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.

Official Chautauqua bird list

This post was written by Oliver James, 2011 Birding Intern.

The complete list of bird species seen during this year’s Mono Basin Bird Chautauqua is now available here.

Chautauqua participants scan for birds in the Bodie Hills. Photo by Elin Ljung.

Chautauqua-goers flocked to the Mono Basin in record numbers this year but not so for the birds. With a late, cold spring the total species tally for Chautauqua week was notably down (166 species compared to 184 seen in 2010). Some species that are usually reliably present were absent and overall numbers of common species were reduced.

But that did nothing to dampen the spirits of all in attendance—we had spectacular weather and field trips were rewarded with up-close views of many beautiful creatures. Some of the highlights include: multiple Common Loons, bighorn sheep, 12+ species of small mammals, 15+ species of dragonflies, and Mono County’s fifth record of a Heerman’s Gull seen from the end of the boardwalk at County Park during Sunday’s picnic!

We look forward to seeing everyone for next year’s Mono Basin Bird Chautauqua, June 15–17, 2011. Save the date!