The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit and its partners invite residents and visitors to the first Wild Tahoe Weekend with fun, free events for the whole family.

Based at the Forest Service’s Taylor Creek Visitor Center, located three miles north of the Hwy 89/50 junction in South Lake Tahoe, this “wild weekend” offers the opportunity to experience Lake Tahoe’s natural world.

The weekend kicks off June 4 with the second annual Lake Tahoe Bird Festival, sponsored by Forest Service and the Tahoe Institute for Natural Science. Learn about migratory birds and how local scientists are working to protect them.

Bring children to the special “Kids’ Zone” where they can learn to hoot like an owl, find out why birds have so many feathers, make bird “feeding sticks” out of peanut butter and birdseed and create bird nests.

Adults can find out how proper feeding and landscaping can attract desirable bird species, and learn from Cabela’s about binoculars and spotting scopes to make bird watching more enjoyable. Visitors of all ages can learn through talks about owls and migration, including a presentation by a falconer with live birds of prey.

Bird walks will take place every hour from 10:30am until 1:30pm at Taylor Creek. Bird walks are also scheduled for other locations around the lake. All walks are free, but space for the off-site walks is limited and preregistration is required.

To register, call Will Richardson at (530) 587.6895 or email will@tinsweb.org. To join a walk at Taylor Creek, just show up.

June 5 will mark the debut of the Festival of Native Species. Events will include planting native Tahoe yellow cress, a native fish release, a play and parade by the Lake Tahoe Environmental Science Magnet School, nature walks, games and crafts.

Events both days will run from 10am-4pm. Food will be available for purchase.

For a complete list of activities (all free), go online.