Events

The Heron Festival and Wildflower Brunch combine a wide range of individual and family activities for everyone who loves nature and wants to learn more about it. All activities are FREE, except the pontoon boat tours and the Wildflower Brunch. The State Park entrance fee is waived that weekend for Heron Festival attendees.

Pontoon Boat Tours
Wildflower Brunch
Speakers
Bird Walks & Nature Walks
Visitor Center
Children’s Activities
Nature Exhibit Booths
Music

Pontoon Boat Tours to Heron Roosts

Guided ninety-minute tours along the shore of Clear Lake to view several different Great Blue Heron and Double-Crested Cormorant tree-top nesting areas. Each boat carries about 10 people, accompanied by an experienced Redbud Audubon birding guide who shares expertise on the shorebirds and wildlife observed during the trip. Tours leave hourly from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm on both Saturday and Sunday. Cost is $15 per person. Advance reservations and payment are required.

Wildflower Brunch

Treat yourself to a scrumptious brunch outdoors under the trees with birds singing overhead! At this “Create Your Own Omelet” brunch, guests can choose from a wide array of omelet fillings for an individually designed and perfect omelet. Fresh fruit and pastries accompany this delicious outdoor springtime brunch. Cost is $12 per person. Advance reservations and payment are required.

Speakers

Keynote speaker for the 2007 Festival is Philip Greene, who has been photographing and studying herons and egrets for two decades. His photographs are shown in museums in the U.S., England, Canada, Finland, and China. Other speakers during the weekend include Audubon experts and park docents (see details on the Schedule page). All presentations are free -- on a first-come, first-served basis -- in the Visitor Center Auditorium.

Bird Walks and Nature Walks

Choose from varied walks along the park’s creeks-side trails or up through the oak woodlands with panoramic views of Clear Lake. Experienced Audubon guides and the park’s docents share their expertise on the birds, flowers, and wildlife that inhabit the park. The degree of difficulty for each walk is indicated in the Schedule. All are free, and both interested beginners and experienced birders are welcome. Meet at the Visitor Center and bring binoculars.

Visitor Center Tours and Gift Shop

The park’s Visitor Center will be open from 10 am to 4 pm both Saturday and Sunday. It features interpretive displays of Lake County’s natural and cultural resources. There is a large aquarium and dioramas of the woodland and riparian habitats, as well as a Pomo village, an erupting volcano, and a mountain lion cave. Visitors can take a docent-led tour or wander at their own pace. The gift shop offers educational and entertaining nature items.

Children’s Activities

The Heron Festival is a family event that welcomes children. Experienced Audubon storytellers combine music, multimedia, and drama to share stories that teach children about the lives of young herons and other local birds. Another experienced educator offers children an opportunity to create “Bird Soup” using a soup can to make a personalized bird nest each child can take home. “Bird Bingo” is also offered for fun and learning.

Nature Fair Booths

Visitors can enjoy touring the outdoor exhibit booths of the Nature Fair. Government agencies and nonprofit organizations offer informative displays and educational materials, and knowledgeable staff are available to explain conservation programs and issues. Smoky Bear in his traditional U.S. Park Ranger hat makes a visit each year to greet children and the young-at-heart. Craft vendors offer handmade nature-related gifts for sale. The exhibit booths, located on the lawn across from the Visitor Center, are open from 9 am to 4 pm both Saturday and Sunday.

Music

The Kelseyville High School Jazz Band is a longtime attraction during the Wildflower Brunch on Saturday morning. On Sunday the festival culminates in the afternoon with a rousing performance by the Lower Lake High School Jazz Band.