S2S continues Pinyon Jay Research with Great Basin Bird Observatory during EcoRecon 2026!

A volunteer scouting another Incredible Expanse at Great Basin National Park!

It’s S2S’s second year partnering with Great Basin Bird Observatory for Pinyon Jay Research at Great Basin National Park in Nevada - this year with a park research permit! We are hoping to document and better understand the habits and behaviors of several flocks in the park over time. Led by Ned Bohman of the Great Basin Bird Observatory, S2S and several volunteers participated in the field research.

S2S and Great Basin Bird Observatory staff and volunteers, including veterans, surveyed several new sections of the grid across the park, noting the importance of altitude boundaries and occurrences in unexpected locations. The combined teams covered significant ground, shared camp and a potluck dinner, observed a number of exciting species, and several members stayed for a nature journaling session with Liz Woolsey of the local Bristlecone General Store in Baker and former GBNP Artist-in-Residence, and frequent guest expert, Alina Linquist. S2S efforts this Spring show how nature journaling can be an excellent addition to wildlife observation, helping participants to think carefully about what they see in the wild while highlighting distinct characteristics of flora and fauna.

Thank you to everyone involved! We look forward to growing this project together, with more surveys and journal sessions planned for next year! While Pinyon Jays are the focus of our research permit alongside other efforts at Great Basin National Park, S2S team members also took some great photographs of our bird species during our time on the Great Basin EcoRecon Expedition! Check them out below, and stay tuned for more posts covering the S2S experience at Great Basin in 2026.

A collection of photos contributed by S2S volunteers and team members during EcoRecon 2026!