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.

Annual Mono Lake island closure and Osprey closure in effect

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.

This post was written by Emma Oschrin, 2014 Project Specialist.

Everyone knows that Mono Lake is for the birds! And now is the time of year when that idea becomes a bit more literal. As of April 1st the Mono Lake island closure is in effect.

The island closure means that no one is allowed on or within one mile of the islands in Mono Lake. This closure is put into effect to protect the thousands of California Gulls that return to Mono Lake to nest on the islands year after year. The annual closure lifts on August 1st so until then, steer clear of the islands.

California Gulls nest on Mono Lake’s islands each year. Photo courtesy of Justin Hite.

Additionally, the Osprey closure went into effect on April 1st. This closure prevents anyone from coming within 200 yards of an active Osprey nest on both offshore or shoreline tufa towers. The Osprey closure lifts on September 1st.

An Osprey tending to its chicks in its tufa tower nest. Photo by Bartshe Miller.

When you make your way to Mono Lake for a summer visit, make sure to keep your eyes open for the hundreds of bird species we have in the basin! We can all help to ensure that they return to the Mono Basin each year by respecting their nests and giving them the space they need.