Photo contest underway for local birding sites

Strong interest in last year's annual Carson Valley birding tour prompted organizers to offer a guided trip again.

The guided, coach luxury tour will be 8 a.m. to noon. Saturday, Feb. 22. The cost is $15 and includes a guest lecturer. The tour will explore various ranches in the Carson Valley and historic Gardnerville, Minden and Genoa so the balance between calving season and the influx of raptors can be observed and discussed.

Suzanne Rosevold, executive director of the Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Authority, said last year's birders observed 31 bald eagles and more than 120 birds of prey in one day.

"There was extreme interest last year, and we thought it felt safer to rent coaches and have guided tours, instead of having strangers (birding unattended) on private property," she said.

The chamber is also sponsoring a contest to find the best birds of prey photos. The best photograph of an eagle found and documented in Carson Valley will bring a prize of $200. Fifty dollars will be awarded for the best bird of prey photo.

The deadline for the photo contest is March 7, and photographs become the property of the chamber.

The tour begins at the Carson Valley Inn, 1627 Highway 395, Minden. It is sponsored by the American Land Conservancy, Nevada Cooperative Extension, Western Nevada Resource Conservation and Development Inc., Smallwood Foundation, Carson Valley ranchers and the chamber.

The deadline to sign up for the tour is Feb. 13.

For information, call the chamber at 782-8144 or e-mail info@carsonvalleynv.org.

IF YOU GO

What: Birding tour of Carson Valley

When: 8 a.m.-noon Feb. 22

Sign up: Deadline: Feb. 13.

Call: 782-8144

E-mail: info@carsonvalleynv.org