Sunrise light on a grove of tufa towers emerging from the water of Mono Lake with soft green and dusty-red wild grasses in the foreground, Canada geese in the shallow water with reflections of the rocky towers, and desert hills in the distance.

A new generation speaks for Mono Lake

This post was written by Erv Nichols, Birding Intern in 2014, 2015, & 2016.

As Birding Interns, my partner Sandra and I are the leaders of all things birding here at the Mono Lake Committee, at least for the summer. And while it is true most people imagine bird watchers, (or birders, as we prefer to be called) as rather strange looking older folks with floppy hats and expensive binoculars around their necks staring into the tree tops, this is not always the case.

A male Lazuli Bunting in a photo that Tazlinda took through the spotting scope with her smartphone!

Our Friday morning bird walks at Mono Lake County Park usually include folks with a wide range of ages. But I must admit, most are closer to than farther from retirement age.

With that said, it’s always a pleasure to have young people along for what may be their first outing to observe the wonderful varieties of bird life we encounter. We can only hope that there may be a future ornithologist, biologist, or ranger in the making. Such was the case when we started out after introductions under a cloudy sky last Friday morning.

Paul and his wife Claire, along with their beautiful and beautifully named daughters, Tazlina, Marinda, and Violeta, had heard about the bird walk at the Mono Basin National Forest Scenic Area Visitor Center and decided to join us. Paul said they like to spend one week of their vacation in one spot, “because you get a chance to see a few of the finer things outside of the standard touristy stuff.” Which I like to think includes us.

All the girls showed an interest in the birds we encountered and took their turns watching them with binoculars and through the scope. Violeta, the youngest and smallest of the three in her bright orange dress—not necessarily the best color for sneaking up on birds but fitting to her personality—could never quite stretch up to the scope eyepiece but with mom and dad’s help was lifted and got to see all the birds. One rather uncommon visitor that morning was a Lazuli Bunting, a gorgeous bright blue robin-sized bird which is usually quite elusive. This time however, the male was being very cooperative in posing on an open branch for five minutes or so, allowing everyone a good look.

After adjusting the scope to the lowest position when everyone but Violeta had a look, she was lifted up. After a full minute or so of just looking, she turned to me and said “That is soooo beautiful!” Needless to say—it made my day. I feel a seed has been planted and with the encouragement of her parents, which I am sure she will get, a new voice for the future of nature and wildlife had spoken.

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