Spend a morning enjoying birds and other 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. We will make a special effort to locate species of breeding birds as well as to locate birds by song. Bring snacks, water, and sunscreen.
Date: Friday, June 19
Time: 1:30pm-5:00pm
Instructor: David Wimpfheimer
Meeting location: CCF A
Difficulty rating: moderate
Driving distance: 25 miles
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 into the arid sagebrush scrub surrounding Mono Lake. American Dipper, Townsend’s Solitaire, Warbling Vireo, Yellow Warbler, and nuthatches are among the many species that we may see. Bring snacks, water, and sunscreen.
Date: Friday, June 19
Time: 1:30pm-5:00pm
Instructor: Susan Steele
Meeting location: CCF B
Difficulty rating: moderate
Driving distance: 20 miles
Whether you’re an avid birder or just starting out, nature journaling is a powerful tool to deepen your observations, sharpen your bird identification skills, and connect more intimately with the natural world. In this interactive session, we’ll explore techniques for sketching, note-taking, and recording field observations that will enhance both your birding experience and your appreciation for Mono Basin’s diverse wildlife. No prior art or writing experience is necessary—just bring your curiosity! We’ll provide guidance on simple drawing techniques, field notes, and how to capture bird behaviors and habitats in your journal. Come ready to observe, sketch, and discover the beauty of birds through journaling. Bring a portable camp chair or stool, favorite notebook and sketching supplies, or use materials provided. Our journaling location will be selected based on where conditions are best, but will be within a 10 mile drive of Lee Vining and may require a short walk to reach (less than a quarter of a mile).
Date: Friday, June 19
Time: 1:30pm-4:30pm
Instructor: Michelle Kelly
Meeting location: CCF C
Difficulty rating: easy
Driving distance: 20 miles
Join Geoff for a tour of the Mono Basin with discussions focusing on hot policy and management topics as well as current water conditions and what they mean for Mono Lake and the tributary streams. Stops will include Mono Lake’s tributary streams to discuss restoration streamflows, Los Angeles Aqueduct infrastructure, and Mono Lake to discuss lake level rise. Geoff will describe the Committee’s role in forecasting and advocating for the changes we’re seeing and will explain the work ahead to continue to safeguard the Mono Basin. Bring snacks, water, and sunscreen.
Date: Friday, June 19
Time: 1:30pm-4:30pm
Instructor: Geoff McQuilkin
Meeting location: CCF D
Difficulty rating: moderate
Driving distance: 40 miles
Spend the afternoon meandering along a lower elevation portion of Lee Vining Canyon. There will be a chance to see American Dippers, which have nested here in past years, as well as other water-loving species such as diving birds, swallows, and riparian songbirds. There is also ample mixed sagebrush and aspen habitat that runs adjacent to Lee Vining Creek, which may unveil an interesting mix of birds that love dryer and wetter areas in close proximity to each other. Gaze upward onto the mountains of Tioga Pass and you may also find interesting raptors and corvids. Expect to hear the lovely sounds of a flowing creek and ample birdsong. Bring snacks, water, and sunscreen.
Date: Friday, June 19
Time: 2:00pm-4:30pm
Instructor: Sarah Hockensmith
Meeting location: CCF A
Difficulty rating: easy
Driving distance: 5 miles
California is one of the last states in the country without a comprehensive breeding bird atlas, but that is about to change! Join Eastern Sierra Bird Alliance Vice President, Katie Smith, for an introduction to the new California Bird Atlas project, an ambitious statewide effort to map when and where California birds breed. Learn why this project is so important for understanding local birds and habitats, our efforts in the Eastern Sierra region, and how you can get involved.
Date: Friday, June 19
Time: 3:00pm-4:00pm
Presenter: Katie Smith
Presentation location: Mono Lake Committee
*This presentation does not count towards your registration limit
Join Burleigh 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.
Date: Friday, June 19
Time: 3:30pm-5:00pm
Presenter: Burleigh Lockwood
Presentation location: Visitor Center auditorium
*This presentation does not count towards your registration limit
Late June brings some of the longest and most active birding days of the year in the Mono Basin. Get ready 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 shorebirds, waterfowl, nighthawks, poorwills, and Winnowing Snipe. We will also search for owls once night falls. Bring layered clothing for cooler weather after the sun sets.
Date: Friday, June 19
Time: 7:30pm-9:30pm
Instructor: Katie Smith
Meeting location: CCF A
Difficulty rating: easy
Driving distance: 30 miles
Late June brings some of the longest and most active birding days of the year in the Mono Basin. Get ready 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 shorebirds, waterfowl, nighthawks, poorwills, and Winnowing Snipe. We will also search for owls once night falls. Bring layered clothing for cooler weather after the sun sets.
Date: Friday, June 19
Time: 7:30pm-9:30pm
Instructor: Jon Dunn
Meeting location: CCF B
Difficulty rating: easy
Driving distance: 25 miles
Pinyon Jays have lost 85% of their population in the last 50 years for unclear reasons and are currently under review for protection under the Federal Endangered Species Act. In this presentation, Ned will talk about Great Basin Bird Observatory’s community science project to gather data linking Pinyon Jay behavior with specific habitat types, to help better understand their population decline. The project, which Ned and Kayla coordinate, allows anyone to volunteer and submit data to help researchers and land managers better understand the dynamics of Pinyon Jay ecology and potential drivers of population declines. Ned and Kayla leading a separate, accompanying field trip the following day for those who wish to dive deeper into learning about this project.
Date: Friday, June 19
Time: 7:30pm-9:00pm
Presenters: Ned Bohman & Kayla Henry
Presentation location: Mono Lake Committee
*This presentation does not count towards your registration limit
Join this field trip for an evening bat walk in Lee Vining Canyon. While waiting for darkness to fall, Burleigh will beguile us with a captivating introduction into the biological and behavioral world of bats. We will then head out to Lee Vining Canyon to “see” the bats using Sonobat Live acoustical monitoring equipment. This will allow us to identify each bat by species through an almost instantaneous analysis of their ultrasonic echolocation calls as they fly over. Bring warm layers.
Date: Friday, June 19
Time: 7:30pm-10:00pm
Instructors: Burleigh Lockwood & Lisa Murphy
Meeting location: Community Center
Difficulty rating: easy
Driving distance: 10 miles
Join Doc Nancy for an evening under the stars at South Tufa. Science, myths, and stories will bring the Night Sky down to you. Come early, dress warmly, and perhaps bring a small folding chair. Otherwise, a ground blanket is suggested.
Date: Friday, June 19
Time: 7:30pm-10:00pm
Instructor: Nancy Muleady-Mecham
Meeting location: CCF C
Difficulty rating: easy
Driving distance: 22 miles