
Friends of the Inyo’s Owens Lake Bird Festival
Early Bird registration will be available for our members!

Join us in Lone Pine for peak migration season, April 11-13!
Friends of the Inyo, with sponsorship support from AltaOne Federal Credit Union with branches in Bishop and Lone Pine, is pleased to announce that our Owens Lake Bird Festival will return in April 2025, with birding tours on and off the famous Owens Lake, as well as photography, advocacy, botany, geology, and mining history tours.
The festival will take place as follows:
- Friday, April 11: Happy Hour and Check-in at FOI’s Lone Pine Office, 142 E. Bush Street, from 5:30-8:00 PM (optional).
- Saturday, April 12: Half-Day Morning and Afternoon tours, as well as Full-Day Tours starting from the parking lot of the Lone Pine Museum of Western Film History, 701 S. Main Street. The day will end with a celebratory catered Dinner(optional), also at the Museum, starting at 6 PM, and a Silent Auction with goods donated by local businesses.
- Sunday, April 13: Morning Half-Day tours, also starting from the Museum.
More than just an amazing birding opportunity, there is something for everyone at the Owens Lake Bird Festival as we celebrate the amazing history and wildlife of Southern Inyo County. All of us at Friends of the Inyo hope to see you there!
Trips this year include:
- Patsiats’s (Owens Lake) importance to migrating and nesting birds as a resting and feeding stopover each fall and spring. Explore the roads in Pasiata’s habitat/dust control locations and learn to access the lake on your own. We will drive, stop, observe and discuss the massive return of inspirational feathered friends who have rediscovered Patsiata. Once again they use her as a place to rest and forage putting on more fat for their marathon journey. The lakebed is mostly owned by the State of California and, therefore, is open to the public. Lead by Mike Prather
- Birding on Owens Lake. Join a long-time birder, Ali Sheehey, on a tour of high-concentration bird areas on Owens Lake. This is a trip for people with all levels of birding experience. Bring binoculars and a spotting scope if you have one.
- Non-Technical Bird Photography on Owens Lake. Martin Powell will lead attendees on a trip out to Owens Lake to look for birds and photograph them in a relaxed manner. Attendees are encouraged to bring a camera with at least a 400mm lens.
- Riparian Birding and Ecology. We will explore some of the historic tributaries to Owen’s Lake and their associated riparian woodlands. These vestiges of once larger swaths of woodlands are becoming increasingly important havens for local and migratory birds. Due to more frequent droughts driven by climate change these habitats provide critical water, shelter and food. We can expect to see a good variety of bird species, observe nesting behavior and if the flycatchers arrive in time we will demystify the identification of Empidonax flycatchers. Lead by Russell Kokx.
- Geology and Natural History of the Alabama Hills with Dave Kirk. We’ll take a walk through this unique landscape and talk about the forces which shaped it. There will also be an opportunity to view the diversity of native desert plants that survive and thrive in this landscape including several species of wildflowers in bloom. Dave will also talk about the effects that decades of irresponsible recreation had on the hills and the restoration efforts that have been putting the ‘scenic’ back into the National Scenic Area.
- Introduction to Birding for Kids in Spainhower Park and Edwards Field, with Maggie Riley. This tour is open to kids from ages 6-12. No experience needed. Parents are welcome if you want to bird with your child. First, we’ll learn how to use binoculars safely and effectively to observe birds. Then, we will learn how to identify common birds using field marks and behavior, using bird books (provided), along with take-home Common Birds posters and printed checklists to keep track of what you find. After introductions and learning how to use binoculars and our other tools, we will spend time finding and identifying birds in the park and nearby wild areas. Binoculars, Bird Books, Common Birds posters, checklists, and pencils provided.
- Plein Air Session at the Eastern Sierra Visitor Center. This Saturday afternoon plein air has great views of the Alabama Hills and the Sierras, including Mount Whitney. The Visitor Center has picnic tables, shade, and restrooms as well as access to exhibits and a gift/book shop. There will be quick introduction on setting up for a plein air session (more challenging than painting in a studio!) then painting for a couple of hours. Participants can bring their own supplies (any medium is welcome) but a basic water color kit can be purchased for $15. This kit includes a small palette of colors, a 11” by 15” sheet of Arches cold press paper, and a couple of ok brushes. Participants will need to provide a water container, a ceramic or plastic plate for mixing colors and a sturdy board for the watercolor paper. Lead by Edie Trimmer.
- Desert Plant Walk in the Alabama Hills with Sierra Forever’s Ashley Anderson. With the Eastern Sierra as a backdrop and the whimsical rock formations of the Alabama Hills as a stage, enjoy learning about the ecology and plant species unique to this area with their fascinating adaptations. Discuss plant behavior, defenses, and communication with Alabama Hill’s staff member Ashley Anderson.
- Beyond the Binoculars, Birding on Owens Lake with Gena Wood from Eastern Sierra Land Trust. Take a closer look at the lives of the birds around us on this guided walk focused on their natural history. From courtship and nesting to migration and survival strategies, we’ll explore the behaviors and adaptations that make each bird unique. This is more than just a bird walk—it’s an opportunity to connect with the stories behind the species we see and gain a deeper appreciation for their roles in the natural world.
- Lower Owens River Project with Friends of the Inyo’s Wendy Schneider. 80 years after water was diverted to the Los Angeles Aqueduct, the Owens River began flowing again as part of a settlement between stakeholders in the Owens Valley and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. FOI’s Executive Director, Wendy Schneider, will be taking participants on stops along the Owens River discussing the history of the River and the LADWP project known as the LORP.
- Plant Identification in the Eastern Sierra and Mojave Desert with Maria Jesus. Join Maria on a meandering botany walk to learn key building blocks of plant identification. We’ll cover basic plant structures and terminology with the goal of recognizing common plant families and genera in our region.
- Plein Air Session Overlooking the Owens River. This Sunday morning plein air event is on a bluff that overlooks the meandering Owens River backed by great views of the Alabama Hills and Sierras. There will be quick introduction on setting up for a plein air session (more challenging than painting in a studio!) then painting for a couple of hours. Participants can bring their own supplies (any medium is welcome) but a basic water color kit can be purchased for $15. This kit includes a small palette of colors, a 11” by 15” sheet of Arches cold press paper, and a couple of ok watercolor brushes. Participants will need to provide a camp chair, water container, a ceramic or plastic plate for mixing colors and a sturdy board for the watercolor paper. There are no restrooms or shade so plan accordingly. Lead by Edie Trimmer.
- Historic Mining Town of Cerro Gordo with Max Rosan. A fascinating look at early western mining history, with stunning views of Owens Lake, Saline Valley, the Panamint Mountains, and Death Valley along the way. High-clearance vehicles strongly recommended. Bring binoculars for this all-day tour. Yes, there are birds up there, away from Owens Lake. You never know what you may find up there. Also, in this old mining town, there is a stunning opportunity to glance down into Saline Valley, really just a few minutes walk from the town.
- Conglomerate Mesa Hike with Friends of the Inyo’s Jaime Lopez Wolters. Caravan in your high-clearance vehicle (required but carpooling is an option) past extensive Joshua Tree groves to the south end of Conglomerate Mesa for a hike with stunning desert views, a look at mining threats to the area and a short section of Class 3 scrambling up rocks.
Early Bird Registration for Members!
As is customary, “right of first purchase” will be made available to Friends of the Inyo members before opening up sales to the general public. What does this mean? FOI supporters with active membership (those who donated $35 or more to Friends of the Inyo within the last year) will have the first opportunity to get tickets and sign up for tours.
Sign up for our newsletter and stay tuned to your inbox for our exclusive members-only email announcement when ticket sales and sign-ups go live in February. Please email any questions about the Owens Lake Bird Festival to kayla@friendsoftheinyo.org.
Want to make sure your membership is current and in good standing? Donate a minimum of $35 today by going to FriendsoftheInyo.org/Donate. Thank you!