Lake County News | California

This fun, family-oriented weekend features pontoon boat rides, catered brunch and breakfast, birding and nature walks, nature talks and exhibits, and children's activities.

Presented by the Redbud Audubon Society and the Clear Lake State Park Interpretive Association, the event is held annually on the last weekend in April and draws novice and experienced birdwatchers alike.

Pontoon boats with Redbud Audubon birding guides will take participants on scheduled 90-minute excursions between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The boats will go into several different great blue heron and double-crested cormorant tree-top nesting areas. Guides will share their knowledge of the shorebirds and wildlife observed during the trip. Older children are welcome as long as they can sit relatively quietly and obey the boating rules.

Reservations and advance payment for the pontoon boat rides are required. The suggested donation for the excursion is $15 per person regardless of age.

At the Spring Wildflower Brunch, held on Saturday, April 26, from 9:00 a.m. to noon, visitors may enjoy a "Fill Your Own Omelet" breakfast with pastries, coffee, and fresh fruit amid spring wildflowers. Advance reservations for the brunch are recommended. The cost is $12 per person.

For those attending the event on Sunday, April 27, a continental breakfast of pastries, fruit, coffee, and juice will be available for purchase from 9:00 a.m. to noon. No advance reservations required.

During the event, the Clear Lake State Park Visitor Center will be open on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and on Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Speaker presentations, slide shows, and videos on local birds and wildlife will be held in the Visitor Center Auditorium. Park admission is free all weekend. The park is located at 5300 Soda Bay Road, Kelseyville.