By Don Quilici
According to a recent press release by the Nevada Department of Wildlife, the 12th annual Walker Lake Loon Festival will be held at Sportsman's Beach at Walker Lake on Saturday, April 17.
The festival will feature presentations, food, prizes and fun.
At this time of the year, in the springtime, the lake makes a perfect resting spot for the loons to feed, rest and prepare for their journey back north to Canada.
NDOW will offer the public the chance to get a closer look at the loons with free barge or boat rides, beginning at 9 a.m. and continuing until 3 p.m.
Also, the public can listen to Native American storytellers and various wildlife presentations throughout the entire day.
"This is a great even to celebrate the non-consumptive watchable wildlife in Nevada," said Jenni Jeffers, NDOW Western Region non-game wildlife biologist. "The Loon Festival offers a wonderful opportunity for NDOW to interact with the public and to share the wonders of the loons, in addition to the other migratory birds and wildlife."
More than 1,000 loons use Walker Lake as an important stop on their migrations in the spring and fall of each year.
Although virtually unknown to bird experts until some years ago, the concentration of loons at Walker Lake is the largest of any on any inland lake in all of North America.
The festival has had great success in the past with approximately 300 visitors from Nevada, California and other areas stopping to partake in the festivities.
For information, call the Mineral County Chamber of Commerce at (775) 945-2507 during regular business hours.
