Festival Headquarters at Audubon-California’s Kern River Preserve - 18747 Highway 178 (Signed entrance on the north side of Hwy. 178 1.1 mile east of Sierra Way, 31 miles west of Hwy. 14, 57 miles east of Hwy. 99 in Bakersfield), Weldon, Kern County, California.

The festival offers many special vulture related activities plus special programs on Birding, Bird Research, Children's Activities, Kern River Preserve land preservation and restoration, Raptors, and Reptiles.

We need your help to make the Turkey Vulture Festival self-sustaining. Please make donations at FREE events as you are able. Thank you.

FRIDAY, September 25th

SATURDAY, September 26th

8:30 am-9:30 am. Turkey Vulture Lift Off. Meet at the Kern River Preserve, Weldon. Meet with vulture researcher Terri Gallion for an in depth study of the vultures as they lift off. The vultures normally leave around 9am

9 am-10:30 am. Bird Walk at the Kern River Preserve. This is a wonderful introduction to bird watching with Kerncrest Audubon Chapter board member Lee Sutton. Viewing of the Preserve's hummingbird and thistle seed feeders. FREE.

9 am - 3 pm. Information Booths, Educational & Interactive Exhibits. Live lizards & snakes!!! Displays of local wildlife & plants. Kern River Preserve. FREE.

9 am-3 pm. U.S. Postal Service Turkey Vulture Cancellation Station: visit local Postmaster, Steve Kenton who will be on hand to sell specially stamped envelopes with Turkey Vulture Festival cancellation for collectors or personal use up to thirty days.

9 am - 3 pm. Snakes & Lizards of the Kern River Valley. Visit with Herp-Ecology as they share some of the live, native snakes & lizards of the KRV. FREE.

10 am - 10:30 am. Southern Pacific Pond Turtle Demonstration. Learn about the Kern River Preserve's preservation efforts for this rare species

10:30 am - 11 am. Bird Feeding Workshop. Get ready for fall and winter bird feeding with Birdie Foster. Learn about the different types of feed and how to maintain bird feeders for the health of our feathered friends.

11 am - 12:30 pm. Bird Walk at the Kern River Preserve. This is a wonderful introduction to bird watching with Kerncrest Audubon Chapter board member Lee Sutton. Viewing of the Preserve's hummingbird and thistle seed feeders. FREE.

10 am - 11:00 am. LIVE MUSIC with Terri Gallion, flutist. Bring your folding chair or blanket and sit down and enjoy. FREE.

10 am - 3 pm. Children's Activities (Nature Crafts, Story Times w. Charlotte Goodson & Friends). Kern River Preserve, Weldon. FREE. DONATION.

11 am - 12:30 pm. LIVE MUSIC from Pat Seamount, Mike Gallagher and Terry Harris with "Out of the Blue" Kern Valley favorites will play acoustic folk, Irish, and traditional songs to delight the crowds. Bring your folding chair or blanket and sit down to enjoy this talented trio. Although this concert is FREE, Pat, Mike, and Terry intend that this is a fundraiser on behalf of the Kern River Preserve and the Turkey Vulture Festival so donations are heartily welcome. FREE.

NOON - 1 pm. No Host Picnic at the Preserve. Bring lunch and enjoy the music and a talk from our naturalists. After lunch join us for a fun wildlife calling contest!

12:30 pm - 1 pm. WORKSHOP: California Condor Update

1 pm - 2 pm. Fall Colors and Butterflies. Alison Sheehey, Outreach Director will lead a walk around the nature trail to enjoy the colors and the butterflies that nectar on fall flowers.

12:30 pm - 3 pm. LIVE MUSIC Jam with various local artists." FREE.

6 pm - After the festival join Lee Sutton and other members of Kerncrest Audubon for the hoped for drop-in of migrating vultures.

SUNDAY, September 27th

9 am - 10:30 am. Turkey Vulture Lift Off and Beginners Bird Walk. Meet at the Kern River Preserve, Weldon. Proceed by foot or carpool to vicinity of Saturday night’s roost site then continue on for a bird walk introducing visitors to birds and bird feeding. Extended visits at the preserve's bird feeders. The vultures normally leave before 10 am. FREE.

9 am - 3 pm. Snakes & Lizards of the Kern River Valley. Visit with Herp-Ecology as they share some of the live, native snakes & lizards of the KRV. FREE.

10 am - 10:30 am. Southern Pacific Pond Turtle Demonstration. Learn about the Kern River Preserve's preservation efforts for this rare species

10 am - 3 pm. Children's Activities (Nature Crafts, Story Times w. Charlotte Goodson & Friends). Kern River Preserve, Weldon. FREE. DONATION.

10:30 am - 11 am. Bird Feeding Workshop. Get ready for fall and winter bird feeding with Birdie Foster. Learn about the different types of feed and how to maintain bird feeders for the health of our feathered friends.

11 am - NOON. Bird Walk at the Kern River Preserve. This is a wonderful introduction to birding and bird feeding. Viewing of the Preserve's hummingbird and seed feeders. FREE.

NOON - 1 pm. No Host Picnic at the Preserve. Bring lunch and enjoy the music and a talk from our naturalists. After lunch join us for a fun wildlife calling contest!

1 pm - 3 pm. Nature Walk at the Kern River Preserve. Join Kern River Preserve manager Reed Tollefson on a walk around the nature trail. Learn about the history of the Kern River Preserve, restoration and wildlife.

MORE INFORMATION

The Kern River Valley Autumn Nature and Vulture Festival is an annual celebration of the fall migration of Turkey Vultures and the beginning of the fall colors in the South Fork Kern River forest. From 1994-2006 from the beginning of September through the third week in October, an average of 25,000 have been seen flying over a single point in the South Fork Valley. The vulture count included only the birds that pass over this single observation point, five miles south of Audubon's Kern River Preserve. Many other vultures have been casually observed leaving via other routes in the Kern Valley and were not included in the census (speculation on fluctuations of numbers each year leads us to believe while the Kelso Valley is the preferred migration route, some years it is not the optimum and not used as much). This Pacific Flyway vulture migration is one of the five largest known in North America.

The Kern Valley Turkey Vulture Festival is sponsored by: Audubon–California, Friends of Audubon's Kern River Preserve, Kern River Valley Revitalization, Southern Sierra Research Station and TLH.

Field Trip & Workshop Leaders - Darrell Barnes, Bill Foster, Birdie Foster, Terri Gallion, Charlotte Goodson, Buz Lunsford, Alison Sheehey, Reed Tollefson.

Friends of the Kern River Preserve: Darrell Barnes, Birdie Foster, Bill Foster, Gordon Hancock, Christine Hancock, Jeff King, Marya Miller, and Sandra Wieser

Exhibitors: Friends of the Kern River Preserve, BLM, California Native Plant Society - Kern County Chapter, Charlotte Goodson's Children's Activities, Herp Ecology, Desert Mountain Resource and Conservation District, Kern River Parkway Foundation, Sequoia ForestKeeper, Sequoia National Forest, Tule Elk Reserve, US Fish & Wildlife Hopper Mountain Condor Sanctuary, US Postal Service, WindWolves Preserve

FIELD TRIP AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITY INFORMATION

Weather: Weather in the Kern River Valley in late September and early October is usually spectacular (sunny, 65–80 degrees F daytime highs), but it can be variable. For your comfort, we suggest bringing water, snacks, a hat, sun screen, insect repellent, jacket for cool weather, and sturdy shoes (waterproof boots may be handy in riparian areas).

Fees/Registration - Although no one will be turned away, there is a suggested $10.00 registration fee per adult for the Kern River Valley Turkey Vulture Festival. A donation box will be on the Friends of the Kern River Preserve information booth. There is no additional fee for the exhibit area, speakers/forums, and nature walks or workshops. No reservations are necessary.