Register for the 12th Annual
Great Salt Lake Bird Festival
May 13-17, 2010
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Great Salt Lake Bird Festival
PO Box 618, Farmington, UT 84037
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2010 Great Salt Lake Bird Festival Field Trips
Frank Howe
Photo by: Scott Baxter. Kayak on Great Salt Lake
 = Field Trips  = Workshops and Presentations  = Fun for KIDS |
| Thurs, May13 » Fri, May14 » Sat, May15 » Sun, May16 » Mon, May17 » |
| SUNDAY, MAY 16, 2010 | |
| #35 6am – 6pm |
Deseret Ranch Field Trip Bill Fenimore & John Bellmon Two of Utah's birding experts will guide this adventure on Deseret Land & Livestock, the largest ranch in Utah with two of Utah’s Birding Experts. This working ranch encompasses over 250,000 acres of diverse habitats including sub-alpine meadow, mountain forest, sage steppe, wet meadow, wetland marsh, ponds, lakes and streams with a bird list of 260 species. Expect a day list of 100 species or more including: Ferruginous Hawk, Sandhill Crane, Sage Grouse, Sage Thrasher, Brewer’s and Sage Sparrows, Hammond’s, Gray, Dusky, Olive-sided and Cordilleran Flycatchers, American Dipper, Lazuli Bunting, Caspian Tern, and migrant warblers. Bring your own lunch, snacks & water. Meet at the Park-N-Ride lot on the NW corner of South Weber Drive & Hwy 89. Take Exit #405 off Utah Hwy 89, go west. The lot is just south of the Hwy 89 and I-84 junction on the west side of UT Hwy 89. Limit 27. Mini-bus. Cost $55 |
| #36 6am – midnight |
Marathon Birding Tim Avery and Jeff Bilsky This is a long, exciting, fast-paced day with the goal of seeing as many bird species in varied habitats as possible! Trip participants may submit a ‘species wish list.’ Every effort will be made to include locales where these birds are possible--no guarantees, of course. A hearty lunch, snacks, and water will be provided. Meet at Davis County Legacy Events Center. Limit 5. Van. Cost $90 |
| #37 6am – midnight |
Marathon Birding combined with trip #36 This is a long, exciting, fast-paced day with the goal of seeing as many bird species in varied habitats as possible! Trip participants may submit a ‘species wish list.’ Every effort will be made to include locales where these birds are possible--no guarantees, of course. A hearty lunch, snacks, and water will be provided. Meet at Davis County Legacy Events Center Limit 5. Van. Cost $90 |
| #38 7am – 12pm |
Jordanelle Wetlands and Heber Fields Nathan Darnall & Dr. Russell Norvell The wetlands below Jordanelle Dam offer excellent birding in these foothills to the Uinta Mountains. This area is an Audubon Important Bird Area (IBA). There is no mist netting on this trip. Possible species include: American Dipper, Osprey, Black-headed Grosbeak, Warbling Vireo, Swainson’s Thrush, Common Yellowthroat and Bullock’s Oriole. We will also look for returning Bobolinks. Meet at SE corner of the ShopKo parking lot located at the 1300 East exit from I-80 in Salt Lake City. The drive is about 40 minutes. Limit 20. Own vehicles. Cost $12 |
| #39 7am – 1pm |
Oquirrh Mountains: Birding Kennecott Property Ann Neville & Steve & Cindy Sommerfeld This is a rare opportunity to visit Rio Tinto Kennecott Utah Copper’s property in the Oquirrh Mountains. Our tour on this expansive private property will include Sage-Steppe, maple and oak habitats. Some easy walking is involved. Possible species include: Green-tailed Towhee, Lazuli Bunting, Black-headed Grosbeak, Bullock’s Oriole, Gray Flycatcher, Juniper Titmouse, Pinyon Jay, Mountain Bluebird, and Virginia’s Warbler. Bring lunch and water. Meet at the Davis County Legacy Events Center. Limit 8. Van. Cost $37 |
| #40 7am – 1pm |
Ambassador Duck Club Patrick Kelly, Dick Gilbert, Wayne Martinson This is a "behind-the-gates" birding tour of a 3,000 acre private duck club on the south shore of Great Salt Lake. This well-managed wetland habitat is home to a variety of waterfowl. Possible species include: Snowy Plover, Cinnamon and Blue-winged Teal, American Avocet, Black-necked Stilt, Great and Snowy Egrets, Loggerhead Shrike, Burrowing Owl, and perhaps Peregrine Falcon. The trip involves short, easy walks, and birding from vans. Bring water and lunch. Meet at the Davis County Legacy Events Center. Limit 14. Vans. Cost $33 |
| #41 7am – 3pm |
"Behind-the-Gates" at Bear River MBR (small group) Dr. Frank Howe & Steve & Louise Brown Spend a day with expert birder, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources's Dr. Frank Howe on a “behind-the-gates” birding adventure at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. Bear River naturalists Steve & Louise Brown will be co-leaders. You will soon learn and see why this area has been protected over the last 75 years. It is considered one of the top ten birding spots in the nation and one of Utah’s premier birding hotspots. Its 74,000 acres provide a vast wetland habitat for a phenomenal number of migrants including waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors, White-faced Ibis, several species of blackbird, gulls, terns, swallows, marsh wrens, and more. You will bird parts of the Refuge not normally open to the public, with a small intimate group. Bring lunch and water. Meet at the Davis County Legacy Events Center. Limit 15. Vans. Cost $40 |
| #42 8am – 10am |
Birds & Spurs Wrangler Ron Brown Cowboy up! You are in the West, so let’s go birding by horseback along the east side of Antelope Island. This two-hour guided tour features birds in the wetland, sage and grassland habitats near the historic Fielding Garr Ranch and the south -side of the Island. There are an amazing number of migratory shorebirds that use Antelope Island as a resting, nesting and feeding area.. Experienced wranglers who are intimately familiar with the Island’s history, flora and fauna will be our guides. Enjoy a leisurely ride, spectacular scenery and birds. Possible species include Long-billed Curlew, Burrowing Owl, Peregrine Falcon, Grasshopper Sparrow, and water birds. Bring binoculars, water, and snacks. Meet at the historic Fielding Garr Ranch at Antelope Island State Park. (I-15 exit #332, go west to Antelope Island).. Limit 6. Cost $73 |
| #43 8am – 10am |
The Nature Conservancy’s Kay’s Creek
"Behind-the-Gates" Paul Lombardi & Heidi Nedreburg Join The Nature Conservancy for an exclusive opportunity to see how wetlands restoration has improved habitat for birds at the Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve. An expert guide will show you how Kay’s Creek was restored to its natural meander. This restoration has helped control flooding and sedimentation. You will also see how historic ponds and natural depression in the surrounding meadows were augmented to create ponds that have become prime habitat for feeding and nesting shorebirds and waterfowl. There are many species of birds using this riparian preserve. This portion of the preserve is closed to the public, so don’t miss this opportunity to explore "behind-the-gates". Meet at Davis County Legacy Events Center and follow guide to site. Limit 15. Own vehicles. Cost $12 |
| #44 1pm – 4pm |
Water Garden Pond Tour The Utah Water Garden Club – Rosie Cobbley Have you ever dreamed of building your own waterfall, pond and water garden habitat in your backyard? Learn from those who have fulfilled that dream. Members of the Utah Water Garden Club (UWGC) will lead you on a tour of 6 or 7 members’ backyards in Sandy, Utah where you will see the wonderful and relaxing pond habitats they have built, both large and small. Meet at the Cobbley Pond; 1268 E. Lori Circle (8680 S.), Sandy, Utah. Light refreshments will be offered after the field trip at the Cobbley Pond starting point. Limit 25. Own vehicles. Cost $13 |
| #45 1pm – 3pm |
Research Boat Tour on Great Salt Lake John Luft, GSL Ecosystem Program Manager Why is there such an abundant suite of wildlife, particularly birds on Great Salt Lake? Take a ride with the wildlife biologist who is responsible for monitoring the lake’s health. Board the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources research boat and experience Great Salt Lake’s ecosystem first hand. You will likely see Eared Grebes and various gulls, although this is not a birding trip. This excursion is a hands-on learning experience about GSL ecology and current research projects. The geology and history of the islands and other landscapes will be discussed. Bring waterproof jacket, hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, water, snacks, camera, and binoculars. Meet at the Antelope Island State Park Marina at 12:45 pm. This trip is weather permitting. Limit 8. Own vehicles. Cost $38 |
| #46 5:30pm – 9:30pm |
Owl Prowl on Antelope Island Michelle Croft Who, Who should go? Owl lovers that’s WHO! Antelope Island is the largest Island (28,000 acres) surrounded by Great Salt Lake. Picturesque views of the Lake and views of the Park’s diversified wildlife make this a must trip. Antelope Island is prime habitat for several species of owl: Great Horned, Barn, Burrowing, Long-eared and Short-eared Owls. Naturalist Michelle will show Burrowing Owl artificial nesting burrows, as well as natural nesting burrows. The timing of this evening trip will be great for photographing the Island’s famous sunsets. Join us for an owl prowl and see who-who-who is out and about. Meet at the Davis County Legacy Events Center. Limit 15. Vans. Cost $28 |
