Yosemite Birding Festival Takes Flight in June

Full Weekend of Guided Field Trips, Nature/Photography Walks, Book Signings, Guest Speakers and Social Activities Tailored for All Levels of Birding Enthusiasts

An extraordinary team of birding professionals, park rangers, naturalists and guest authors will gather for the Yosemite Association’s 2 nd Annual Yosemite Birding Festival to be held June 3-5, 2005 in Yosemite National Park and nearby El Portal. The festival is open to the public and hosted by the non-profit Yosemite Association, as one of their award winning Outdoor Adventures programs.

The festival’s schedule of events will include a full roster of activities appealing to both novice and professional birding enthusiasts. There will be a host of special guided field trips to locations in and around Yosemite Valley, plus a wide range of interpretive presentations, slide shows, book signings, art classes, panel discussions, nature/photography walks, and social gatherings offered for a nominal all-inclusive price.

With the bountiful spring season at its peak, avid birding enthusiasts will likely enjoy spectacular sightings of species such as White-Throated Swifts, American Dippers, Belted Kingfishers, Peregrine Falcons, Canyon Wrens, Pileated Woodpeckers, Great Grey Owls, Warblers, Grosbeaks, Tanagers, and Orioles, among many others.

Advanced reservations for the 2nd Annual Birding Festival are required and are available by calling (209) 379-2321 or online at www.yosemite.org. Fees to attend the festival are $111 for Yosemite Association members and $130 for non-members, which include (optional) three free nights of camping in Yosemite Valley, Yosemite Park entrance fees, welcome reception, all field trips and interpretive programs, plus commemorative gifts.

For non-campers, a limited number of accommodations have also been set aside at the Yosemite View Lodge, located on Highway 140 in the town of El Portal at $139 per night. Yosemite View Lodge reservations can be made by calling 1-800-321-5261. Additional lodging may be available in Yosemite Valley, and reservation information can be obtained by calling 1-559-252-4848.

2nd Annual Yosemite Birding Festival – Event Highlights  

Friday, June 3

5 – 6:30 pm
Welcome Reception with appetizers and no-host bar

8 – 9 pm
“A Celebration of Birds” slide presentation

Saturday, June 4

7:30am – 12:30 pm
Choice of specialized location field trips

10 am – 12 pm
Wildlife photography walk

11am – 12 pm
“A Meeting with Dr. Steller” interpretive presentation

11am – 12:30 pm
“The Art of the Birds of the Sierra Nevada” interpretive presentation

1 – 3 pm
“Sketching Yosemite Birds” instructional presentation

2 – 4 pm
Choice of specialized location field trips

2 – 4 pm
“Beginning Birding” instructional presentation

2 – 4 pm
“Stumping the Experts” slide show and panel presentation

4:30 – 6 pm
Wine and cheese reception and book signings

7:45 – 9 pm
“Raptors of California” interpretive presentation

Sunday, June 5

7:30 am – 12 pm
Choice of specialized location field trips

10 am – 12 pm
Choice of interpretive programs: “Beginning Birding”, “Nature/Wildlife Photography Walk”, “Beginner Birding and Sketching in the Field”, or “Yosemite Peregrines, Owls and Accipiters”.

About the Yosemite Association

The non-profit Yosemite Association’s award winning Outdoor Adventures program offers over 80 field courses annually on a wide variety of outdoor related topics throughout Yosemite. Subjects include art and writing, astronomy, birding, cultural history, interpretive backpacks, Native American, natural history, outdoor skills, photography, volunteer service, wildflowers and botany, as well as classes customized for families, children and women.

Founded in 1923, Yosemite Association revenues are used to support education, museum, research and environmental programs in Yosemite through donations to the National Park Service.

Outdoor Adventure participants do not have to be a member of Yosemite Association to attend field courses. However, those who wish to become a steward of Yosemite, one of the world’s most beautiful places, can join the Yosemite Association with memberships starting at $35 per year. Membership benefits include discounted room rates in and around Yosemite, a 15% discount on all outdoor adventures, subscription to “ Yosemite,” the quarterly journal of the Association, 15% discount on all books, maps, posters and calendars, and regular email newsletters. More information in available online at www.yosemite.org.

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