Taylor Creek Visitor Center hosts bird and native species festivals

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit and the Tahoe Institute for Natural Science will host the fourth annual Lake Tahoe Bird Festival on Saturday, June 8, followed by the third annual Native Species Festival on Sunday, June 9.

Residents and visitors are invited to attend these free family events from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Taylor Creek Visitor Center, located three miles north of South Lake Tahoe on Highway 89.

June 8 event:

The event includes guided bird walks along the Rainbow Trail every hour from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., a bird art contest for all ages, information on migratory birds and spotting scope use, and a presentation by Master Falconer Marie Gaspari Crawford that includes live birds of prey.

Art submissions (photography, sculptures, drawing, paintings, etc.) for the bird art contest may be submitted to Rena Escobedo at rescobedo@fs.fed.us or dropped off before June 4, 2013, at the LTBMU office at 35 College Drive, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150.

In preparation for a Spanish-speaking bird walk at the Bird Festival, the LTBMU will offer Spanish-speaking parents and their children an opportunity to attend an owl survey in May. During this shared nature experience, participants will learn about the history of the Forest Service and the owl survey area. Participants will also learn about possible career choices by attending a night in the life of a wildlife biologist.

Additional participants of the Bird Festival include the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and California State Parks.
For a schedule of activities, go here and for more information about TINS, go here.

June 9 event:
This popular local festival is a great way to spend the day outdoors and learn about the native species of the Lake Tahoe Basin. Attend walks led by field professionals and local students to learn about our native Tahoe Yellow Cress, the invasive Eurasian Water Milfoil, the Basin's native Lahontan Cutthroat Trout and the invasive American Bullfrog.

Visitors can also enjoy live music by the local band, Fugitive Dust. The festival will offer 14 different educational booths from various public and non-profit agencies, featuring topics like the American black bear, native bats, the American beaver, and Tahoe yellow cress. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will return this year with the popular large fish tank, which holds native Lahontan Cutthroat Trout, and the giant inflatable fish. Food will be available at the festival with vendors featuring sandwiches, snacks, drinks and ice cream.

This event is made possible by multiple partners, agencies and non-profits such as the California Conservation Corps, Camp Richardson Resort, Tahoe Institute for Natural Sciences, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care, the Sugar Pine Foundation, Sierra Wildlife Coalition, League to Save Lake Tahoe, Nor Cal Bats, Tahoe Native Plant Society, UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center, Lake Tahoe Unified School District and the Tahoe Expedition Academy.

For more information, contact Jean Norman at (530) 543-2694 or go here.