Honey Lake Sage-Grouse

Trip Leader: Bruce Mast (cathrasher4@gmail.com)
Location: Susanville, CA
Date: Saturday, March 23

Trip Size: 12 participants max
Fee: $350

Registration will open at 1 pm on Wednesday, February 28 and it will close at 11pm on Monday, March 18.

Description: The sagebrush basin and range country east of the Sierras offers a starkly beautiful landscape filled with fascinating birds and wildlife. Join Bruce Mast for a weekend tour of the region around Susanville and Honey Lake. This trip will begin in Susanville very early Saturday morning, March 23 and end Sunday afternoon, March 24. The centerpiece of our trip will be watching male Greater Sage-Grouse dance at dawn for females’ attention. Along the way, we’ll explore the human and natural history of the land and consider the conservation threats that imperil it.
Note: Participants are responsible for their own travel to and from Susanville and for their lodging. Trip Leader will email participants with travel/lodging details. 

Accessibility: Getting to the sage grouse lek requires some stamina! Access to the sage grouse lek involves about a mile walk in the dark up a rutted jeep road with a few hundred feet of elevation gain, followed by some rough walking cross-country over stony lava fields. If conditions are muddy, the walk can be treacherous. Weather can range from balmy to frigid. 
Those who do not feel up for the sage grouse outing can join the group later on Saturday morning. The remainder of the weekend, we will be birding from our cars or taking short walks on level ground. Public bathroom facilities will be sparse throughout the weekend. 
Note: For the daily birding trips, be prepared to share a ride, either as a driver or passenger, with at least three other birders. 

Questions? Contact Bruce Mast at cathrasher4@gmail.com

Distance: Sage Grouse Lek: 1 mile; The rest of the trip will be short distances/birding by car
Trail Type: Sage Grouse Lek: stony lava fields; The rest flat paved/gravel
Facilities: Public bathroom facilities will be sparse throughout the weekend.