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.

Not your ordinary bird festival

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.

The Mono Basin Bird Chautauqua combines great birding field trips with an eclectic mix of workshops, presentations, art, and music. Mark your calendars for the last weekend of spring in Lee Vining, California. The Ninth Annual Mono Basin Bird Chautauqua returns June 18-20, 2010, and Web registration begins April 15th. Where else can you see a Wilson’s Phalarope, a Rosy Finch, a Black-backed Woodpecker, a Mountain Quail, and a Sage Thrasher all in one day? Over 350 species of birds have been recorded in the Mono Basin. And birds are not the bees’ knees! The Chautauqua also has live music, art, photography, geology, a bird-calling contest, kayaking, some great food, and did we mention the scenery? The Chautauqua is geared for kids of all ages, and for more information check out the Bird Chautauqua web page.