Butterfly ramble (field trip)
Ali Sheehey
Sleep in like the butterflies do before taking off on this leisurely journey into butterflying around the Mono Basin. This walk will focus on viewing, identifying, and photographing—but not capturing—these beautiful creatures. Join Ali in exploring flight patterns and flower, plant, and tree relationships while enjoying the magic of the butterfly. Bring your binoculars and a butterfly book if you have one. Open to kids of all ages.
Sunday 8:00am–11:30am
Lee Vining Community Center
Fields' guide to Ospreys (field trip)
Lisa Fields
We will begin with a talk about Osprey life history and what makes the Mono Lake population so unique. This will be followed by viewing active Osprey nests in the South Tufa area. If we are lucky the chicks will be large enough to offer us a glimpse. Although we won't be doing much walking we will be in exposed areas so please bring a hat, water, and sunscreen. Open to kids of all ages.
Sunday 8:30am–11:30am
Lee Vining Community Center
Digiscoping 101 (workshop)
Bruce Webb
The marriage of a spotting scope and a digital camera to document wildlife sightings is fun and challenging. In this class, Bruce Webb, a field technician for Swarovski Optik, will spend time indoors to help you make some preliminary camera settings. Then, we will step outside and get started on capturing some great bird photos. Topics include: choosing the best camera mounting options, shooting tips, techniques in the field, and using various cameras behind the scope eyepiece. Participants are encouraged to bring their spotting scopes and digital still cameras. We will have a few extra scopes and cameras.
Sunday 9:00 am–11:30 am
Scenic Area Visitor Center conference room
Birding for little fledglings (field trip)
Michael Ross
What do birds eat? What are feathers for? Do birds talk? Explore the world of birds with all the senses. Using kids' books for inspiration we'll leap and crawl into investigations of the lives of avian inhabitants of meadows and forests. This is ideal for little ones (ages 4–8) and their adult traveling companions. Open to kids of all ages.
Sunday 9:00am–11:30am
Lee Vining Community Center
Picnic and music at Mono Lake County Park
(and the bird calling contest)
Join us Sunday afternoon for a picnic in the park complete with live music. This is a perfect way to kick off your summer by enjoying lunch, relaxing in the green shady glow of County Park, and immersing yourself in music. Feel free to bring your own lunch or consider purchasing lunch at County Park. We'll even continue our traditional bird calling contest. So come enjoy good food and live music with new and old friends as we recap the weekend's bird sightings or steal away down the boardwalk for a last-minute glimpse at the birds before ending our birding weekend. This is a great way to end the Chautauqua! A great event for family pods and humans of all ages!
2011's musical guest: Keith Greeninger and Dayan Kai.
Keith Greeninger is a seasoned troubadour, award-winning songwriter, and unforgettable performer. As a solo artist, and with his band, he has toured the national Folk and Americana circuit extensively for the last decade and a half. His masterfully-crafted songs and warm distinctive vocals have earned him the top songwriting awards at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, the Kerrville Folk Festival, and the Napa Valley Folk Festival.
Dayan Kai is a true musical force of nature. Born without sight, he began playing classical piano at the age of two and has since gone on to play a diverse array of musical instruments. With a harmony voice most angels would trade their wings for, Kai moves fluidly between strings, keys, winds and skins creating a rich musical backdrop for Greeninger's expansive songwriting.
Together these two artists create a rich and soulful sound that has moved audiences all over the country and has made them a favorite at venues and festivals throughout the US and Canada.
Sunday beginning at 12:00noon
Mono Lake County Park
To get to County Park from Lee Vining, head north on Highway 395 approximately 5 miles and turn right on Cemetery Road. Go down the hill and look for parking directions. Carpooling from Lee Vining is highly recommended.
Other things to do during Chautauqua week
Birding at Mono Lake County Park & Tufa State Natural Reserve Boardwalk
Wrens, warblers, woodpeckers, and waterbirds can be seen in this rich
variety of habitats. We'll make our way from the sagebrush through the old
cottonwoods, around the willow thickets, and down the boardwalk to the shoreline
of Mono Lake. Led by a Mono Lake Committee naturalist. Open to kids of all ages.
A note about programs, limits, kids, etc.
Presentations range between 25 and 100 people, depending on the venue. Workshop attendance can vary between 15–25 people. Field trips are typically limited to 15 registered participants to each leader, except where otherwise noted. We reserve the right to adjust trip size in order to not split up couples, or to allow volunteers and trip leaders a chance to attend trips. We consult with field trip leaders, and we are strict about registration limits.
Special events, the dinner, and the picnic do not count toward your Chautauqua registration limit, but you may still have to register for them. Check the program information carefully. Special events are not listed on the master schedule, and you don't have to register for them, so make a separate note of them if you're interested.
Many programs are great for kids because of the dynamic subject, location, or leader. When we say kids, we mean kids of all ages, so you will find a lot of adults in these programs as well. Kid-appropriate programs are noted with "Open to kids of all ages" text.
For more information about Chautauqua etiquette, transportation, what to bring, etc, see Chautauqua Skinny.