In birding, a “lifer” is slang for the very first time a birder sees and positively identifies a specific species of bird in the wild. The gallery show “Lifer” will be Merlin Mendoza’s effort to immerse others into San Diego’s diverse avian biomes through his photography. It will feature 81 unique species of birds and other fauna. Mostly on film, these images were ethically taken amongst the vast landscapes that San Diego County has to offer — from the arid desert, cold mountains and our popular parks where these animals mostly go unnoticed.
“Plot” is a zine born from Merlin’s exploration of the famous Tijuana estuary in search of the elusive black-throated magpie jay. After following the birds, I stumbled upon the Tijuana River Valley Regional Park community garden. Enamored with the gardens, he decided to capture its charm as a way to share the beauty of the space and shed light on their recent struggles. Copies will be available at the gallery.
April 25th Event Itinerary:
7-9 AM, Birding Tour at Tijuana River Bird and Butterfly Garden.
6-9 PM, Gallery Show at the Studio in Safelight Labs.