I ran back to the office after an awesome morning of birding to let everyone know that the Mono Basin Bird Chautauqua is underway. It’s a beautiful weekend in the Mono Basin, and I encourage everyone to join the event if you’ve got the time.
There are some free events that are still open to the general public — for kids and parents alike.
Michael Ross will be traveling over from Yosemite to lead two children’s programs during the Chautauqua weekend. Michael has led field classes and hikes for the Yosemite Association for more than 30 years. He has written and illustrated over forty children’s books inspired by his life and work in the mountains. These two events (detailed below) are free, but space is limited so please reserve a spot by calling Lisa or Morgan at the Mono Lake Committee at 760-647-6595.
The World of Small: Saturday, June 19th 2:30-4:30 pm
Travel with a magnifying lens on this exploration of the little things in life. Dive into flowers to meet their residents and visitors. Survey the soil beneath your feet. Examine found treasures, whether they are feathers, fur, egg shells, or scat. Discover incredible crystals and the beauty of a water drop. Tune into the minutiae. This is ideal for little ones (ages 4-12) and their adult traveling companions.
Birding for Little Fledglings: Sunday, June 20th 9:30-11:30 am
What do birds eat? What are feathers for? Do birds talk? Explore the world of birds with all the senses. Using kid’s books for inspiration we’ll leap and crawl into investigations of the lives of avian inhabitants of meadows and forests. This is ideal for little ones (ages 4-8) and their adult traveling companions.
Both of Michael’s events will meet at the Lee Vining Community Center and are free!
Picnic and free music at Mono Lake County Park: Sunday, June 20th at noon
This is a perfect way to kick-off your summer by enjoying lunch, relaxing in the green shady glow of County Park, and immersing yourself in music. You can bring your own lunch or purchase lunch that will be available as a fundraiser for Lee Vining High School.
This year’s musical guests will be Kris Delmhorst and Jeffrey Foucault. Kris and Jeffrey are well known singer-songwriters and acoustic musicians. It is a special treat to have them in the Mono Basin – thank you to Mono Council for the Arts for their generous donation in helping to support this concert. The concert is free!!
The picnic is on Sunday, June 20th from 12:00 noon until about 2:00 pm. To get to Mono Lake County Park from Lee Vining head north on Hwy 395 approximately 5 miles and turn right on Cemetery Road. Go down the hill and look for parking directions. Carpooling from Lee Vining is highly recommended.
We will be posting photos from the weekend here — there are just a few to start, with more coming soon!