Mono Basin Bird Chautauqua

The Mono Basin Bird Chautauqua returns to Lee Vining, California, from June 20 through June 22, 2026, offering more than 80 field trips, workshops, and presentations amid one of North America’s most extraordinary landscapes. This annual gathering draws birders, naturalists, and nature enthusiasts to the shores of Mono Lake, where ancient tufa towers rise from alkaline waters and over two million migratory birds descend each year to feed on the lake’s teeming brine shrimp. Whether you arrive as a seasoned birder with a life list to expand or simply as someone seeking connection with wild places, the festival delivers an immersion into an ecosystem unlike anything else on the continent.

The programming unfolds across the basin’s varied terrain, with expert guides leading excursions to prime birding sites where Wilson’s Phalaropes, Eared Grebes, and California Gulls congregate in staggering numbers. Workshops explore not just avian life but the full tapestry of High Sierra ecology, covering mammals, butterflies, native plants, and the geological forces that shaped this volcanic landscape. Evening gatherings feature live music, local food, and artisan vendors who capture the creative spirit of the Eastern Sierra community. The festival has historically welcomed performers like the Side Wheelers String Band and partnered with organizations including the Eastern Sierra Audubon Society to create programming that balances scientific depth with accessible wonder.

Mono Lake itself demands exploration beyond the festival schedule. The South Tufa Area offers the most iconic views, where calcium carbonate towers sculpted over centuries emerge from the water like monuments to another world. John Muir described the Mono Basin as a place where frost and fire worked together in the making of beauty, and that poetic observation holds as true today as it did in his time. Swimming in the lake provides a buoyancy experience three times saltier than the ocean, while kayaking and paddleboarding allow quiet approach to the tufa formations and nesting bird colonies. The Mono Basin Scenic Area Visitor Center in Lee Vining offers context on the lake’s unique ecology and the conservation battles that saved it from destruction.

The surrounding landscape extends the adventure in every direction. Grey Towers and the Tioga Pass entrance to Yosemite National Park sit just twelve miles west, where Highway 120 climbs to nearly 10,000 feet through alpine meadows and past glacial lakes. Lundy Lake to the north rewards visitors with early summer wildflowers and a short but challenging hike into the Hoover Wilderness, where waterfalls, beaver ponds, and mountain meadows reveal themselves to those willing to explore. The Twenty Lakes Basin near Saddlebag Lake rivals anything in Yosemite for granite beauty, with an undulating five-mile loop through high country that feels worlds removed from civilization. Bodie State Historic Park, the most authentic ghost town in the American West, lies 23 miles northeast and offers a stark counterpoint to the basin’s natural abundance.

Dining in Lee Vining has evolved far beyond roadside expectations. Whoa Nellie Deli at the Tioga Gas Mart has achieved legendary status for serving gourmet fare including lobster taquitos, wild buffalo meatloaf, and fish tacos prepared with serious culinary intent. The Mono Inn overlooks the lake with sunset views and a welcoming atmosphere that makes every meal feel like an occasion. Nicely’s Restaurant serves hearty American breakfasts and comfort food that fuels long days in the field, while Mono Cone has scooped soft-serve ice cream as a local institution since 1947. Epic Cafe offers espresso and baked goods, including gluten-free options, for mornings that begin before the birds wake.

A vacation rental on Lake.com positions you perfectly for early morning field trips and late evening stargazing in some of the darkest skies in California. With accommodations in this small town filling quickly during the festival, booking early ensures you have a comfortable base from which to explore the remarkable convergence of birds, geology, and community that makes the Mono Basin Bird Chautauqua so singular. Reserve your stay on Lake.com and prepare to witness nature at its most abundant.