A new round of discussions about the swap meet at the Echo Park lake is taking place on the Echo Elysian Neighborhood Council Forum, starting with a resident who drove by the Park at nearly 2:00 am last Saturday night and noticed the “whole north end of the park was already ringed with blankets.” After some discussion, Alejandra Marroquin from Garcetti’s office chimed in with an update, writing:
Hundreds of people gathered at the Cuban human rights rally today at the lake in Echo Park.
Quite a few gatherers dressed in white at the rally
George Lopez & Perez Hilton at the rally (via Twitpic)
Sunday vendors managed their usual spots despite the crowds
Sunday is family day at the Lake and it’s no different in the bird world. Being a night owl and working days, weekends are the only times I get the chance to stop by the Lake and take in all that’s going on. But what I’ve been hearing from those who have the determination to make it down there for early a.m. walks is that there are some sights to been seen… these are the hours that the birds run the lake.
The annual Christmas Bird Count will be held on Sunday, January 3, 2010 at the Echo Park Lake at 8:00 am. Led by Echo Park’s chief birder Judy Raskin, the Bird Count helps identify and record the different bird species that visit the Echo Park Lake.
“Over the years we have counted more than 60 different species of birds that call the lake their home for all or part of the year. They include cormorants, ring-necked ducks, American wigeons, blue herons, great egrets, and Canada geese. This is the 110th annual Christmas Bird Count. Join more than 50,000 volunteers across the U.S., Canada, Central America, the Caribbean and the Pacific to help determine the health and diversity of local and migratory bird populations. The Echo Park Lake and Vista Hermosa teams are among those fielded by the Los Angeles Audubon Society. It compiles the local figures and sends them to the Cornell University Lab of Ornithology, which does the master tally.”
Time: about 2 hours. Terrain: level, easy walking.
Participation fee: $5. per person (for one or both counts). Make checks payable to National Audubon Society.
Binoculars recommended, bird guide too. Take along a snack or water for betweenwalks. Beginners and children welcome!
Information: (323) 663-6767. On count day call (213) 361-7273. Or email judycalifornia@yahoo.com.
