Owens Lake Bird Festival, a Southern Inyo tradition, returns
Friends of inyo event set for april
ith lots of water still in Owens Lake, the birding is expected to be great at this year’s Owens Lake Bird Festival (OLBF), which Friends of the Inyo has been organizing since 2015, to celebrate the migration of thousands of birds on their hemispheric journey along the Pacific Flyway, from Patagonia to Alaska. The festival will take place April 19-21, in Lone Pine.
“The Bird Festival is a great way to experience many of the things that make this area unique, and to showcase the best of Southern Inyo County for our visitors, who are always welcome,” said Kayla Browne, FOI’s Desert & Renewable Energy Policy director, a Lone Pine resident. All tours, which will be conducted on April 20 and 21, will begin from the parking lot of the Museum of Western Film History, at 701 S. Main Street.
Although many people flock to the OLBF for the birds, the tours are more than just about birding, and designed to cover topics that also include botany, photography, geology, local history and culture, and, new this year, an
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INDEX QUOTE OF THE DAY
“the only sure weapon against bad ideas is better ideas.”
Alfred Whitney Griswold
Owens River water justice tour in the Lower Owens River co-led by FOI’s Executive Director, Wendy Schneider; Water Justice Organizer, Lauren Kelly; and water justice partner, Lynn Boulton. The intent is to complement the birding experience, as well as to inform the public about Friends of the Inyo’s work to protect and care for the land and water of the Eastern Sierra.
“We are excited to introduce our water justice initiative to the birding community,” Schneider said.
Owens Lake Bird Festival tickets must be purchased online at friendsoftheinyo.org/ events or friendsoftheinyo. org/birdfestival. Tour prices range from $25 to $55, depending on the destination and whether they are half-day or all-day excursions.
All trips will be led by knowledgeable birders, naturalists, and photographers, including FOI staff and board members, and partners in conservation who have been affiliated with the Bird Festival since its inception.
In addition to the tours, Friends of the Inyo will also host a FREE happy hour and check-in reception on Friday, April 19, at FOI’s Lone Pine Office, 142 E. Bush Street, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Members of the community and the media are welcome.
On Saturday evening, April 20, starting at 6 p.m. at the Lone Pine Museum of Western Film History, there will be an educational program featuring Keynote Speaker Jolie Varela, the founder and spokesperson for Indigenous Women Hike, as well as the recently launched Native Birding Club in the Eastern Sierra.
She will be speaking on bringing indigenous voices into the world of birding and sharing her passion for birding with newcomers.
This evening event is free, but those wanting to purchase a vegetarian or chicken dinner option from Coachwhip Cafe can do so for $20 when purchasing their tour tickets.
Friends of the Inyo will also be selling alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages and conducting a silent auction of items donated by numerous in-kind community partners to assist with our fundraising efforts.
Generously sponsoring the festival again this year are the County of Inyo and AltaOne Federal Credit Union, with branches in Bishop and Lone Pine.
Anyone wanting to learn more about the Owens Lake Bird Festival is encouraged to tune in Friday, April 5, at 9:15 a.m. to KMMT FM Mammoth Radio, at 106.5 in Mammoth Lakes, 104.9 in Bishop, 105.5 in Big Pine and south, and 107.7 in June Lake and north, or online at mammothfm. com, for an interview by host John De Maria of FOI’s Forest & Water Campaign Manager Allison Weber.
For more information, please write to Kayla@ friendsoftheinyo.org.