Event Details

Some of the most ubiquitous habitats in the Mono Basin are the brushy shrub-steppe and dry chaparral. These habitats are home to some of the signature land birds of the Great Basin, and the Mono Basin is one of the best places in the world to observe and get to know these fascinating species. On this field trip we will focus our attention on exploring brushy habitats of the Basin and adjoining Eastern Sierra slope and spend our time observing and discussing the habits of Brewer's Sparrows, Sagebrush Sparrows, Green-tailed Towhees, Spotted Towhees, Fox Sparrows, Sage Thrashers, Gray Flycatchers, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers and Vesper Sparrows. A surprising number of other species also make extensive use of the shrub-steppe and chaparral. We will of course take what comes, but the main objective of this trip is to spend time observing and getting to know the behavior, sounds, and natural history of the common brush-land species, rather than maximizing our species list for the day. (est. driving miles: 20; hiking difficulty: moderate)