Greater Sage Grouse. Photo: John Heino / Audubon Society
Sage Grouse Lek Viewing with CDFW Biologist Dan Taylor
Meet EARLY at the Mono Basin Scenic Area Visitor Center just north of Lee Vining to figure out carpooling. Hopefully observe “thunder chickens” in the Bodie Hills and discuss breeding behavior and conservation challenges for the bi-state population of Greater Sage Grouse. Bring a spotting scope if you have one. Specific time and location TBD.
Webinar - Breeding Bird Atlas in the Eastern Sierra
When: Monday, April 6th from 6:00 - 7:00 PM (PST)
Where: Bishop, CA (specific meeting location TBD)
Leader: Katie Smith and Forrest English
Please join the Eastern Sierra Bird Alliance for a brief overview of the California Bird Atlas project! In this online webinar, we will introduce this new community science project, share how people like you can get involved, and review the protocol so you can start atlasing with confidence. We welcome bird enthusiast of all experience levels!
This webinar will be complemented with a field experience on Sunday, April 12th where we will put our new skills to practice and learn how to look for bird breeding behavior. We recommend attending both the webinar and field trip for a complete training. Please find details about this bird walk on our calendar.
For questions, please reach out to Katie Smith at katie@easternsierrabirds.org
ESBA COSA BIRD WALK - APRIL
Join ESBA on the 2nd Saturday of every month for our bird walk at the Bishop Paiute Tribe's Conservation Open Space Area - COSA.
Come enjoy this natural area and the birds we find there.
All ages are welcome and no experience is required.
We have binoculars and field guides to share.
LOCATION
Meet us in the large parking lot behind the Bishop DMV, next to the USFS and BLM offices off of Line Street.
DMV address: 1115 W Line St, Bishop, CA 93514.
Field Trip - Breeding Bird Atlas in the Eastern Sierra
When: Sunday, April 12th from 7:00 AM - 12:00 PM (PST)
Where: Bishop, CA (specific meeting location TBD)
Leader: Forrest English
Please join the Eastern Sierra Bird Alliance for a breeding bird atlas field experience! In this bird walk, we will learn how to search for breeding bird behavior and review how to submit your eBird checklists to the CA Bird Atlas Project. We welcome bird enthusiast of all experience levels!
This field trip is complemented by a webinar training on Monday, April 6th where we will be introduced to the Atlas project and protocol. We recommend attending both the webinar and field trip for a complete training. Please find details about this webinar on our calendar.
For questions, please reach out to Katie Smith at katie@easternsierrabirds.org
Owens Lake Bird Festival
The Friends of the Inyo Owens Lake Bird Festival will return for an 11th year in April 2026, with birding tours on and off the famous Owens Lake, as well as photography, advocacy, botany, geology, mining history tours, and more! Eastern Sierra Bird Alliance is a partner of this event and several of our board members will be guiding bird walks. To sign up and learn more, please visit the event website.
Tiger Beetle and Butterfly Tour of Fish Slough with Jen Klingler
Meet at the southern end of Fish Slough road just past the private houses (37.43302, -118.40680) at 930am. We will take a walking tour of the area with a good chance of seeing Inyo Tiger Beetles, Euphilotes Blues, and blue milkweed beetles. Chance of seeing Williston’s Tiger Beetle. Bring close-range binoculars if you have them. Return by 1pm.
ESBA’s Big Day
Birders at Black Lake Preserve for the Eastern Sierra Land Trust’s World Migratory Bird Celebration in 2025. Photo: Gena Wood.
Join Eastern Sierra Bird Alliance for our first Spring Big Day - put on as a celebration of world migratory bird day! Similar to the Christmas Bird Count event, we will be visiting local hotspots and trying to capture species that visit the Eastern Sierra during the springtime. More info to come soon!
ESBA COSA BIRD WALK - MAY
Join ESBA on the 2nd Saturday of every month for our bird walk at the Bishop Paiute Tribe's Conservation Open Space Area - COSA.
Come enjoy this natural area and the birds we find there.
All ages are welcome and no experience is required.
We have binoculars and field guides to share.
LOCATION
Meet us in the large parking lot behind the Bishop DMV, next to the USFS and BLM offices off of Line Street.
DMV address: 1115 W Line St, Bishop, CA 93514.
Breeding Bird Tour of Lee Vining Creek Diversion Pond Loop with Nora Livingston
Meet at Tioga Mobile Gas Mart at 7am. Caravan up to the Diversion Pond to discuss how water diversion can affect riparian birds. Hope to see wood-pewee, warbling vireo, green-tailed towhee, red-wing blackbird, and possibly an ouzel. Return by 11am.
ESBA COSA BIRD WALK - JUNE
Join ESBA on the 2nd Saturday of every month for our bird walk at the Bishop Paiute Tribe's Conservation Open Space Area - COSA.
Come enjoy this natural area and the birds we find there.
All ages are welcome and no experience is required.
We have binoculars and field guides to share.
LOCATION
Meet us in the large parking lot behind the Bishop DMV, next to the USFS and BLM offices off of Line Street.
DMV address: 1115 W Line St, Bishop, CA 93514.
Mono Basin Chautauqua
The Mono Basin Bird Chautauqua brings birders together to enhance appreciation and understanding of the Mono Basin’s diverse and abundant bird life and to educate the public about this area’s value to birds and people. The Chautauqua offers over 90 field trips, workshops, and presentations with renowned bird guides, naturalists, and artists. Add live music and delicious food, and you’ve got yourself a fantastic long weekend in nature with friends! To sign up and find out more, please visit the event website.
ESBA COSA BIRD WALK - JULY
Join ESBA on the 2nd Saturday of every month for our bird walk at the Bishop Paiute Tribe's Conservation Open Space Area - COSA.
Come enjoy this natural area and the birds we find there.
All ages are welcome and no experience is required.
We have binoculars and field guides to share.
LOCATION
Meet us in the large parking lot behind the Bishop DMV, next to the USFS and BLM offices off of Line Street.
DMV address: 1115 W Line St, Bishop, CA 93514.
ESBA COSA BIRD WALK - AUGUST
Join ESBA on the 2nd Saturday of every month for our bird walk at the Bishop Paiute Tribe's Conservation Open Space Area - COSA.
Come enjoy this natural area and the birds we find there.
All ages are welcome and no experience is required.
We have binoculars and field guides to share.
LOCATION
Meet us in the large parking lot behind the Bishop DMV, next to the USFS and BLM offices off of Line Street.
DMV address: 1115 W Line St, Bishop, CA 93514.
ESBA COSA BIRD WALK - SEPTEMBER
Join ESBA on the 2nd Saturday of every month for our bird walk at the Bishop Paiute Tribe's Conservation Open Space Area - COSA.
Come enjoy this natural area and the birds we find there.
All ages are welcome and no experience is required.
We have binoculars and field guides to share.
LOCATION
Meet us in the large parking lot behind the Bishop DMV, next to the USFS and BLM offices off of Line Street.
DMV address: 1115 W Line St, Bishop, CA 93514.
ESBA COSA BIRD WALK - OCTOBER
Join ESBA on the 2nd Saturday of every month for our bird walk at the Bishop Paiute Tribe's Conservation Open Space Area - COSA.
Come enjoy this natural area and the birds we find there.
All ages are welcome and no experience is required.
We have binoculars and field guides to share.
LOCATION
Meet us in the large parking lot behind the Bishop DMV, next to the USFS and BLM offices off of Line Street.
DMV address: 1115 W Line St, Bishop, CA 93514.
ESBA COSA BIRD WALK - NOVEMBER
Join ESBA on the 2nd Saturday of every month for our bird walk at the Bishop Paiute Tribe's Conservation Open Space Area - COSA.
Come enjoy this natural area and the birds we find there.
All ages are welcome and no experience is required.
We have binoculars and field guides to share.
LOCATION
Meet us in the large parking lot behind the Bishop DMV, next to the USFS and BLM offices off of Line Street.
DMV address: 1115 W Line St, Bishop, CA 93514.
ESBA COSA BIRD WALK - DECEMBER
Join ESBA on the 2nd Saturday of every month for our bird walk at the Bishop Paiute Tribe's Conservation Open Space Area - COSA.
Come enjoy this natural area and the birds we find there.
All ages are welcome and no experience is required.
We have binoculars and field guides to share.
LOCATION
Meet us in the large parking lot behind the Bishop DMV, next to the USFS and BLM offices off of Line Street.
DMV address: 1115 W Line St, Bishop, CA 93514.
ESBA COSA BIRD WALK - MARCH
Join ESBA on the 2nd Saturday of every month for our bird walk at the Bishop Paiute Tribe's Conservation Open Space Area - COSA.
Come enjoy this natural area and the birds we find there.
All ages are welcome and no experience is required.
We have binoculars and field guides to share.
LOCATION
Meet us in the large parking lot behind the Bishop DMV, next to the USFS and BLM offices off of Line Street.
DMV address: 1115 W Line St, Bishop, CA 93514.
ESBA COSA BIRD WALK - FEBRUARY
Join ESBA on the 2nd Saturday of every month for our bird walk at the Bishop Paiute Tribe's Conservation Open Space Area - COSA.
Come enjoy this natural area and the birds we find there.
All ages are welcome and no experience is required.
We have binoculars and field guides to share.
LOCATION
Meet us in the large parking lot behind the Bishop DMV, next to the USFS and BLM offices off of Line Street.
DMV address: 1115 W Line St, Bishop, CA 93514.
ESBA COSA BIRD WALK - JANUARY
Join ESBA on the 2nd Saturday of every month for our bird walk at the Bishop Paiute Tribe's Conservation Open Space Area - COSA.
Come enjoy this natural area and the birds we find there.
All ages are welcome and no experience is required.
We have binoculars and field guides to share.
LOCATION
Meet us in the large parking lot behind the Bishop DMV, next to the USFS and BLM offices off of Line Street.
DMV address: 1115 W Line St, Bishop, CA 93514.