Whether you are an artist, a scientist, a birdwatcher, or just someone who is interested in learning about our natural open spaces (and Nevada has a lot!) these workshops are for you! Four years ago, the Northwest Nevada Bird Alliance introduced the practice of nature journaling with two well-known artists and science teachers, John Muir Laws (aka Jack) and Christine Elder. (Click here to see the videos.) Thanks to a grant from the Nevada Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts, we are bringing Jack to Nevada! What better way to explore the natural world than to celebrate one of nature’s most spectacular phenomena. Shorebirds are some of our longest-distance flyers and it is a wondrous sight to see them on the move. The vast landscapes of the Great Basin, with the varying shades of clouds and sky reflected in the still waters of the desert, make a dramatic backdrop for this spectacle. Join us as we introduce John Muir Laws to Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge! You won’t want to miss this! The wetlands provide an important resource for food, water, and resting areas for birds as they journey through the western hemisphere.
 
John Muir Laws is a principal leader and innovator of the worldwide nature journaling movement. He is a naturalist, artist, and educator who has dedicated his work to connecting people to nature through art and science. A co-founder and president of the Wild Wonder Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to encouraging nature connection and conservation through attention, curiosity, art, science, and community, and an author of multiple books including The Laws Guide to the Sierra Nevada (2007), The Laws Guide to Drawing Birds (2012), How to Teach Nature Journaling (2020), and more. Jack is a revered artist, teacher and an inspiration to us all.

In this special series of workshops, Jack invites us into the world of nature journaling, to learn about one of our important National Wildlife Refuges, to grow our curiosity, and to develop the practice of journaling as a way to enrich our own knowledge, skills, and life experiences.

Even if you are not an artist, you can learn to draw and Jack will give you the tools to do this. He will share some of his favorite field techniques during our explorations. As he says, “Give it one year of drawing dangerously.” The more we explore, the more we practice, and the more we engage with others in our community, the more we will improve. And as our notes, sketches, and drawing skills improve, the more we notice our world and can be amazed at what there is to discover.

 Join us as we introduce Jack to the wonders of spring bird migration on the Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge in Fallon, NV. What will we see and discover? A world is waiting!

A $5 discount is available for Northwest Nevada Bird Alliance members. Email us at contact@nevadaaudubon.org if you are a new member and have not received the discount code.

If you are an educator, please join us for a special workshop on Sunday morning, April 19, in Reno, as Jack will share his prompts and techniques to help you bring nature journaling into your lessons and activities. Nature Journaling is a great way to incorporate STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) principles into your teachings.

Recommended materials to bring: Sketchbook and favorite portable drawing tools. For the field sessions, you might consider packing a portable chair or jacket to sit on, binoculars/spotting scope, water, sunscreen, hat, and sturdy walking shoes.

The Northwest Nevada Bird Alliance (formerly Lahontan Audubon Society) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. We are a chapter of the National Audubon Society and based in Reno, Nevada. Our mission is to preserve and improve the remaining habitat of birds and other wildlife, restore historical habitat, and educate people, especially children, about birds in our unique Nevada environments. We thank the Nevada Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts for providing grant funds that enable us to offer this special interactive workshop with John Muir Laws. All proceeds from this workshop will be used to support the artist and our birding community. All ticket sales are final. There will be no refunds unless a class is canceled.

The lollipop barn owl gets a workout at the Riverside Farmers Market at Idlewild park during the summer when Northwest Nevada Bird Alliance sets up a booth. The soft feathers are ruffled, the pointed talons are touched. The big glass eyes of the Red-tailed Hawk bore into the meandering crowd. 

“Have you ever seen an owl up close?” asks Patty Moen, stepping out of the booth. The barn owl on a stick is offered to passers-by, especially to a curious child. Patty is an AmeriCorps member, serving as the Community Outreach Coordinator for NNBA. She works with the Education Committee and helps with the numerous requests NNBA receives to deliver programs on birds. She assists with many of the programs that NNBA offers in classrooms, field trips and events, and, well, the Riverside Farmers Market booth. Over the course of a year, Dr. Alan Gubanich, the lead presenter, Patty, and other volunteers may reach over 3,000 people.

The NNBA booth at the farmers market owes its existence to one of the founders of Lahontan Audubon Society, the late Dr. John Davis. He died in May 2023 leaving behind a large collection of books on birds and nature. His widow generously donated the collection to NNBA, which included 28 boxes of bird related books (a small fraction of his total library). What were we to do with them? We felt that it was important to get them into the hands of a new generation of readers. Patty reached out to the Riverside Farmers Market to see if we could sell the books there. It has proved to be a wonderful opportunity to connect with the community. Some people are drawn in when they see books, and others are drawn in by the taxidermy birds. Now at the end of the second year, the number of books has been whittled down, and we have received more book donations from other community members. 

Meanwhile, over a season at the Riverside Farmers Market, several hundred visitors are exposed to the Great Horned Owl, a Cooper’s Hawk, a Great Blue Heron, an American Coot selected for each time we attend. NNBA has about three hundred taxidermy bird mounts to draw from. NNBA has a USFWS permit to receive dead birds, take them to a taxidermist to have them mounted, and then used for education purposes. At the end of the year, the barn owl, great horned owl and other birds will become part of a report on where, how often these display birds are used, and the number of people that were exposed to them. The mounts are invaluable. While some people are unsure about them at first, they are often surprised by their beauty and amazed by the softness of the owl’s feathers. We rarely get to see live birds so close, so in their deaths these birds are able to reach people, and help us to teach the community. 

In the meantime, our monthly visits to the Riverside Farmers Market are an ideal place for birds—even stuffed ones—and the public to mix. The NNBA attended their final Farmers Market for the season at the end of November. We will be back next spring. Maybe next year you might like to help and show a passerby the lollipop owl.

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Bird festivals are flourishing lately, which isn’t unexpected. There are an estimated 96 million birders in the US (1). That amounts to around 37% of the whole population over the age of 16 engaging in birding activities. The elder population 65+ years is 23% of the birding population. This often-retired population with time and a sufficient income is a ready market for leisure birding festivals and appreciates a little guidance. Bird festivals are a vacation with a purpose. My takeaway from the two festivals I attended is that many festival attendants are over 60 years old and white. However, the US Fish & Wildlife survey indicates that a significant percentage of birders are actually Asian American. Many birders are neighborhood or backyard birders only. Amy Tan’s popular new book “The Backyard Bird Chronicles” fits this demographic. She is 73 years old and Chinese American. She became a birder partly to avoid distressing national news. She observed birds at her window, learned about them, and then expressed her interests as an author and artist by writing a book. Her book was on the bestseller list for five weeks.

I became a fan of bird festivals this year after attending two of them with Linda St-Cyr. The first, in early August, was the Southeast Arizona Birding Festival sponsored by the Tucson Bird Alliance…yes, it was hot. The other, “The Sandhill Crane Festival,” was in Lodi in early November. I recommend both. In fact, I am researching when and where my next bird festival trip will be. Over 750 people attended the Tucson Bird Festival. Because of the valley heat, vans left festival headquarters at 5:30 a.m. either for long day trips into the mountains or half day trips in the valley. There were also “drive there yourself” trips where a guide awaited your arrival. At the headquarters, there were 40 exhibitors and a speakers list as well. The afternoons were hot, too hot to get in the pool where one could burn. But in the ballroom exhibit area were vendors offering binoculars and scopes, promoters for birding trips, and bird artists. Two other rooms provided a variety of speakers. So much temptation! Hard to leave a festival without a memento, which I didn’t.

While seeing a variety of birds during a tour is the priority and ideally seeing the bird before it flies off is the goal, I was not successful all the time—but I was happy when a bird would nicely stay in place until I located it. Another service of the guide is to post the full list on eBird. This list jogs the memory. I relied on the guide and also good birders within our group to both find and name the birds. Some were common for Tucson and its environs like the Gila, Arizona, Acorn, and Ladder-backed Woodpeckers; Purple Martin; Curve-billed Thrasher; Gray, Zone-tailed, and Harris’ Hawks; Mexican Duck; Common Ground, White-winged, and Inca Doves; Yellow- breasted Chat;, Abert’s Towhee; Greater Roadrunner; Phainopepla; Hooded and Scott’s Orioles; Summer, Hepatic, and Western Tanagers; four species of kingbirds; five species of vireos; eleven species of sparrows; nine species of flycatchers; and eleven species of hummingbirds, some on nests!

A whiteboard in the exhibitor’s room noted the unusual birds and other wildlife for the day. On one of my trips, we walked near a diamondback rattlesnake, which let us know its presence. Linda’s group saw Arizona Whiptail Lizards with a strikingly bright blue tail used to distract predators.

By contrast the Sandhill Crane Festival in Lodi is smaller. But popular tours such as boat rides in the Sacramento River Delta or touring via boat on the Pardee Reservoir to see Bald Eagles (we saw six) can fill quickly. Being with an experienced birder especially knowledgeable about Sandhill Cranes is a great introduction, so the first afternoon seeing Greater and Lesser Sandhill Cranes together was helpful. Also, I was amazed by flocks of Killdeer, far from the few scattered small groups as they are often here in Reno. Another plus for us were the wetlands near the Consumnes Refuge where waterfowl swim unafraid of people. We especially enjoyed the flocks of hundreds of Northern Pintail ducks that are so rare to see here in Nevada. And on our Delta boat trip we enjoyed a long look at a mink hunting along the shore. Our trip to a Bureau of Land Management facility on the Consumnes delta area was moved to a Nature Conservancy property because of the federal shutdown. A first-time bird for me there was the White-tailed Kite which obligingly sat on a bush for over an hour.

An unexpected sight at the The Nature Conservancy's Consumes wetlands was a Bald Eagle intent on a meal swooping down on resting Greater White-fronted Geese…several thousand of them. They rose in unison with loud cries while the coots dived under water, and the Canada Goose (too heavy to be carried off) never moved. The eagle swooped several times with no success, then landed to rest. Once aloft again, the eagle seemed to half-heartedly try one more time before flying off.


References:
1. Birding in the United States: A Demographic and Economic Analysis, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. https://www.fws.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2024-11/2022-birding-in-the-us-demographic-and-economic-analysis.pdf Report 2022-4/November 20
See Bird Festivals.

2.https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/birding-festivals/


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Disclaimer – I am not a doctor.  These are just my own experiences.  I am 72 years old.

Hearing Aids – Birding convinced me to get hearing aids. I went on a walk where the leader (Ned Bohman from GBBO, no slouch at birding!) heard 29 Rock Wrens. I heard just ONE Rock Wren. The very next day, I made an appointment at Costco to get hearing aids.  
My hearing aids interface with a phone app, so right before I go on a walk, I boost the high frequencies via the frequency plot in my phone app. My favorite high-frequency birds are Bushtits. To me, they sound like a bunch of tinkling bells. I guess I must enjoy my hearing aids because if I go on a walk and realize that I’ve forgotten to put them on, I get really annoyed with myself. The “voice recognition” setting in the phone app also helps me in the book club to hear what is being said. I still use subtitles for movies & TV, though. Hearing aids haven’t helped much there.

Cataract Operation – I just scheduled, so I can’t report on results, just the research.  There seem to be many things to consider, but most resolve to choosing the number of focal points for the replacement lenses. There is an option to combine 2 or 3 focal lengths; in other words, you can have a lens implanted that would allow you to 1) see at distance and 2) read closeup and 3) do middle-focus things (like working on computers and reading music), all without glasses. In a way, it would resemble bifocals or trifocals, EXCEPT the images are superimposed upon each other, not separated as they are in glasses. Your brain handles the superposition to select the image that is in focus.  

I rejected this because it splits the incoming light to service each of these goals.  Multiple focal distances means that when birding, not all of the light is being focused for the bird’s distance. They say that this is most noticeable at night when lights (e.g. car headlights) seem to have halos around them. The halos exist because some of the light is not focused for distance vision, and the unfocused light creates the halo. Since sunlight on a sunny day is usually way in excess of what we need in order to see well, perhaps it makes little difference to sacrifice some of the incoming daylight to the focal lengths that are not needed when birding. But I found one mention attributed to a doctor that “visual acuity and contrast would be less than with a single focus lens” which would be consistent with sacrificing some light. Some terms for the multifocus lenses are “continuous focus IOL” (Intraocular Lens) or “extended depth of focus IOL.” I also noticed reports that depth perception can be affected by these lenses, I think probably because the brain is choosing between objects that simultaneously appear to be in focus but are at different distances.

All of the people I spoke with who had undergone cataract surgery chose 1 focal length, a distant focal length. Then glasses would be used for reading or working on the computer. Birding would only require glasses perhaps for using eBird or referencing written bird information like Merlin provides. Otherwise you could go birding with just your binoculars, no glasses.

One way to research your own personal preferences is to get some disposable contact lenses.  (The new disposables are very comfortable; I didn’t require any adjustment at all.) That approximates what you would experience after a cataract operation that was done for a single distant focal length. Also, for example, I briefly considered doing one eye for distance and one for close reading, and I simulated this, too, with contacts; I left one contact in and one contact out (since I am near-sighted, this approximated one distance eye and one reading eye).  Having different focal lengths in each eye wouldn’t impact birding while using binoculars because each eye of the binoculars can be adjusted separately. The binoculars worked perfectly for both eyes after I readjusted them.  However, that means that I was scouting for birds with only one eye (the one that had a contact lens). The other eye was useless for scouting since it is extremely near-sighted. I didn’t like that!   

Using contact lenses also lets you know how annoying you will find it to be to carry around reading glasses and middle-focus glasses if you opt for single focus (distant) in your cataract operation. If that’s a deal-breaker, you’re back to considering the lenses with 2 or 3 built-in focal lengths. By using contact lenses, I found that I can usually decipher enough of the eBird screen to record my birds without resorting to reading glasses, probably because I have the eBird list somewhat memorized, but I definitely checked the list at home with my reading glasses on before submitting. Be advised that multiple focal lengths add significant cost to the operation. Likewise, corrections for astigmatism, if your eyes need that. Astigmatism can be determined from your glasses prescription.

Contact lenses are also nice if you find yourself outside on a slightly rainy day.  Birding doesn’t have to be cancelled when it rains—after all, the birds still have to go out and find something to eat!

Oddly, I didn’t find any birder opinions on multifocal lenses on the internet. But I did find one birder who wrote about her cataract experience (she got the standard one-focal-distance lenses), and included some fascinating photos to show how her cataracts changed the colors she saw:
https://blog.lauraerickson.com/2019/12/i-can-see-clearly-now.html

​One thing she mentions is that by having the cataracts removed and birding without glasses, she can use the binocular’s eyecups to block peripheral light. If you use the link above, you will find other well-written articles listed along the right hand side that detail her full cataract experience, including the operation.   

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We are honored to share that the Northwest Nevada Bird Alliance—formerly known as the Lahontan Audubon Society—has been awarded the 2025 100% Giving Board Award from the Community Foundation of Northern Nevada.
This recognition is more than a badge.

It reflects the heart of our organization: a board that is deeply committed to protecting birds, expanding access to nature, and strengthening our region’s conservation community.

What the Award Means
The 100% Giving Board Award is given to nonprofit organizations whose board members demonstrate complete, unified participation in giving. This includes contributions of:

• Time — volunteering at events, leading field trips, mentoring new birders, and supporting community programs
• Expertise — offering scientific knowledge, strategic planning, and stewardship experience
• Financial Support — investing personally in the mission to ensure sustainability and growth

Having every board member participate underscores a shared belief:

Our work matters. Our birds matter. Our community matters.

Why This Matters for Conservation
​A fully engaged board sends a powerful message to donors, partners, and volunteers. It tells the region:
“We believe in this mission enough to lead by example.”
For conservation organizations like ours, funding translates into real impact:

• Preserving habitat
• Hosting public bird walks and educational programs
• Supporting youth birding initiatives
• Providing resources for community science
• Protecting species that rely on Nevada’s unique desert and wetlands

Every hour given and every dollar donated extends the reach of these efforts.

A Community Effort
While this award recognizes our board, the achievement is shared across the entire Northwest Nevada Bird Alliance family—members, volunteers, sponsors, and the countless bird enthusiasts who show up with binoculars, curiosity, and care.
Every event attended, every checklist submitted, every new birder welcomed strengthens the roots of our organization.

Looking Ahead
This award energizes us as we continue:

• Expanding free and low-cost birding programs
• Introducing more families and students to Nevada’s birdlife
• Supporting conservation efforts statewide
• Advocating for habitat protection
• Celebrating the beauty and biodiversity of Northwest Nevada

Our board’s 100% commitment mirrors the dedication we see in our members and our community.
Thank you for helping us protect and appreciate the birds that make our region so extraordinary.

Join Us Outside
Whether you’ve been birding for decades or just learned the name of your first sparrow, you’re always welcome at our walks, programs, and events.

Together, we’ll continue nurturing a community that values wildlife, stewardship, and the joy of discovery. 

Panama City
We spent our first night in Panama City at a hotel near the airport. Despite being in the city, we were still surrounded by sights and sounds of tropical bird life. In the trees around our hotel, we came upon a beautiful Squirrel Cuckoo on our evening walk. The large cuckoo was calling right above our heads, its long tail draped far below the branch on which it sat. Far above in the distant sky we noticed thousands of Black Vultures (and some Turkey Vultures) on the move – appearing almost like a swarm of insects, riding the thermals. We saw many other species on our evening walk, including several types of tropical tanagers, flycatchers, and a family of Yellow-headed Caracaras. A little Ruddy Ground Dove peeked out from a small palm tree in the parking lot of the hotel. Everywhere we looked there were new species – in the treetops, on telephone wires, inside the palms. We went to sleep that night having just experienced a small taste of Panama birding.​

We stayed in the Canopy Tower for 3 nights. In the mornings and evenings, we sat on the rooftop observation deck, drinking coffee or wine, and watched as animals emerged from the treetops. We stood eye-to-eye with two-toed and three-toed sloths, along with a suite of bird species considered canopy specialists: Blue Cotinga, Black-headed Tody-Flycatcher, Brown-capped Tyrannulet, several species of parrots, and a Collared Aracari were some of the highlights. ​

While in the Gamboa area, we made short day trips out to other famous birding spots including Pipeline Road and locations around the Panama Canal. Pipeline Road is famous for its ant-birding – that is, for the many species of antbirds, antpittas, antvireos, antwrens, antthrushes, (etc.) that can be observed there. These birds specialize (some of them more religiously than others) in following swarms of army ants and feeding on the insects that the ants flush out of their hiding places. Indeed – by the time we left Pipeline Road, we had seen 11 species of ant-things, including a beautiful and sneaky Streak-chested Antpitta. ​

After settling into our lowland rainforest home, we set our minds on the Harpy Eagle. The trek to see this incredible species in the wild included an early morning rise followed by a bus ride south and east to Yaviza, a boat ride up the Chucunaque River, a truck ride from a small riverside community to Darien National Park, a horseback ride into the park, and short hike to a known Harpy Eagle nest. Members of the Emberá community guided us once we reached Yaviza, including driving our boats, leading our horses and helping us cross the river in the park. ​

​When we approached the Harpy Eagle nest, we were told to be very quiet so as not to disturb a member of this vulnerable species. Harpy Eagle pairs only nest once every two or three years because raising an eaglet takes ~2 years! The nest had been monitored by members of the tribe for over a year, and now the single chick the pair had raised was branching, or beginning to leave the nest and perching on the surrounding branches. The pair had nested near the top of a giant cuipo tree, the most commonly used nest tree of the Harpy Eagle and a dominant tree species of the lowland tropical rainforest. Mature cuipo trees can reach over 200 ft in height, so the Emberá guides positioned us on a hillside above the nest tree. From there, we had a marvelous view of a gigantic downy chick – basically the size of an adult, with massive muscular legs and a silly downy crown made of feathers of uneven lengths. The chick was calling out with a piercing, high pitched whistle, begging for food from the parents – which were nowhere to be seen. At this stage in development, the parents only come to feed the chick once every 2-3 days, dropping off a whole sloth or monkey to tide the chick over until the next feeding, so seeing the parents is highly unlikely. The privilege of seeing a Harpy Eagle in the wild, let alone a wild-born and raised chick, was unreal, and we were all ecstatic, including our Emberá guides, and we shared a moment of fascination with the natural world.

August 3–16, 2025

Have you ever had a penguin or sea lion look you in the eye through your snorkel mask? Or had a Booted Racket-tail land on your hand or head, its tiny wings brushing your skin? Or been stopped on a trail by a Blue-footed Booby and its chick, refusing to move even though you're just inches away? These were just a few of the unforgettable moments we experienced on the LAS Ecuador and Galápagos trip, organized by Holbrook Travel, which far exceeded our expectations—for birds, scenery, expert guides, and great camaraderie.

Chocó Andes: Hummingbirds, Antpittas & More
Our group of eleven (*see below) began our journey in Quito, where we met our incredible birding guide, Antonio. After a welcome orientation, we headed toward the Mindo region via the highlands, and our birding adventure began almost immediately. On the way, we were treated to a rare soaring display by a pair of Andean Condors, and a moment with the spectacular Sword-billed Hummingbird. Continuing on and climbing to 11,000 feet, we reached Yanacocha Reserve, part of the Jocotoco Foundation network (*see “Our Story” below). Here, we encountered a dazzling array of hummingbirds including Shining Sunbeam, Green-tailed Trainbearer, and Sparkling Violetear. A stream crossing produced a lovely White-capped Dipper. We arrived at Sachatamia Lodge just before dusk, welcomed by Golden, Flame-faced, and Lemon-rumped Tanagers—and a curious agouti. Our first toast? Warm pineapple juice with aguardiente!
Over three full days in the Mindo area, we enjoyed a very full birding itinerary. At a pre-dawn blind, we watched as moth-attracting sheets brought in hungry birds. Within an hour, we had Long-Wattled Umbrellabird, Scaly-throated Foliage-gleaner, and Strong-billed Woodcreeper and many more, while a Golden-headed Quetzal sang overhead. At Reserva Amagusa, we had fantastic views of two Chocó endemics: Moss-backed Tanager and Rose-faced Parrot, plus a beautiful Orange-breasted Fruiteater. A dawn hike to a Andean Cock-of-the-Rock lek offered an extraordinary display: 10–15 males dancing and calling, with two females egging them on. At Ángel Paz’s Refugio Paz de las Aves, we witnessed the legendary antpitta feeding, spotting Giant, Yellow-breasted, and Ochre-breasted Antpittas. At Alambi Reserve, we enjoyed our first great look at White-necked Jacobin, among hundreds of hummingbirds. From the tower at Sachatamia Lodge, we also logged the endemic Chocó Toucan.

Cultural Stops & Heading to the Islands
Before returning to Quito, we made some non-birding but equally delightful stops: the Mariposario de Mindo (butterfly farm), Jardín de Orquídeas, a private orchid garden, and a delicious tour and tasting at Mindo Chocolate Makers. At the Intiñan Solar Museum on the equator, we had an entertaining tour to learn about the latitudinal hemispheres.  Near the airport, we spotted our first Cocoi Heron. That evening, Ecuadorian bird illustrator Juan Manuel Carrión gave a fascinating talk about the Ecuador’s biodiversity and that of the 13 countries the equator crosses. What an end to our brief time on the mainland!

To the Enchanted Isles: Galápagos Begins
We said farewell to our mainland guide and flew to the Galápagos Islands. As you probably know, the Galápagos Islands, located west of mainland Ecuador, are an archipelago of volcanic islands. We mostly know of the the Galápagos as the inspiration for Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution based on his experiences there. The islands are all protected as part of the Galápagos National Park and Marine Reserve. We left the airport and boarded the comfortable Tip Top IV, our transport and accommodation for the next 8 days. Our first landing was North Seymour Island, where Magnificent and Great Frigatebirds were nesting, many with inflated red throat sacs. We marveled at Blue-footed Boobies with eggs and chicks—so close you could almost touch them. On Española Island, we watched Waved Albatross performing their courtship dances and saw Nazca Boobies on nests. Endemic species included the Española Mockingbird, Gray Warbler-Finch, and we also saw Small and Española Ground Finches. At Gardner Bay, Galápagos Sea Lions swam among us as we snorkeled.

Red-footed Boobies, Dolphin Encounters, and the Charles Darwin Research Center
Moving on to San Cristóbal Island, we observed Red-footed Boobies and the San Cristóbal Mockingbird at Punta Pitt on the island. Along the hike, we added Small and Medium Ground Finches to our list. Enroute to our next landing, a pod of 200+ Bottlenose Dolphins surrounded our boat, jumping and tail-slapping—one of the highlights of the trip. At Cerro Brujo, we walked a pristine beach and snorkeled with colorful reef fish and a Whitetip Reef Shark. The next day we docked in Puerto Ayora, the largest town in the Galápagos, for a visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station, learning about Galápagos Giant Tortoise conservation and the unique ecosystems of the islands. In the highlands, we walked among giant tortoises, visited lava tunnels, and admired the Scalesia forest, home to the famous giant daisy trees of the Galápagos Islands. A free hour in town gave us a chance to relax and shop.

Marine Iguanas, Tropicbirds, and Kayaking
We moved on to Santa Fe Island where we hiked among tall Opuntia cacti in search of Santa Fe Land Iguanas. Afterward, snorkeling and kayaking in Barrington Bay revealed Hawksbill Turtles and dazzling reef fish. South Plaza Island offered cliff-top views of soaring Red-billed Tropicbirds, Galápagos Shearwaters, and more. In the water below, Mullet and Angelfish fed at the surface. We enjoyed the brisk breeze off the sea, enticing the birds to perform acrobatics in the wind. The next day after our boat traveled in the night we hiked to the summit of Bartolomé Island beside the iconic Pinnacle Rock, learning about volcanic formations from various epochs. Our snorkel there was unforgettable--Galápagos Penguins, Marble Rays, Galápagos Sea Lions, Hawksbill Turtles, and White-tip Reef Sharks swam nearby. Later, at Sullivan Bay on Santiago Island, we explored surreal lava formations, then cruised past the rocks to see three more penguins!

Flamingoes and Final Farewells
Our final day brought us to Rábida Island, which dazzled us with its red-hued sands. A coral reef snorkel added more fish, Whitetip Reef Shark, and a group of five Galápagos Penguins darting across the reef. At Chinese Hat Island, a playful young penguin entertained us underwater during a snorkel. A final hike revealed Marine Iguanas gathering in lava tubes as high tide approached—a magical end to our Galápagos experience.
On our final day we got up early for our final landing, a brackish lagoon at Playa las Baches where we spotted American Flamingos and White-cheeked Pintails, and on a short hike, both Cactus Finch and Galápagos Flycatcher made long-awaited appearances.
A final dinner in Quito was a celebration of all we saw and experienced. In the birding arena, we tallied 183 mainland Ecuador species and 50 Galapagos species. We also learned so much about the rich biodiversity of not only Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands, but also the equatorial landscape of our world. This information was complimented by meeting and supporting the people dedicating their lives to sharing their stories and protecting these wild landscapes and birds. It was truly a trip of a lifetime.

* LAS Trip Participants: Valerie Andersen, Reno; Lori Austin, Oakland, CA; Stephani Foraker, Buffalo, NY; David Forsyth and Alesia McManus, West Sacramento, CA; Theresa and Ron Jones, Carson City; Kathy Oakes, Reno; Suzie and Dave Roberts, Reno; Kath Giel, Reno.
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**Our Story: The Jocotoco Foundation
Many years ago, a small group of birders exploring a remote mountain slope in southern Ecuador heard an unfamiliar song. As they approached, a bird leapt onto a branch before them—unknown to science. It would soon be named the Jocotoco Antpitta, and the forest became the Tapichalaca Reserve.
That discovery inspired the formation of the Jocotoco Foundation, which has since protected rare species and habitats throughout Ecuador, expanded into marine conservation, and restored countless acres of cloud forest. Jocotoco is a powerful example of how a small local effort can have national—and global—impact.
Learn more

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     Animal Ark Wildlife Sanctuary recently hosted an Education Expo that taught just about everyone involved in one way or another. It was a beautiful, day-long event, the first of its kind, and it left everyone eager to return next year. I volunteered with the Lahontan Audubon Society, anticipating a day of measuring children’s wingspans, holding up Great Horned Owl talons, and doing my best to answer all bird-related questions. What I wasn’t expecting was how often I’d be asked, “Is it dead?”

     Our table held an endless amount of information, presented in various forms: a poster board discussing the dangers of plastic, displays of different nests, and—most notably—several taxidermied birds. For the first couple of hours, a steady flow of families entered Animal Ark, and our table was one of their first stops. It wasn’t until the third child looked at the taxidermied barn owl and asked what was wrong with it that I began to wonder; what must it be like for a child to come to a wildlife sanctuary expecting live animals, only to come face-to-face with deceased ones—and for some, to hold them in their hands?

     I approached each visitor with the same level of caution they showed as they approached our table. Some were eager to learn, asking as many questions as they could before their parents shuffled them along to the next attraction. Some never attempted to touch a single feather on any of our birds. My favorite moments, however, were with the children who interacted with the taxidermied species the way I imagine they play with stuffed animals at home. I heard some children give the red-tailed hawk a name as it lay in their arms. One child even kissed the stomach of an owl as they gently returned it to the table. As I watched these encounters, I tried to gauge what the child was ready to hear about why these animals were with us. A couple of parents were one step ahead of me, quickly saying, “They’re sleeping,” before anything else could be said. Other parents were ready to turn it into a lesson, urging their kids to “ask the workers what happened to the bird.” Whether the child had endless questions or stayed silent, they all walked away with the same curious look on their faces.

     It didn’t take long for me to see the art of taxidermy in a new light. I started to think about the kind of connection it offers and how meaningful that connection can be, despite its strangeness. There were some questions about the educational value versus the emotional impact of displaying these birds so openly, but I realized how important it is to embrace the possible discomfort rather than avoid it. Taxidermy allows us to get close to birds in a way we can’t through other means. For many children, it might be their first tactile moment with a real bird. That kind of experience can spark a lasting appreciation for wildlife. Holding a bird, even one that’s no longer alive, can make it feel more real than any photo or video ever could. That moment is an introduction to something that matters. It can plant the seeds of care and curiosity for nature at a young age. 

     I’ve tabled many times and seen taxidermy animals just as often, but this day made me understand what this form of education really offers. Before, I thought of these animals as real-life illustrations to accompany facts. I assumed I had already learned everything I could just by glancing at them. But being on the other side of the table helped me realize just how much is being taught through these materials and how deep that knowledge can go. 
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     Lahontan Audubon Society has made this knowledge and these resources accessible and interesting; I hope our community will take advantage of this organization and keep it alive for future generations. 

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