News

Wednesday, June 14: This year, we re-designed birdchautauqua.org to incorporate a webapp called Bobolink that will improve your user experience before, during, and after the festival. Using Bobolink is completely optional, but we hope you will try it out! The webapp allows you to view your itinerary, create support tickets, get directions to meeting locations, evaluate trips, post and comment on the blog, view the bird list for the festival, and see which trips certain bird species were seen on. 

Watch this 10-minute tutorial video or view the step-by-step user guide to get started. 

As always, feel free to swing by the registration/check-in table at the Lee Vining Community Center or email Chautauqua@monolake.org for help. 

Sunday, June 11: Please remember to check-in before attending your scheduled Chautauqua events. At check in you will receive your agenda, event packet, button, and T-shirt. We cannot guarantee you a spot on a field trip if we don't know you've arrived.

Check-in will be available at the following times at the Lee Vining Community Center (296 Mattly Ave):
Thursday, June 15: 3:00pm–7:30pm
Friday, June 16: 6:00am–7:00pm
Saturday, June 17: 6:00am–6:00pm

Sunday, June 11: Sonora Pass (108) is open! To view up to date road information go to roads.dot.ca.gov and enter the highway number or quickmap.dot.ca.gov and click "options" dropdown menu, then select the road conditions you want the map to show.

To view campground information, go to www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd486882.pdf and click on the campground you'd like to view the status of. Many will be closed for Chautauqua due to flooding.

Camp Like A Pro is a great tool for locating disperse camp sites: https://www.essrp.org/camping. Please note that a permit is required for all fires – even a propane camp stove--while dispersed camping. The link for a permit is here: https://www.readyforwildfire.org/permits/campfire-permit/. Although it is a wet year, fire danger is still present.

Sunday, May 21, 2023: Join us for an enchanting afternoon at Hess Park in Lee Vining on Sunday, June 18th from 11:30 AM to 4:00 PM, as we celebrate the migratory connections of Wilson's phalaropes. This event follows the Mono Basin Bird Chautauqua, adding an exciting continuation to the birding festivities. Witness the unveiling and dedication of captivating new phalarope murals showcasing the migratory connections between Mono Lake, Great Salt Lake, and Laguna Mar Chiquita in Argentina. A team of visiting researchers, park rangers, educators, and conservationists from Laguna Mar Chiquita and Great Salt Lake will share their valuable insights and experiences regarding saline lake conservation. Learn about their work in Argentina and Utah and discover the similarities and challenges faced by these globally connected habitats. Participate in a lively bird call contest and showcase your creativity with a phalarope costume contest. Prizes will be awarded to the most authentic bird calls and the most imaginative and well-crafted phalarope costumes. Immerse yourself in a vibrant atmosphere filled with live music, dancing, and an array of delicious food. Engage in meaningful discussions and cultural exchanges with fellow attendees and international guests. Share stories, insights, and ideas surrounding the importance of saline lakes and migratory connections, fostering global understanding and cooperation.

Saturday, April 8, 2023: During registration, you'll be given the opportunity to donate used, good condition binoculars or $25 to a fund that will provide binoculars to students at Laguna Mar Chiquita, a sister lake to Mono Lake, in Argentina. These students attend a phenomenal, free education program called "Experiencia Ambientalia", which translates to Environmental Experience. The program works with over 200 highschoolers who live near Laguna Mar Chiquita and teaches them about conservation education, research, and entrepreneurship as it relates to the lake and the ecosystems around them. If you would like to learn more about the program, sign up for 369 *Saline Lakes: Science and education panel discussion from 3:00 to 5:00 pm on Saturday of the Chautauqua. During this panel discussion Marina Castellino, founder of Experiencia Ambientalia, will give a short presentation about her work on this innovative and effective program.

Saturday, April 1, 2023: Registration for the twentieth annual Mono Basin Bird Chautauqua is just two weeks away, beginning at 6:30am PDT on Saturday, April 15, 2023.

The full schedule of field trips and outdoor workshops is now online, including the grid schedule, which shows how trips may overlap. Please note that we are still working on this schedule and additional programs may be added prior to registration day.

We highly recommend finding several alternate programs for each time slot, as many programs fill quickly—some fill just minutes after registration opens.

Updated presenter biographies are also online, so you can learn more about everyone leading trips this year.

We will have another update next week with more details about practice registration and we will unveil our new t-shirt design.

If you have questions, please don't hesitate to email or call (760) 647-6595 and ask for Andrew or Nora.