TINS

Record number of Bald Eagles found at Lake Tahoe during annual count

NCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. — A record number of Bald Eagles were counted at Lake Tahoe during the recent annual survey conducted by the Tahoe Institute of Natural Science (TINS) and its team of 200 volunteers.

This year 42 Bald Eagles were found, surpassing the previous record of 27 set in 2017.

The record number of volunteers are double the number who turned out for last year's event, part of why TINS believes this was the most accurate count to date. TINS took over local coordination of the national tracking effort nine years ago.

Annual Lake Tahoe Bald Eagle Count set for 2021

Event Date: 
January 8, 2021 - 9:00am

It’s a mid-winter's day dream for birders. The Tahoe Institute for Natural Science (TINS) is hosting its annual Mid-Winter Bald Eagle Survey on Friday, Jan. 8, 2021. TINS took over local coordination of the national tracking operation nine years ago. The Lake Tahoe effort is part of a nationwide, single-day census of the country’s bald eagle populations. Spotters are stationed at 26 vantage points throughout the Tahoe basin, mostly on Tahoe’s lakeshore beaches, to get an accurate snapshot of eagle numbers.

Tahoe Institute for Natural Science celebrates 10-year anniversary

The Tahoe Institute for Natural Science (TINS) is celebrating 10 years of connecting people to nature and inspiring new generations of stewards for the wonders of Lake Tahoe. Since 2010, the organization has engaged with over 56,000 students through in-school natural history programs, field trips, and nature camps. They offer programs for people of all ages - hosting hundreds of presentations and guided nature outings for thousands of participants. All of their programs are supported by a foundation of important, ongoing biological research.

Column: Reaching a new generation through environmental education and outreach

After a gangbuster start to the winter season, a lot of us in Tahoe are wondering where all the snow has gone. Sitting here at the end of February with snowpack numbers dwindling, snow lovers are chomping at the bit, waiting to see the storm track shift back our way.

Still, the mountains have been buzzing with activity as skiers and snowboarders race to the mountains to enjoy what natural snow we’ve received and are ever thankful for the assist from local resorts’ snowmaking operations.

Space cleared to make way for new Lake Tahoe Boys & Girls Club building

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It's looking a lot different at the Boys & Girls Club of Lake Tahoe facilities at the former Al Tahoe Elementary School on Lyons Avenue.

The current South Lake Tahoe site for BGCLT had major clearing this week to make way for a brand new clubhouse. Old portable buildings were removed as were some trees as crews make way for their multi-million dollar future home.

Wildflower Wonderment at SLT Library

Event Date: 
February 19, 2020 - 6:00pm

Join the Friends of the Library, in partnership with the Tahoe Institute for Natural Science (TINS), as we ogle the amazing photographs (Bob discovered over 700 unique species) taken by Bob Sweatt last year for the Tahoe Wildflower Big Year (TWBY) which celebrates the hundreds of plant species that make the Tahoe region their home. This inspiring presentation will prepare you for all that Spring has to offer. Free and open to all.

Location

South Lake Tahoe Library
1000 Rufus Allen Blvd South Lake Tahoe, CA
United States

Millions of butterflies in Lake Tahoe: "Phenomenal Eruption"

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - If you thought you were seeing many more butterflies around Lake Tahoe than normal, you would be correct. The entire Lake Tahoe Basin is in the midst of a massive outbreak of the winged beauties, especially in the Angora Fire burn area and along the east shore.

What most people are seeing is the California Tortoiseshell Butterfly, orange and black on the top of the wings, shades of black underneath. They thrive on the Mountain Whitethorn, part of the Ceanothus family, something that itself is thriving where the Angora fire burned in 2007.

Wild Tahoe Weekend at Taylor Creek in South Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It's Wild Tahoe Weekend at the US Forest Service's Taylor Creek Visitor Center June 21-22! On Saturday it's the Native Species Festival and on Sunday, the 10th annual Lake Tahoe Bird Festival.

SATURDAY

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) will host the seventh annual Native Species Festival on Sunday, June 22 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This free family event is at the Taylor Creek Visitor Center, located three miles north of South Lake Tahoe on Highway 89.

Interpretive sign unveiling at Tahoe Paradise Park

Event Date: 
June 1, 2019 - 10:00am

Six interpretive signs are being installed around Lake Baron at Tahoe Paradise Park and the public is invited to their official unveiling on Saturday, June 1 at 10:00 a.m.

The Board of Directors of Tahoe Paradise Recreation and Park District worked with the staffs of the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center (TERC) and the Tahoe Institute for Natural Science (TINS) and received input from students and teachers at the Lake Tahoe Environmental Science Magnet School to develop the signs.

Annual Christmas Bird Count in Lake Tahoe Sunday

Event Date: 
December 16, 2018 - 8:00am

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is widely regarded as the largest and oldest citizen science project in the world. Each year, from December 14 through January 5, tens of thousands of volunteers across the county head out into the winter to count birds for a day. This tradition goes back to 1900, and in the intervening years, these birders have built a database on bird populations that is unmatched by any other wildlife census.

Tea on Top of Tahoe Guided Hike

Event Date: 
August 3, 2018 - 8:30am

The Tahoe Institute for Natural Science and the Tahoe Rim Trail Association invite you to spend a Friday morning combining art and nature on a guided hike to Picnic Rock. Along the trail, participants will dive into wildflower exploration, while stopping frequently to investigate the colorful jewels that grow from Tahoe's soils. We will have tea on top of picnic rock as TINS naturalist, Sarah Hockensmith will lead a brief sketching workshop to invite an artistic nature experience while discovering flower patterns and details you may not otherwise notice.

Location

Brockway Summit Trailhead
United States

Wild Tahoe Weekend at Taylor Creek in South Lake Tahoe

Event Date: 
Repeats every day until Sun Jun 24 2018 .
June 23, 2018 - 10:00am
June 24, 2018 - 10:00am

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) will host the eighth Wild Tahoe Weekend 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., on Saturday and Sunday, June 23-24, 2018 at the Taylor Creek Visitor Center, located three miles north of South Lake Tahoe on Highway 89. The weekend event consists of the Native Species Festival on Saturday and the Lake Tahoe Bird Festival on Sunday.

Plastic, light and sound pollution focus of movie screening in Lake Tahoe

Event Date: 
July 13, 2017 - 5:30pm

Light and sound affect people and wildlife. Find out more when the Tahoe Institute for Natural Science hosts the next TERC talk and movie screening in Lake Tahoe on Thursday, July 13 at 5:30 p.m.

"The Smog of the Sea" will be shown. It is a short film that chronicles a one-week journey through the remote waters of the Sargasso Sea to assess the fate of plastics in the world's oceans. As the crew sieves the water they find a fog of microplastics permeating the world's oceans.

Wild Tahoe Weekend: Native species and bird festivals

Event Date: 
June 24, 2017 (All day)

Get ready for a wild time as the Tahoe Institute for Natural Science (TINS) and the U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) host Wild Tahoe Weekend.

Join them June 24-25, 2017 at the Taylor Creek Visitor Center, just three miles north of South Lake Tahoe on Highway 89. Residents and visitors are invited to attend this free family event.

Wildflower Talk at the SLT Library

Event Date: 
June 20, 2017 - 6:00pm

Sarah Hockensmith of the Tahoe Institute for Natural Science (TINS) returns to introduce us to the diverse wildflowers of the Tahoe region. To celebrate the hundreds of plant species in the region, Sarah will cover the basic structures of flowers, some of the best locations to find wildflowers at Lake Tahoe, and what wildflowers to expect at those locations. We hope to see you there! Free and open to all. Presented by the Friends of the Library.​

Location

South Lake Tahoe Library
1000 Rufus Allen Blvd. South Lake Tahoe
United States
38° 56' 43.5228" N, 119° 58' 22.2276" W

Tahoe's Natural Diversity: Lake's Edge to Summit at SLT Library

Event Date: 
March 4, 2017 - 12:00pm

Tahoe's Natural Diversity: Lakes Edge to Summit. Join Sarah Hockensmith of the Tahoe Institute for Natural Science (TINS) as she introduces attendees to the diverse landscapes of the Tahoe region from lake level to the tops of the mountains.

To celebrate the Tahoe's natural history, TINS is hosting the Tahoe Nature Chase during 2017. The presentation will cover how different flower, tree, bird, and mammal species adapt as they go up in elevation and what unique creatures you can find around specific elevations in the area.

Free and open to all.

Location

South Lake Tahoe Library
1000 Rufus Allen Blvd. South Lake Tahoe
United States
38° 56' 43.5228" N, 119° 58' 22.2276" W

The Tahoe Natural Year, a journey through the seasons, at next TERC talk

Event Date: 
January 19, 2017 - 5:30pm

Did you know that throughout the calendar year, our planet's orbit and tilt causes shifting weather patterns, movements and migrations of animals, emergence and disappearance of various plants and wildlife, and a host of other natural history phenomena? Learn about a wide variety of these natural history topics, track the ebb and flow of the Sierra's seasons, and catch a sneak peek at some of the wildlife you may want to watch for in the coming year at The Tahoe Natural Year: A Journey through the Seasons.

The Colors of Fall by Will Richardson at SLT Library

Event Date: 
October 19, 2016 - 6:00pm

Fall is a time of transitional beauty in the Sierra Nevada - from fish to foliage, winter coats, and lower sun angles, the landscape takes on new colors and appearances. Explore the nature of these transitions with Conservation Biologist Will Richardson from TINS. Learn why so much of the landscape changes color, the mechanisms behind those changes (for example, how and why leaves change color), and a bit about the nature of color and visual perception. Dr. Richardson will of course also show you great places to observe these colors in the Tahoe region.

Location

South Lake Tahoe Library
1000 Rufus Allen Blvd. SOUTH LAKE TAHOE
United States
38° 56' 43.5084" N, 119° 58' 22.296" W

Heavenly aims to connect 2,000 area children to the outdoors

Heavenly Mountain Resort has created Epic Discovery Kids, a program offering free access to Heavenly’s new Epic Discovery summer activities to 2,000 kids from Lake Tahoe schools and non-profits as well as regional non-profits.

Learn about the birds of Lake Tahoe at Lake of the Sky Amphitheater

Join Tahoe Heritage Foundation and Tahoe Institute for Nature Science on Friday July 14 for "Birds of Lake Tahoe" and the "Tahoe Big Year." This event will be held at Taylor Creek Visitor Center at 8:00 p.m. and is open to the public. There is a $5.00 donation to the Tahoe Heritage Foundation.

Lake Tahoe Bird Festival to feature guided walks and live birds of prey

Event Date: 
June 13, 2015 (All day)

The Tahoe Institute for Natural Science (TINS) in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) will host the sixth annual Lake Tahoe Bird Festival on Saturday June 13, 2015 at the Taylor Creek Visitor Center, located three miles north of South Lake Tahoe on Highway 89.

Residents and visitors are invited to attend this free family event from 10 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.

TINS Talk at the SLT LIbrary: Aquatic Mammals of Tahoe

Event Date: 
May 5, 2015 - 6:00pm

Will Richardson, from Tahoe Institute of Natural Sciences, will present his newly developed talk on Tahoe's Aquatic Mammals.

Join us at the South Lake Tahoe Library at 6 p.m. for an informative evening of learning about beavers, river otters and so much more.

Free and open to all.

Location

South Lake Tahoe Library
1000 Rufus Allen South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
United States

Scotch Tasting to raise funds for Tahoe Institute for Natural Science

Event Date: 
February 28, 2015 - 6:30pm

Join TINS for a fun evening of sampling single malt scotches paired with delicious food. TINS will guide a tasting of five scotches with diverse personalities, from light and smooth to rare and complex to boldly peaty. The scotches will be accompanied by a four course meal designed to complement the flavors of the evening, with rib-eye steak as the main course.

Enjoy free stargazing event in South Lake Tahoe

Event Date: 
December 13, 2014 - 7:00pm

Join the Tahoe Rim Trail Association and the Tahoe Institute for Natural Science (TINS) for a night dedicated to our grand celestial sphere. The Geminid Meteor Shower will be making its appearance during this time, and it is expected to see many shooting stars throughout the night.

You will be taken into a snow covered Tahoe Meadows to relax and gaze at the sky and TINS staff will illuminate the mysteries of the night.

This event is perfect for sharing with your whole family! It is free and only open to the first 30 signups.

114th Annual Christmas Bird Count This Weekend in South Lake Tahoe

Event Date: 
December 14, 2013 - 8:00am

Join novice and expert birders alike for the South Lake Tahoe Christmas Bird Count (CBC), Dec. 14, sponsored by the Tahoe Institute for Natural Science (TINS). The Christmas Bird Count, begun in 1900, is widely regarded as the largest and oldest citizen science project in the world.

The CBC makes a valuable contribution to conservation, collecting critical data on bird population trends and building a database. The Audubon Society and other organizations use the CBC database to assess the health of bird populations — and to help guide conservation action.

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:

Taylor Creek Visitor Center hosts Lake Tahoe Bird Festival

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit and the Tahoe Institute for Natural Science (TINS) invite residents and visitors to attend the third annual Lake Tahoe Bird Festival on Saturday, June 2, 2012, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. The event is free and takes place at the Taylor Creek Visitor Center, located three miles north of South Lake Tahoe on Highway 89.

Made in Tahoe: Local woman adds spice to life

From behind the island in a large stone and brick kitchen, Diane Weidinger goes about her business, carefully filling small tins with her spice blends to be shipped to customers near and far. Along with jars, tubs are stacked on a table at the end of the island. More jars crowd one end of the countertop. Weidinger is filling an order including blends of Egyptian, Scandinavian and Moroccan spices and more for a customer who wants to highlight workplace diversity.

Syndicate content