We invite you to join us online, from wherever you are, for the virtual Bird Chautauqua, coming up June 10-11, 2022. We’re offering three presentations each evening—take a look at the titles below, read more here, and sign up to join us. While the in-person Bird Chautauqua has completely filled, the virtual events have room for all.
June 10 programs
Birdability: Because birding is for everybody and every body! with Freya McGregor
Birding is an activity that can bring so much joy and empowerment to everybody, but not everybody is able to go birding easily. Through education, outreach and advocacy, Birdability works to ensure the birding community and the outdoors are welcoming, inclusive, safe and accessible for everybody.
4:00pm–5:00pm
Climate change & Mono birds: What, why, and real solutions with Juan Pablo Galván Martínez
Have you wondered how climate change might impact the Mono Basin region’s birds? Have you wondered why climate change has been such a difficult issue to make real progress on? Most importantly, do you want to learn real solutions that can actually solve, and avoid, climate catastrophe?
5:00pm–6:00pm
Spotties along the shore: Ecological variation and reproductive behavior of Spotted Sandpipers in the Mono Basin with Jessica Schaefer
Mono Lake and the surrounding streams provide vital habitat for waterbirds and shorebirds at different life stages. While species such as Wilson’s Phalaropes and Eared Grebes use the lake as a stopover on migration, other species like Spotted Sandpipers stay in the Mono Basin throughout the summer to breed.
6:00pm–6:45pm
June 11 programs
Bird sounds with Roy Poucher
Bird vocalization is nature’s language and bird songs are nature’s music. We can plug into the magic of this no matter how good we are at finding birds with our eyes. The focus of this presentation is to increase our birding enjoyment by improving our skills as auditory birders. Folks of all experience levels are welcome.
4:00pm–5:00pm
Greater sage-grouse reproductive strategies and conservation with Katie Smith
Greater sage-grouse are appreciated in the western United States for their beautiful plumage and extraordinary courtship displays. The relevance of sage-grouse in sagebrush ecosystems allows them to serve as an umbrella species and broaden the impact of conservation efforts.
5:00pm–5:45pm
Behavioral responses to climate change of chipmunks of the Sierra Nevada with Kwasi Wrensford
Using two of our local Eastern Sierra chipmunk species, Kwasi’s work seeks to understand how vulnerable mountain animal populations are responding to our changing climate, and what these responses may tell us about how our ecosystems may look in the future.
5:45pm–6:30pm
We’re excited to see you for birding in June, whether it’s virtually, in Lee Vining, or both!
Top photo by Andrew Youssef.