My name is Tiare Varela, and I want to share something deeply meaningful to me: the beautiful Mocha Island.

Phalaropes are small to medium-sized shorebirds best known for congregating in huge flocks. Their distinctive feeding technique involves spinning in circular motions on the water’s surface to stir up food.

On July 7, Oikonos and the Seymour Center hosted an art exhibition highlighting artwork from four local artists that spent a few days completely immersed in the ecological wonders of Año Nuevo Island.

The first ever Mono Basin Phalarope Festival took place in Lee Vining, California, on June 18th. Lee Vining sits right above Mono Lake, an important saline lake in the Wilson’s Phalarope migration route.

Bridget was part of four artists that spent a few days completely immersed in the world of Año Nuevo Island alongside the Oikonos’ team, with one goal in mind: to use their artistic skills to portray the life of the island through their work.

Constance was part of four artists that spent a few days completely immersed in the world of Año Nuevo Island, with one goal in mind: to use their artistic skills to portray the life of the island through their work.

Lizzie was part of four artists that spent a few days completely immersed in the world of Año Nuevo Island alongside the Oikonos’ team, with one goal in mind: to use their artistic skills to portray the life of the island through their work.

Hannah was part of four artists that spent a few days completely immersed in the world of Año Nuevo Island, with one goal in mind: to use their artistic skills to portray the life of the island through their work.

I recently journeyed to Laguna Mar Chiquita, Argentina, the largest saline lake in the Americas, to celebrate saline lakes, phalaropes, and the shared connections of saline lake communities throughout the western hemisphere.