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.

Space still available in Mono Basin Bird Chautauqua programs

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.

As the thirteenth annual Mono Basin Bird Chautauqua approaches, everyone is getting very excited for the amazing program opportunities that are being offered. There are some great programs with space still available—you can sign up here to join in on the weekend!

The Mono Basin’s diverse habitats, from alpine meadows to sagebrush scrub, make for excellent birding. Photo by Arya Degenhardt.

Friday, June 20

  • Owens Lake: The good, the bad, & the ugly—Pete Pumphrey (President of Eastern Sierra Audubon) synthesizes five years of policy discussion into a one-hour presentation on the history, the birds, and the future management of the special avian habitat that is Owens Lake. (2:30pm–3:00pm at the Scenic Area Visitor Center auditorium)
  • Dancing birds in the sagebrush sea—Learn about the recently “threatened” Greater Sage-grouse from Sherri Lisius (wildlife biologist for the Bureau of Land Management), who will discuss the bird’s life cycle, current status, and future management. (7:30pm–8:30pm at the Scenic Area Visitor Center auditorium)
  • Enchanted evening—Join master storyteller Ane Carla Rovetta and Yosemite National Park ranger Lisa Murphy for an evening of natural history, legends, and star gazing. (8:00pm–9:30pm at South Tufa)

Saturday, June 21

  • Introduction to drawing birds—Artist, author, and educator John Muir Laws will show you tricks of the trade so that you too may quickly and accurately draw birds in the field. No previous drawing experience is required to master the one-minute gesture sketch. (9:00am–12:30pm at the Lee Vining Community Center)
  • Meeting on the high ridge—Join a panel of scientific naturalists, nature-immersed artists, and natural history interpreters for a consilient look at the Mono Basin and the beauty that surrounds it. (2:30pm–4:00pm at the Scenic Area Visitor Center auditorium)
  • Thinking like a naturalist—If you can’t make his drawing class, don’t miss John Muir Laws’ presentation on techniques for enhancing nature experiences. (4:30pm–5:30pm at the Scenic Area Visitor Center auditorium)

Sunday, June 22

  • A meeting with Dr. Steller—Join Yosemite naturalist Pete Devine outdoors in the shade as he becomes Dr. G.W. Steller and reveals his extraordinary “voyage of discovery” in 1741. (9:00am–10:00am at the Lee Vining Community Center)