Join TINS for a Bird and Nature Walk at Glacier Way in Tahoe Donner, Truckee, where we will set out on an outdoor adventure to explore local habitats and search for seasonal birds. This guided outing offers a chance to slow down, observe, and connect with the natural world while learning more about the species that call this area home.

As we hike, we will take in beautiful views overlooking Donner Lake and the surrounding Sierra Nevada mountains. The route is a moderate 4-mile hike with some elevation gain, offering a rewarding mix of forested trails, open viewpoints, and excellent birding opportunities along the way.

Expect a beautiful day outside filled with fresh mountain air, scenic vistas, and plenty of time to stop for birds, wildlife, and nature observations. Whether you are an experienced birder or simply curious about the natural world, this outing is a great way to explore Tahoe Donner in good company.

Please bring binoculars, water, a snack, and sunscreen. If you need binoculars to loan, please email sarah@tinsweb.org

Thank you to our sponsors for supporting this outing

Our friends at the Tahoe & Sierra Valley Chapter of California Native Plant Society are hosting a talk. Read Below:

Blow Your Mind Botany Talk

Don’t just sit there and vegetate!  What an insult to the largest mass of biodiversity on Earth and the endless benefits that it provides to all our planet’s species.  Are these “non-moving” creatures sentient? Do they communicate among themselves or with other species? Can they anticipate the future and plan ahead? Can they solve our climate crisis? 

Let’s dive deeply into the current scientific research that causes departments of plant neurobiology to emerge at higher-level institutions around the world.

Joe Medeiros, Professor Emeritus of Botany and Ecology - Sierra College, Rocklin, CA

Joe has lived and hiked in the Sierra for more than 60 years and taught full-time for 35. He was a seasonal National Park Ranger (in the Sierra, of course!) and has led countless field trips around the US and the world.  He is a card-carrying tree-hugger and dirt-worshiper.

Bob Anderson was (among many other notable things!!) a TINS Board Member, whose life was cut tragically short in 2013. Each year we honor Bob’s memory with a beautiful hike among the wildflowers and scenery of Carson Pass, following the loop that Bob, Grace, and family took on his last day hike in July of that year.

All are welcome, whether you knew Bob or not!

We will meet at 8:00 at the Woods Creek trailhead parking lot and cast off from there. Directions can be found by clicking HERE. Note that this is a Fee Area parking lot; I believe the parking fee is now $10 (unclear if Interagency Passes are accepted).

Each year we alternate between clockwise and counter-clockwise, hitting either Winnemucca Lake or Round Top Lake first, followed by the other.

Keep in mind that this is a slightly longer outing than most of our bird or botany hikes, so be prepared for covering about 6.5 miles, and definitely bring water and a snack (and your swimsuit if so inclined!) for a break at Round Top Lake. After the hike, we will raise a toast to Bob back at our cars, so consider an appropriate beverage and perhaps something tasty to share.

Botanical Discovery Hike at Shirley Canyon

This challenging hike follows Shirley Canyon Trail through a diverse montane landscape rich in wildflowers and native flora. Participants are welcome to turn around before the rocky section near Shirley Lake, or continue to High Camp for a total of approximately 4–5 miles and 2,000 feet of elevation gain, with the fun option to take the tram down. Park in the main Palisades Tahoe parking lot and follow signs for the Shirley Canyon Trail. Meet outside the TRAM restrooms at 9AM, then walk approximately 7 minutes to the trailhead.

The route is steep, rocky, and dusty, providing opportunities to observe and discuss plant id and ecological adaptation across an elevational gradient.

Target species include:

·       Narrowleaf onion (Allium amplectens)

·       Sierra laurel (Leucothoe davisiae)

·       California skullcap (Scutellaria californica)

·       Rock goldenbush (Ericameria cuneata var. cuneata)

·       Gray’s broomrape (Aphyllon californicum var. grayanum)

·       Spokane false goldenaster (Heterotheca villosa var.minor)

·       Bear Valley wild buckwheat (Eriogonum ursinum var.ursinum)

·       Western maidenhair fern (Adiantum aleuticum)

The hike is designed for those interested in botany, native plants, and citizen science. Participants should be prepared for an arduous hike and variable mountain weather.

About the Leader

Molly Ferry is a botanist and ecological consultant who has lived in South Lake Tahoe for 25 years. She is currently leading the second edition revision of Plants of the Tahoe Basin, a comprehensive field guide documenting the region’s flora through plant stewardship, floristic research, ethnobotany, and large-scale citizen science.

Registration Required

Join TINS and our partners at the Tahoe Rim Trail Association for a guided walk through the beautiful Page Meadows in search of vibrant mountain wildflowers and native bird species along Tahoe’s scenic West Shore. This leisurely outing offers a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the natural beauty of the Sierra, learn about the local ecosystem, and connect with fellow outdoor enthusiasts. We hope to see you on the trail!

Difficulty
Intermediate: steady climb during the first mile

Distance
3 miles round trip

Location
Ward Creek Tahoe Rim Trail Trailhead

In 2010, TINS initiated an annual butterfly count, centered on Osgood Swamp and encompassing much of the southern Tahoe basin (view map of count circle). The goals of the counts are threefold: to (1) gather data to monitor butterfly populations, (2) give butterfly enthusiasts a chance to socialize and have fun, and (3) to increase public awareness and interest in butterflies and butterfly conservation needs. Experts from around the state have joined the Tahoe count, and more experienced butterfly enthusiasts will be assigned to cover various portions of the count circle, either solo or in small teams. All are welcome, however. We primarily use the count to generate interest in butterflies, and beginners can have a great time learning the basics.

Anyone interested in participating, please contact Will Richardson to be kept up to date on the latest information regarding the 2026 count. Note - please leave a phone number and a good time to call so we can discuss your experience, interest, and how you can best participate.

For more information on the annual South Lake Tahoe NABA Butterfly Count itself, click HERE.

***Please note that there is a separate waiver required by the UC Sagehen Creek Field Station.***

Sagehen Creek Field Station Waiver - Please digitally sign and email to sagehen@berkeley.edu by Thursday, July 9

Join TINS staff and others as we document life in the Sagehen Basin during a morning bioblitz! A bioblitz is a detailed study of biodiversity in a specific location over a specific period of time, bringing volunteers and experts together.

Naturalists of all ages and skill levels are welcome. Just bring your smartphone or camera, and your enthusiasm, and together we will look for birds, mammals, insects, spiders, and wildflowers.

If you want to use the iNaturalist application on your phone, please be sure to download it prior to arrival. However, we personally prefer to upload images to iNaturalist from a camera later using the web interface and a computer, so be aware that also is an option.

Practice with making iNaturalist observations beforehand is recommended but not required.

Plan on reconvening at noon for lunch and a quick taxonomic tally. We also will have an optional afternoon session for those that want to spend a full day exploring, and we may even conduct insect light-trapping at the field station for a few hours the previous evening.

We will be sending more information out via email the week of the blitz, but if you have any questions in the meantime, you can contact Will Richardson

email: will@tinsweb.org

or phone: 775.298.0065

Meet at 8:45 AM at Meiss Meadows Sno-Park (parking fee required).

This guided half-day hike covers approximately 4–5 miles along Meiss Ridge. Participants will help search for priority plant species while learning to identify alpine perennials adapted to high winds, shallow soils,and persistent snowpack. The hike focuses on plant identification, habitat relationships, and field-based botanical survey methods.

This botanical field excursion combinesexploration with map-based plant hunts focused on:

·       Timberline sagebrush (Artemesia rockrothii)

·       Slender draba and Olympic draba (Draba albertina, D. novolympica)

·       Nevada grounddaisy (Townsendia scapigera)

·       Kruckeberg’s sword fern (Polystichum kruckebergii)

·       Alpine flames (Pyrrocoma apargioides)

·       Greene’s thistle (Cirsium inamoenum var. i)

·       Dwarf alpine hawk’s-beard (Askellia pygmaea)

And a mystery Gilia that stumped Molly last year. 

The hike is designed for those interested in botany, native plants, and citizen science. Participants should be prepared for moderate, off-trail hiking conditions and variable mountain weather.

About the Leader

Molly Ferry is a botanist and ecological consultant who has lived in South Lake Tahoe for 25 years. She is currently leading the second edition revision of Plants of the Tahoe Basin, a comprehensive field guide documenting the region’s flora through plant stewardship, floristic research, ethnobotany, and large-scale citizen science.

Bird Walk Along the Legacy Trail

Join us for a morning bird/nature walk along the Legacy Trail as we celebrate the birds in our community and learn from an expert from TINS. This short, guided walk is a great opportunity to observe local species, ask questions, and deepen your appreciation for the natural world around us. We aim to add an art element do this outing as well so come prepared to be artsy!

Binoculars can be provided upon request.

Thank you to the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation for sponsoring this walk!

Dive into the California Montane Bee-O-Blitz with this hands-on introduction to native bees. Join experts Rachel Vannette (UC Davis) and Will Richardson (TINS) to explore the fascinating world of native pollinators.

Learn how to identify common groups of bees, observe their behavior in the field, practice techniques for photographing bees, and observe researchers at work. This interactive walk is perfect for beginners and nature enthusiasts looking to build skills and contribute to the Montane Bee-O-Blitz (June 22–28).

Location is still TBD, but likely on the West Shore (e.g. Page Meadows or the top of Ward Canyon)

Hosted in collaboration with the California Native Bee Society and the Tahoe Environmental Research Center. Learn more about the Montane Bee-O-Blitz iNaturalist project: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/california-montane-bee-o-blitz

Each Wednesday in June, TINS volunteers, Lynn and Don Harriman, will guide a 1.5-2 hour bird walk at the Upper Truckee Marsh. Bring your binoculars, sturdy walking shoes, and a camp chair (optional) in case there are opportunities to enjoy bird behaviors. Registration is not required, just meet up on Lily Ave (Park Here) and look for the Silver Toyota Tundra with a stuffed animal eagle on the dashboard.

We want to thank the El Dorado Community Foundation and our members for supporting these outings.

Each Wednesday in June, TINS volunteers, Lynn and Don Harriman, will guide a 1.5-2 hour bird walk at the Upper Truckee Marsh. Bring your binoculars, sturdy walking shoes, and a camp chair (optional) in case there are opportunities to enjoy bird behaviors. Registration is not required, just meet up on Lily Ave (Park Here) and look for the Silver Toyota Tundra with a stuffed animal eagle on the dashboard.

We want to thank the El Dorado Community Foundation and our members for supporting these outings.

Wild Tahoe Festival (Lake Tahoe Bird Fest)

Get ready for a wild time at the Wild Tahoe Festival! Join us at the Taylor Creek Visitor Center for a full day of outdoor fun, wildlife education, and family-friendly activities as we celebrate the 15th annual Wild Tahoe Festival on Saturday, June 13, 2026.

This free community event brings together local wildlife and natural resource organizations for an exciting day dedicated to the birds, animals, and ecosystems of the Lake Tahoe Basin. Whether you’re a seasoned birder, a nature enthusiast, or simply looking for a fun day outside with family and friends, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Festival Highlights

• Hourly guided bird and nature walks along the Rainbow Trail

• Encounters with live birds of prey

• A live falconry demonstration

• Presentations and exhibits on migratory birds and native species

• Interactive educational booths from local organizations

• Bird-themed crafts, games, and activities for all ages

• Opportunities to learn more about Tahoe’s unique wildlife and ecosystems

Come connect with nature and celebrate the wild side of Tahoe!

Event Details

Date: Saturday, June 13, 2026
Time: 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Location: Taylor Creek Visitor Center

Join us for a guided bird walk through the Angora Burn, where regeneration and wildlife come together in a uniquely dynamic landscape. We’ll begin at Panther Street and slowly make our way up the hillside, scanning the recovering forest for woodpeckers, wrens, warblers, and other birdlife that thrive in post-fire habitats.

This walk offers a chance to observe how birds are using the burn area while enjoying a peaceful, observant hike. Expect a steady uphill climb as we bird along the route, pausing often to listen, look, and learn. Bring binoculars, sturdy shoes, and a sense of curiosity as we explore this evolving ecosystem.

Each Wednesday in June, TINS volunteers, Lynn and Don Harriman, will guide a 1.5-2 hour bird walk at the Upper Truckee Marsh. Bring your binoculars, sturdy walking shoes, and a camp chair (optional) in case there are opportunities to enjoy bird behaviors. Registration is not required, just meet up on Lily Ave (Park Here) and look for the Silver Toyota Tundra with a stuffed animal eagle on the dashboard.

We want to thank the El Dorado Community Foundation and our members for supporting these outings.

Meet at 9:00 AM at Mountain Meadow Drive (park on road at trail to gate), South Lake Tahoe, CA

Parking is limited. Carpooling encouraged.

Dust off your botanical cobwebs and join Molly for a 3 mile, mostly flat loop through Washoe Meadow State Park. Along the way, we will explore key characteristics of the plants and plant families we encounter while highlighting notable discoveries from the 2025 search season.

Participants are encouraged to bring a hand lens (loupe), though Molly will have some available to borrow. The route follows established trails for most of the walk, with a few short off-trail excursions through low-growing vegetation - no heavy bushwhacking required.

No Registration Required - just show up on time!

Target species include:

·       Marsh speedwell (Veronica scutellata)

·       Bruce’s cinquefoil (Potentilla bruceae)

·       Ballhead sandwort (Eremogone congesta var. congesta)

·       Starlily (Leucocrinum montanum)

·       Small-headed clover (Trifolium microcephalum)

·       …and more!

Hikers and plant enthusiasts of all experience levels are welcome (unfortunately, dogs are not).

About the Leader

Molly Ferry is a botanist and ecological consultant who has lived in South Lake Tahoe for 25 years. She is currently leading the second edition revision of Plants of the Tahoe Basin, a comprehensive field guide documenting the region’s flora through plant stewardship, floristic research, ethnobotany, and large-scale citizen science.

tahoeplantbook@gmail.com

Every Thursday in May through the first week in June, TINS will host a bird walk at the Village Green in Incline Village NV.

Join us as we take a leisurely stroll to observe the numerous bird species that are returning or migrating through Tahoe this spring. We will identify the songs, calls, and field marks of birds while walking through different habitats including riparian areas, streams, and through pine forests. These Village green Bird Walks are open to birders of all experience levels.

Bring your binoculars. No registration required.. just show up! We will meet at the Aspen Grove Parking lot.

Join TINS for a fun day exploring dragonflies as part of our annual Odonates Mini-blitz in Truckee as we search for early season Dragonflies around Truckee’s Teichert Ponds and Cold Creek. Note that this is a day dedicated to exploration and learning, so no prior expertise is required. A willingness to get your feet wet, literally, is a plus.

What are Odonates?

Odonates, or simply “odes” for short, are members of the insect order Odonata, comprising dragonflies and damselflies.  This fascinating group of animals holds much the same appeal with nature lovers as birds and butterflies (i.e. diverse and conspicuous, aesthetically pleasing, ecologically interesting), and with the 2003 release of Tim Manolis' fantastic identification guide, Dragonflies and Damselflies of California, the group became that much more accessible to anyone with a pair of binoculars or a camera (although a net is still required for some identifications). The greater Tahoe region hosts about 55 species, including a few that are strictly migratory or occur as vagrants.

Each year, a group of California odonate enthusiasts (CalOdes) converges for a long weekend somewhere in the state for an Odes-Blitz, wherein they attempt to document new species for state or county lists. In the Tahoe region, TINS sponsors instead an Odes Mini-blitz, and our goals are threefold:  to (1) document the odonate fauna of the Tahoe region, (2) identify locations with high odonate diversity or hosting interesting species, and (3) have fun!

Some of the discoveries from these events have been quite significant. For example, in 2011 we documented the intergeneric copulation between two dragonflies at Grass Lake. In 2021, we rediscovered Spiny Baskettails in the Donner Lake area, a population that had not been seen since 1914! Click the embedded links to read more about these discoveries.

How to Get Involved

Anyone interested in participating in this or future mini-blitzes is encouraged to contact Will Richardson for more information and to get on the list.

We’re excited to share that TINS will have a booth at Kids Expo Tahoe 2026 on Saturday, May 30, 10:00 am–2:00 pm at Lake Tahoe Community College!

Kids Expo Tahoe is a free, outdoor family event full of fun, learning, and hands‑on activities for children and families. It’s a great chance to connect with the community, share what TINS is all about, and inspire young nature lovers with engaging activities and wildlife info.

Bring the whole family, stop by our booth, and say hello!

This 1-mile loop wildflower walk through the Martis Valley will be led by Steve Matson, an exceptional botanist and excursion leader. This outing promises not only scenic views but also a rich sampling of botanical insights. Whether you're a seasoned plant lover or just curious, expect a morning filled with discovery, learning, and the vibrant colors of spring. Steve will also be offering iNaturalist training for those interested.

This hike is co-sponsored by the Tahoe Chapter of the California Native Plant Society.

The Bird Walk on 5/28 is CANCELLED due to weather!

Every Thursday in May through the first week in June, TINS will host a bird walk at the Village Green in Incline Village NV.

Join us as we take a leisurely stroll to observe the numerous bird species that are returning or migrating through Tahoe this spring. We will identify the songs, calls, and field marks of birds while walking through different habitats including riparian areas, streams, and through pine forests. These Village green Bird Walks are open to birders of all experience levels.

Bring your binoculars. No registration required.. just show up! We will meet at the Aspen Grove Parking lot.

Join us for a guided bird walk at Upper Truckee Marsh as we search for the many species returning to Tahoe or passing through on migration. Led by Will, we’ll explore the marsh in hopes of spotting sandhill cranes, songbirds, ducks, raptors, and much more.

This is a great opportunity to enjoy the early season bird activity, learn from an expert, and connect with the natural world in South Lake Tahoe.

Pollinators such as bees, butterflies, moths, flies, beetles, birds, and even ants play a vital role in maintaining the biodiversity and ecological resilience of the Sierra Nevada. Yet many of these species remain overlooked or poorly documented.

Join Will Richardson of TINS at the South Lake Tahoe Library for an accessible and engaging exploration of the region’s pollinators, their ecological connections, and the challenges they face in a changing climate and landscape.

Sponsored by Friends of the Library, Tahoe Institute for Natural Science.