Event Details

This trip will make a couple of stops in Lee Vining Canyon on the way up into the Tioga Pass vicinity and will provide a great opportunity to observe many of the birds of the eastern slope and Sierra crest. We'll use the species we find as jumping-off points to talk about the various research on physiology and behavior of high-elevation birds that has been done over the past 40 years around Tioga Pass, with particular emphasis on how the steep eastern escarpment provides opportunities for small birds to escape life-threatening weather, and how residents and migrants orchestrate their annual schedules of breeding, plumage molt, and migration in this capricious environment. We'll make a particular effort to find, observe, and discuss the natural history of Mountain White-crowned Sparrow, Dusky Flycatcher, Hermit Thrush, Cassin's Finch, and Rock Wren, and we'll keep our eyes and ears peeled for Gray-crowned Rosy-finch, Pine Siskin, and Red Crossbill--all of which have been studied in the area (some since 1968). Bring snacks, water, and sunscreen.