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 Festival Headquarters:
Audubon-California's Kern River Preserve,
Weldon, Kern County, California
The Kern River Valley
Autumn Nature & Vulture Festival is an
annual celebration of the fall migration of Turkey Vultures
and the beginning of the fall season in the South Fork Kern River forest.
Vultures begin to gather in large flocks in August and start heading
south in earnest by September, with their numbers reaching a crescendo at the
end of September. By the end of September the colors of the valley begin
their change from green to yellow with the bloom of the rabbitbrush. Many
migrating birds and butterflies begin their southward voyage in advance of the
approaching winter.
From 1994-2006 from
the beginning of September through the third week in October, an average of
25,000 have been counted 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 optimum and not used as much). This Pacific Flyway vulture
migration is one of the five largest known in North America.
ACTIVITIES - Our late September festival date also corresponds with what is historically one
of the finest weekends for observing fall land bird migration in California. In
addition to the presence of many western migrants attractive to eastern birders,
there are excellent chances for observing eastern rarities at nearby desert
oases. Free Music, Booths, Exhibits
at the Kern
River Preserve as well as nature walks and nature related
workshops.
It is with
pleasure and anticipation that we cordially invite you to our annual festival. Join
us in celebrating the phenomenon of Turkey Vulture migration and the other natural wonders
of fall in the Kern River Valley!
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