It’s a bird lover’s paradise, during the 9th Annual Eagles and Agriculture Event February 24-26, 2012

The annual gathering of eagles and the celebration of Northern Nevada’s rich agriculture in Carson Valley, nestled beneath the beautiful Sierra Nevada mountains, offers an opportunity to witness the influx of bald eagles and other birds of prey during the winter calving season.

This remarkable interaction between nature and agriculture attracts photographers, birders and nature-lovers of all kinds who come to closely observe bald and golden eagles, hawks, falcons, owls and a variety of other birds and wildlife species.

The seasonal gathering of eagles and other birds of prey features tours and workshops including a Birds of Prey Lecture, Ranch and Eagle Tour, Owl Prowl Tour and Live Field Demonstration, Raptor Highway and Byway Tour, Photography and Wildlife workshop, canoe/raft trip and photography contest.

The event begins with the Birds of Prey Lecture and reception on Friday evening. The Ranch and Eagle tour is Saturday morning on luxury motor coaches with expert guides of the Carson Valley history and wildlife. As a guest of the ranches, you’ll observe their operations up close and meet the men and women who run them. Attendees will learn about the Carson Valley ranching and conservation plus have the opportunity to observe birds of prey from vantage points not available to the general public. Lunch is served with group discussion on sightings allowing participants to compare experiences.

The Owl Prowl Tour and Live Falconing Field Demonstration on Saturday afternoon is led by a local naturalist and goes to historic area barns to view owls in their habitat. The tour is limited to only 45 participants, weather permitting.

The two-day Photography Wildlife Workshop is offered on Saturday and Sunday with instruction and discussion on Saturday and a nature photo shoot on location at an area ranch on Sunday.

On either Saturday or Sunday, participants can join in the Raptor Highway and Byway Tour by birding under Nevada skies. This is a supplemental tour for those interested in Buteos, Accipiters and falcons which commonly winter in Carson Valley and the perfect complement to the Ranch and Eagle Tour. Tour is limited to 15 participants.

Another unique way to observe the eagles, hawks and falcons occurs on Sunday when a guided Raft/Canoe Trip conducted by Great Basin Sports is offered. Participants will paddle down the beautiful Carson River and enjoy scenery and wildlife. This is a great event for photography buffs.

In conjunction with the Eagles and Agriculture event, there is the annual Photography Contest awarding the best birding photo and best agricultural/wildlife photo taken in Carson Valley.

The tours and workshops demonstrate how agricultural stewardship benefits wildlife and their habitat in Nevada. All proceeds benefit local wildlife, conservation and agriculture projects. Visit http://www.visitcarsonvalley.org/ for tour information.

Admission Fee (if any): Birds of Prey Lecture/Reception $35; Ranch/Eagle Tour and Buffert Lunch $60; Owl Prowl Tour & Live Field Bird Demonstration $35; Photography Two-Day Workshop $60; Raptor Highway & Byway Tour $45; Raft/Canoe trip $75

Photo by Nevada Travel Network

See what species are coming and going during their annual migration, and what birds stick around all year.

Sunrise, Birds and Sierra Beauty with Jim Woods Local Birding Expert

Monday, August 8, 2011

8am to 11am

$40 guests of Sorensen’s Resort/$55 non-guests

Price includes brunch at Sorensen’s Resort in spectacular Hope Valley. For more information about this South Lake Tahoe event and to book a visit at Sorensen’s Resort, please call (800) 423-9949.

Jim Woods is the Owner and Senior Guide for Birding Under Nevada Skies, and is a 20 year resident of Gardnerville, Nevada. His desire to further the understanding and joys of observing birds and the wildlife in the out of doors is the driving force for this venture. An active guide for the Eagles and Agriculture Festival in Minden and the Spring Wings Festival in Fallon, Jim is also affiliated with the Great Basin Bird Observatory and Lahontan Audubon Society.

Jim is also a member of HawkWatch International. The business will provide the opportunity for in the field photography, geology/rock hounding, wildflower identification, trout fishing, stargazing, camping and other outdoor actives as Jim goes about assembling the Guides and Staff of the organization. Born and raised in southern Arizona, Jim wants to bring a touch of the old west back into the lives of those who want to go birding under Nevada skies.

Free bird hikes will take place at Spooner Lake, Cove East Restoration area, and Blackwood Canyon from approximately 8:00 – 10:30am.

Spooner Lake

Meet at Spooner Lake, Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park, parking lot at 8:00. Expert birder Dan Gaube will lead birders around the Spooner Lake Trail, circling Spooner Lake itself through pockets of aspen, conifer forest, and open areas, in search of a variety of forest and waterbirds. NOTE: there is a $10 entrance fee per vehicle ($8 for NV residents); carpooling is encouraged!

Cove East

This is a local birders’ favorite!! Meet at the end of Venice Drive in the Tahoe Keys (next to Tahoe Keys Marina) at 8:00. Local expert birders Don and Lynn Harriman will lead birders down the the trail to explore the Cove East Restoration Area, the Upper Truckee Delta, and scan across the canal to the Upper Truckee Marsh. During migration, almost any species of bird could show up at Cove East, but expect a variety of sparrows and other songbirds, waterbirds, and the dapper Black-billed Magpies. Personnel from the California Tahoe Conservancy will give a short talk on the restoration efforts taking place at Cove East in the Upper Truckee Marsh.

Blackwood Canyon

Meet at the Sno-Park parking lot at the bottom of Blackwood Canyon (Barker Pass Road) at 8:00. Expert birder Bruce Webb will lead birders to a variety of habitats in the canyon and search for a variety of forest and riparian species, including Willow Flycatcher, Pine Grosbeak, and American Dipper. Ideally, this outing will involve a few short car shuttles up the canyon (carpooling is encouraged), but with this year’s snowpack we can expect an easy stroll up the road behind the locked gate.

Lake Tahoe Bird Festival walks are FREE, but all have limited space; pre-registration required.  Walks will take place approximately 8:00-10:30, June 4th.  To register, please contact Will Richardson.

Sunday goes wild.

The events will take place 10am-4pm each day and include bird walks, a species spotlight, crafts, live birds, a kid zone, a raffle, music and food.

The fun-filled activities will be held at the Taylor Creek Visitor Center located three miles north of the Highway 89/50 junction in South Lake Tahoe. The 2nd annual Lake Tahoe Bird Festival kicks off the weekend events on Saturday, June 4th at 10am presented by the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit and Tahoe Institute for Natural Science (TINS).The bird festival will provide an opportunity for all ages to learn about migratory birds and how local scientists are working for their benefit. Aspiring birdwatchers can learn about the latest binoculars and spotting scopes, and homeowners can get tips on dealing with those pesky woodpeckers.

The events will take place from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. each day and include bird walks, a species spotlight, crafts, live birds, a kid zone, a raffle, music and food. Sponsors for the weekend’s activities include California Trout, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the South Tahoe High School Generation Green Club.

Off-site, there will be FREE guided bird hikes to Spooner Lake, Cove East Restoration area, and Blackwood Canyon from approximately 8:00 – 10:30. Walks are free, but space is limited and preregistration is required. For walk registration, contact Will Richardson at (530) 587-6895 or e-mail will@tinsweb.org.

Saturday, June 4 – 2nd Annual Lake Tahoe Bird Festival – 10am to 4pm

• 10:30 a.m. Bird Walk (45 minutes)
• 11 a.m. Feeding and Landscaping presented by McBride’s & Will
• 11:30 a.m. Bird Walk (45 minutes)
• 12 p.m. Migration Talk presented by PRBO
• 12:30 p.m. Bird Walk (45 minutes) presented by TINS
• 1 p.m. Optic’s talk presented by Cabela’s
• 1:30 p.m. Bird Walk (45 minutes)
• 2 p.m. Species Spotlight Owls by FS biologist Rena Escobedo
• 2:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Falconer
• 3:30 p.m. Raffle

Sunday, June 5 – Festival of Native Species – 10am to 4pm

• 10 a.m. Birding
• 10:30 a.m. Native Fish Release
• 11 a.m. Aspen and wildlife talk
• 11:30 a.m. Planting native Tahoe yellow cress
• 11:30 a.m. Bison Band
• 12 p.m. Migration Talk presented by PRBO
• 12:30 p.m. Parade and Play
• 1 p.m. Aquatic Invasive Species presentation
• 1 p.m. Bison Band
• 1:30 p.m. Amphibian Walk
• 2 p.m. Tahoe Yellow Cress planting
• 2 p.m. Wildlife Talk
• 3 p.m. Bison Band

The Tahoe Institute for Natural Science (TINS) is a science, education, and outreach organization with a long-term goal of bringing a world-class interpretive nature center and educational facility to the Lake Tahoe area.

TINS engages in multiple science, education, and outreach programs to promote greater appreciation, understanding, and stewardship of the natural resources of the Tahoe region. Local bird experts Will Richardson and Kirk Hardie founded TINS in 2010.

Will has been working and birding in the Tahoe area since 1994. Originally a seasonal Tahoe resident (spending summers running crews for the Point Reyes Bird Observatory elsewhere in California, and falls working for PRBO on the Farallon Islands off the coast of San Francisco), Will finally settled in Truckee in 2001, and has been intensively studying the region’s natural history and ecosystems ever since. He is currently working on a status and distribution guide for the birds of the Lake Tahoe basin, but his interests span all taxa: he has authored papers on chipmunks, butterflies, and his own discovery of the Tahoe basin’s second species of salamander.

Will received his Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology from the University of Nevada, Reno, studying bird communities in Sierra Nevada aspen habitats. He’s never not birding, but he also attempts to squeeze in backcountry skiing, climbing, sea-kayaking, Ulitmate Frisbee, and the occasional gig with his bands Üncle Rïco and Bison.

Kirk grew up in Sacramento, California and spent most winter weekends skiing in the Tahoe region. He has been an environmental educator in Idaho, Oregon, California, and Nevada, highlighting the beauty of birds in the natural world, among many other topics. In 2009, he received his Master of Science degree in Biology from the University of Nevada, Reno, where he developed a four-week high school curriculum based on the ecology of the Great Basin. His background in field ornithology has included research projects with Gunnison Sage Grouse and Lewis’ Woodpeckers, in addition to co-leading international birding trips. Kirk also teaches Field Ornithology as an adjunct faculty member at Sierra Nevada College in Incline Village, NV.

His favorite pastimes are hiking, biking, snowboarding, and snowshoeing.

Each session is presented by a different local expert. This is an excellent learning opportunity for new birders, birders new to the area, or birders seeking a review to identify birds in the Truckee Meadows.

“Birds of the Truckee Meadows” classes will be held at the Nevada Department of Wildlife, 1100 Valley Road in Reno, from 7-9 p.m. on Tuesdays beginning May 10, 2011.

The cost is $40 for all five classes or $10 per single class payable at the door. Please arrive early to pay for an individual class.

2011 Classes:

• May 10 – Introduction to Birding, by Dave Jickling
• May 17 – Mountain Birds, by Jim Eidel
• May 24 – Birds of Lakes and Marshes, by Larry Neel
• May 31 – Backyard Birds, by Alan Gubanich
• June 7 – Birds of Prey, by Bob Goodman

For further information or to register, contact Bob Goodman at 775-972-7848 or pandion36@aol.com.

Cheese-Burg-er.

It’s the distinctive 3-note whistle of the Mountain Chickadee.

The most common bird in the Tahoe Basin is the Mountain Chickadee.

These small plump birds have a black cap, black bib under their chin and a white line over each eye. Adorable birds, they are very adept fliers as they dance along branches hunting for insects and seeds.

The Great Horned Owl is another bird that can be heard at night more frequently in the spring throughout the basin. A pair can be heard in Sierra Tract in South Shore that make their home in the forest along the Truckee River.

Great Horned Owl

Stats: (Wikipedia)

Average length: 55 cm (22 inches)

Wingspan: 124 cm (49 inches)

Weight: About 1400 grams (3.1 lbs)

Females are larger than males.

Adults have large ear tufts, a reddish, brown or gray face and a white patch on the throat. The ear tufts are not actually ears, but simply tufts of feathers. The underparts are light with brown barring; the upper parts are mottled brown. The legs and feet are covered in feathers up to the talons.

Owls also have spectacular binocular vision needed to pinpoint prey and see in low light. Owls cannot move their eyes like we can. They are locked in a special circular bone. Therefore, their neck must be able to turn a full 270 degrees in order to see in other directions without moving its entire body. An owl’s hearing is as good – if not better – than its vision. Owls have stereo hearing that allows them to find the exact location of their prey. These birds also have 500 pounds per square inch of crushing power in their talons. A normal man has about 60.

To hear an owl is a treat. To see one is magical.

Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit has a listing of the most popular birds in the basin. Click here to view the page.

However, we’re interested in learning about the more uncommon birds in Tahoe and Truckee right now. Especially the migratory birds that are passing through like the American White Pelicans.

Big white birds, flying in perfect formation high in the sky. Lake Tahoe is in the migratory path of pelicans.

White Pelicans in fact.

The American White Pelican, pictured here, nests on Anaho Island in Pyramid Lake during the spring and summer. (California pelicans that live on the coast are Brown Pelicans.)

They fly east over Lake Tahoe in the spring en route to Pyramid Lake, and then we see them flying over to the west in the fall, back to the coast.

Over the last month, the migrating pelicans have been seen flying over Desolation Wilderness near Emerald Bay, above Squaw Valley, and at East Cove in South Lake Tahoe.

Pyramid Lake, a 125,000-acre desert lake, lies at the terminus of the Truckee River approximately 30 miles northeast of Reno. The lake, a remnant of Pleistocene Lake Lahontan, contains a number of tufa formations including Stone Mother  and Anaho Island National Wildlife Refuge, site of one of the largest nesting colonies of the American White Pelican in the United States. Widely acclaimed as North America’s most beautiful desert lake, it’s actually the world class fishery that has brought Pyramid Lake worldwide fame. Pyramid Lake is the only habitat in the world for the Cui-ui fish that has been around for over 2 million years. The Pyramid Lake fishery includes the famous Lahontan Cutthroat Trout that have grown to record sizes and have lured fisherman from around the world over for several decades.

You can learn more about its fascinating history and its native inhabitants, the Paiute Indian tribe, at the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Museum and Visitors Center which is open Wednesday through Sunday.  For up-to-date information on permit locations and pricing, call the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe in Nixon (775-574-1088) or click here to visit their website.

So, what is the difference between a brown and white pelican?

South Shore artist, Reds Reagan gives us some insight…

The brown dive from high and fast crashing down and stunning the fish. The brown hunts/feeds by itself, while the white is part of a group hunting effort. The white encircle groups of fish in shrinking concentric circles, thus corralling and dizzying the prey and then they all feed on the combined effort of their labor.

American White Pelican – Photo by Steve Ting

by Sue Stevenson, South Shore artist and avid birder

Fellow Birdwatchers:

If you want to see colorful birds, hear plentiful birdsong, and witness fascinating breeding behaviors, now is the time to go out in the field. Two locations are especially fruitful for spring birding: the south end of Christmas Valley and the restored Cove East area.

At the south end of South Upper Truckee Road, one can park by the bridge and birdwatch along the road in both directions as well as along the path to the Hawley Grade trail. Right now the pastel colors of the new aspen leaves, the dogwood shrubs, and riverside willows are a delight to the eye. Warblers dressed in colors similar to the new leaves are busy with nesting and breeding in this riparian habitat. Redwing Black-birds sing above their territories at the river’s edge and Song Sparrows, Robins, Black-headed Grosbeaks, Chipping Sparrows, and Mountain Chickadees repeat their songs.

It’s breeding season and they are singing loudly to attract a mate or to repel intruders from their territories. If you are really lucky, you might glimpse a Wood duck gliding among the grasses, or see the Mallard ducklings swimming behind their mother. Watch for the American Dipper and its mate as they works over the fast flowing waters, bobbing up and down and diving underwater to feed. Back in the aspen grove on the way to the Hawley Grade, check out the trees for round holes, the entrances to the nests of Red-breasted Nuthatches, Mountain Chicadees, House Wrens, and various woodpeckers and sapsuckers. Listen for the similar calls of the Red-shafted Flicker and the Pileated Woodpecker. In the sage, there could be a White-crowned Sparrow, a Green-tailed Towhee, or several Juncos feeding on the ground.

The Cove East walk is at the north end of Venice Drive in the Keys along the restored marsh area where Trout Creek and the Truckee River flow out to Lake Tahoe. This highly successful project has restored the natural flow of the river while protecting wildlife and providing excellent wildlife viewing for the public. The walkers keep their dogs on leashes and clean up after them and the wildlife goes about the business of survival without disturbance; it’s a win-win situation for all involved.

Birding in Cove East in Spring can provide opportunities to watch Osprey working over the river and the lake, flying by with fish, calling, and soaring overhead. Also, Bald Eagles frequent the marsh, often perching on the Jeffrey Pines on the Al Tahoe side. Flocks of White-faced Ibis and White Pelicans may fly over. Several Swallow species can be seen perching on the boat wires. Mountain and Western Blue birds, the Yellow, Wilson’s and Audubon’s Warblers, plus Flickers, Yellow-headed Blackbirds, and Sparrows can be found among the wildflowers, the sage, and the willow shrubs.

At the lake’s edge, there’s a chance of seeing Gulls, Cormorants, several species of Ducks, Shorebirds and occasional migrants, such as Loons. Birders are hoping to see raptors such as the White-tailed Kite and the Red-shouldered Hawk visit the Marsh again this year. Every visit offers a different surprise, such as the rare Eurasion Collared Dove.

If you are interested in joining other birders for field trips in the South Tahoe area, consider joining the South Tahoe Birding Yahoo Group Listserve. To subscribe email: SLTBirding-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.

Their pecking sounds painful.

They’re so loud that sometimes they sound like jackhammers.

Pileated Woodpeckers.

These are the biggest (15″ tall), splashiest woodpeckers around with the giant red crests.

Several have been spotted at the back of Fallen Leaf Lake near the Chapel.

This is the breed of Woodie Woodpecker. Even his call sounds like “Woodie.”

Identification Tips:

Length: 15 inches

Very large (crow-sized) black and white woodpecker

Prominent red crest at rear of head

White throat

Entirely black body plumage at rest except a white line that extends from bill down sides of neck to upper flanks

In flight shows pale bases to primaries on upperwing and entirely white underwing covert

Adult male: Red forehead. Red malar area.

Adult female: Black forehead. Black malar stripe.

Similar species: No other living woodpecker could be confused with the Pileated.

It’s all part of the popular Saturday Mornings for Seniors.

Kirk Hardie grew up in Sacramento, Calif., and spent most winter weekends skiing in the Tahoe region. He has been an environmental educator in Idaho, Oregon, California, and Nevada, highlighting the beauty of birds in the natural world, among many other topics. He received his Master of Science degree in Biology from the University of Nevada, Reno, in 2009, where he developed a four-week high-school curriculum based on the ecology of the Great Basin. Kirk’s ornithology background has included working with Gunnison Sage-Grouse and Lewis’s Woodpeckers in addition to co-leading international birding trips. He teaches Field Ornithology as an adjunct faculty member at Sierra Nevada College and enjoys hiking, biking, snowboarding, and snowshoeing in his free time.

The Tahoe Institute for Natural Science (TINS) is a nonprofit organization seeking to advance the natural history, conservation, and ecosystem knowledge of the Tahoe region. Its long-term goal is to bring a world-class interpretive nature center and educational facility to the Tahoe area. Currently, the organization engages in multiple science, education, and outreach programs to promote greater appreciation, understanding, and stewardship of the natural resources of the Tahoe region.

The presentation is part of “Saturday Mornings” offered by Sierra Nevada College and Incline Village Parks & Recreation Senior Programs. Share your morning coffee with SNC’s faculty and other knowledgeable locals as they present bite-size offerings of intellectually stimulating material. An optional continental breakfast will be provided for $3.  The presentation runs from 10am – 12pm at the Prim Library, Sierra Nevada College, 999 Tahoe Boulevard, Incline Village, NV.

For details on other Senior course offerings, please visit www.Inclineseniors.com or call 775.832.1310.