The mission of Plumas Audubon Society is to promote understanding, appreciation, and protection of the biodiversity of the Upper Feather River Watershed, especially birds, through education, research, and the restoration and conservation of natural ecosystems.
The Almanor Foundation is happy to support Plumas Audubon Society through their grebe fund. Each summer, the western and Clark’s grebes of Lake Almanor put on a breathtaking show—rushing across the water in synchronized courtship displays, building floating nests, and when conditions are just right, raising their adorable chicks. But these iconic waterbirds face growing challenges, including fluctuating water levels, human disturbance, and climate change. Plumas Audubon Society, your local wildlife conservation organization, is dedicated to protecting the nesting habitat of these unique birds through the Grebe Conservation Project, conducting research, monitoring nesting success, and advocating for habitat protection. In addition, PAS’s ground-breaking artificial nest platform pilot study is exploring the potential for artificial nesting platforms to increase the nesting success of these one-of-a-kind birds. To inspire public support for and celebrate these incredible species, Plumas Audubon Society hosts the annual Grebe Festival, a family-friendly event featuring guided birding tours, kayak & pontoon boat excursions, and educational activities. Through science, outreach, and advocacy, we’re ensuring a future where grebes continue to thrive at Lake Almanor and throughout their range. Join the effort to protect western and Clark’s grebes and their critical breeding habitat on Lake Almanor. All donations directly support Plumas Audubon Society’s research, conservation, and education efforts.
2025 Grebe Festival Tour Registration:
Trips & Activities Registration Information
Important Information Regarding Trips
Be sure to check the trip details for information on meeting place and time, and refer to Festival Maps and Directions for locations.
Please arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled trip to ensure everyone is checked in and all trips leave on time. Anyone arriving after the field trip leader has left will not be able to participate in the event and will not be eligible for a refund. All field trips have a limited number of participants, but walk-in registration for some trips may be available on the weekend of the festival. Walk-in registrants MUST register at the Grebe Festival Headquarters: Plumas Pines Resort (directions)
Most trips will be conducted rain or shine. Only unsafe weather will cancel the boat trips (high winds, thunderstorms, etc). Please bring the following on your trip: layered clothing appropriate to weather conditions, comfortable shoes suitable for walking on uneven ground, binoculars and field guide (if you have them, some will be provided), camera, snacks, water, sun protection, hat, and jacket.
Tips & Etiquette
- Be courteous, pay attention to the leader, stay with the group, walk quietly and slowly, turn off electronic devices, do not disrupt the plants and animals that live where you are exploring, and always stay at least 300 feet away from nesting grebes. No dogs will be allowed on field trips or at workshops.
- Turn up your senses and look all around the sky and horizon, including the tops of trees, the ground, and the lake surface, for traces of wildlife. Remove litter and leave natural items where they belong.
Refund/Cancellation Policy
Western and Clark’s Grebes winter on the Pacific coast, where they have been greatly affected by oil spills, and migrate inland to freshwater lakes and marshes, like Lake Almanor, to breed in the summer. Lake Almanor is considered an “Important Bird Area,” providing essential habitat for breeding, wintering, and migratory birds, and is one of the most important breeding grounds in California for Western and Clark’s Grebes. Both of these grebe species are considered “climate endangered” and are projected to lose the majority of their summer breeding ranges by 2080. Clark’s Grebes are projected to lose 99%, and Western Grebes are projected to lose 96% of their current breeding range. Plumas Audubon Society (PAS) created the Grebe Festival in 2017 to bring awareness to the plight of nesting grebes at Lake Almanor, fundraise for our research efforts, and allow everyone to enjoy recreational activities, including grebe-watching, on and around Lake Almanor.
Plumas Audubon Society is a small non-profit organization, and the Grebe Festival is a fundraiser. For this reason, no refunds will be issued for any reason. The only exception will be if the trip or activity you signed up for is cancelled due to unforeseen events. If you cannot make it to your trip or activity or are, we will be happy to provide you with a tax-deductible donation receipt or a trip credit toward the 2026 Grebe Festival.
Activity Levels:
- Wheelchair accessible.
- Easy walking, fairly flat, two hours or less.
- Moderate, uneven terrain, some distance involved, two hours or longer.
- Pontoon boat tour: water travel. Bring sun and wind protection.
- Kayaking: ability to paddle without rest for two hours. Bring sun protection and drinking water.
