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 birding...

         Utah

 







California Gull Larus californicus ©Robert Royse http://www.roysephotos.com/index.html

Utah is the 11th largest state in the U.S, comprising 84,900 square miles. There are 29 counties, most of them quite rural. The human population of Utah is 2.2 million, most of whom reside along the Wasatch Front, a 102 mile (164.153 kilometers) stretch of a mountain range which is a branch of its more famous big brother, the Rocky Mountains. Much of Utah is a high desert; it is the second driest state in the U.S., averaging only 16.18 inches (41.0972 centimeters) of moisture per year. However, this can be deceptive as the northern part of the Wasatch Mountains average 600 inches (15.24 meters) of snowfall in a year. As such, it is an international destination for skiers. The 2002 Winter Olympics took center stage as most of the area ski resorts hosted millions of visitors. The state has a very diverse geographic habitat; whether it is Kings Peak, which rises to a height of 13,528 feet (4123 meters) in the Uinta Mountains in the northeastern part of the state, or the Beaver Dam Wash located in the southwestern most part of the state, which is the lowest point in Utah, at a modest 2,350 feet (716 meters). Roughly two-thirds of the state is high desert terrain, and the other third mountainous terrain. Utah is justly famous for its National Parks, one of which is Arches National Park in Southeastern Utah, where many a photo has been taken and published worldwide as it boasts over two thousand natural sandstone arches created by wind blown sand. Others are Bryce`s National Park and Zion`s National Parks. All three are located in the southern part of the state within a few hours of each other, making it easy to visit all three. Consequently, Utah offers a rich diversity of regular and rare winged visitors. The official Utah bird checklist stands at 428 species; species as different as the Greater Roadrunner and the White-tailed Ptarmigan may be seen here.

Perhaps most vital to bird habitat is the Great Salt Lake. A remnant of old Lake Bonneville which existed about 23,000 years ago, it is the second saltiest body of water in the world, second only to the Dead Sea. Salt content ranges from 6 to 27 percent (oceans are about 3 percent). With no natural outlet, water evaporates leaving the salts and other minerals to accumulate. At its normal elevation of 4,200 feet (1,280m), the lake is 28 miles wide (45 klms), 75 miles long (120 klms), with over 335 miles (539 klms) of shoreline (about 1,700 square miles). Fortunately, much of this shoreline is protected. It is not a deep lake, averaging only 13 feet deep (4m), with 33 feet (10m) being its deepest level. However, this is no dead sea but a true oasis which sustains life to millions of creatures as the water is rich with microorganisms. The most famous is the brine shrimp. Every fall these are harvested and sold overseas. The amount that can be harvested depends on that year`s brine shrimp population. Crews operate every day for 24 hours straight, but once the poundage quota set by the DWR for that year has been reached, the fishing ends immediately. [Division of Wildlife Resource (DWR) realizes how vital the brine shrimp are to the ecosystem]. There has been as little as 265 pounds (120 kilos) in 1968 to 7,400 tons (7,518 metric tons) taken in 1995.

Each year between two and five million shorebirds migrate to, or through, the Great Salt Lake area, many feeding on the brine shrimp. Wilson`s Phalaropes on their way to wintering grounds in Argentina, will sometimes double their weight before the long, non-stop journey. Hundreds of thousands of waterfowl over-winter. Year round there are plenty of raptors to be seen. The lake has six islands, the largest being Antelope Island. This is the only publicly accessible island, via a seven mile causeway. Gunnison Island, on the northwest side of the lake, is a state nature preserve. This island hosts the third largest colony of breeding American White Pelicans in North America. While there are many places to bird in Utah, if one has the opportunity to come in February one should spend at least one day at Farmington Bay. This is located about 20 minutes north of Salt Lake City. During the month of February, one can easily see hundreds of Bald Eagles here. Utah has the second highest congregation of Bald Eagles in the U.S., second only to Alaska. In February 2003, a record high count of 426 was seen in one day at Farmington Bay. A very good resource for what birds are being seen, a photo database of many North American birds, and the official Utah bird checklist can be found at: http://www.utahbirds.org.

While birds are plentiful in Utah, other animals which can regularly be seen are the black bear, moose, elk, mule deer, pronghorn antelope, coyote, kit and red foxes, raccoons, cottontail rabbits, jack rabbits, and badgers. A herd of 800 bison is maintained on Antelope Island. Every October DWR personnel have the Buffalo Round-up to check their health, which has become something of the tourist event as 800 bison in one place is quite a site to behold.

  contributor

 

Brian L Currie
Member of the Great Salt Lake Bird Festival Committee
bcurrie100@comcast.net
http://www.pbase.com/bcurrie

  numbers

 
Number of bird species:425

  useful reading

 

Birding Utah (FalconGuide)

D. E. McIvor Paperback - 410 pages (April 1998) Falcon Press Publishing Co.
ISBN: 1560446153
Buy this book from NHBS.com

Birds of Northeastern Utah

WH Behle 136 pages Utah Museum of Natural History
ISBN: 0940378019
Buy this book from NHBS.com

Birds of the Central Rockies

By Jan L. Wassink Published by Mountain PressPaperback 180 pages
ISBN: 0878422358
Buy this book from NHBS.com

  useful information

 

State Bird


California Gull Larus californicus

It may seem strange that Utah`s state bird is the California Gull. It was so honored because of the Miracle of the Gulls. In late May 1848, one year after arriving in Utah, Mormon (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) Pioneers were plagued by crickets [written reports affirm that the fields and mountain sides were blackened by their shear numbers]. Prayers were said and in early June thousands of California Gulls came to their rescue. Not only was each gull witnessed to eat dozens of these crickets, but once full the gulls regurgitated the crickets and continued to eat more. Thus, the vast majority of crickets were destroyed, so much of the pioneer`s crops were saved; the event becoming known as the Miracle of the Gulls.

  clubs

 

Audubon Society in Utah

http://www.audubon.org/chapter/ut/
The usual list of local chapters etc.

Bridgerland Adubon Society


Welcome to the Bridgerland Audubon Society Home Page. The Bridgerland Audubon Society (BAS) is a chapter of the National Audubon Society. The chapter is centered in the city of Logan, situated in the beautiful Cache Valley of northern Utah and southern Idaho...

Checklist

http://utahbirds.org/checklists.html
For the up to date and official list...

Great Salt Lake Audubon

http://www.greatsaltlakeaudubon.org/
Welcome to Great Salt Lake Audubon. Please join us on a field trip, or attend one of our special activities held throughout the year. If you just want to learn more about birding in Utah then link to the 1998 checklist for Utah birds, or read about some of Utah`s best bird watching locations, maps included.

Nature Conservancy in Utah

http://nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/utah/
Unusual site but in the very much improved tradition of NC websites. Our focus on science allows us to target lands of highest priority that need to be protected first. Our dedication to action keeps us on our toes and responsive to new opportunities in this fast-moving world. Our spirit of innovation allows us to find creative solutions and get the most from each conservation dollar. Our commitment to partnerships brings together people from all walks of life toward common purpose and action.

Red Cliffs Audubon

http://www.redcliffsaudubon.org
If you are wondering where to go in southern Utah at this time of year to see some great birds, try starting at the Tonaquint Nature Center in St. George and travel northwest to Veyo and Pine Valley. The Tonaquint Nature Center pond has a few resident birds like the Black Phoebe, Marsh Wren, Red-tailed Hawk, Kingfisher, Say`s Phoebe, Song Sparrow, Flicker and more...

Utah County Birders

http://www.utahbirds.org/organizations/ucb/index.html
Membership in the Utah County Birders is open to any interested person. Dues are $10 per year. Send dues to Tuula Rose, 1065 East 560 North, Provo, UT 84606.

Utah Ornithological Society

http://www.utahbirds.org/uos/
The Utah Ornithological Society, an organization of professionals and amateurs interested in birds, was formed to promote the field study of birds in Utah. Articles on various aspects of Utah ornithology are published in the quarterly journal Utah Birds.

Utah Records Committee

http://www.utahbirds.org/RecCom/RecComReview.html
Contacts on the records committee.

Wasatch Audubon Society

http://www.wasatchaudubon.org/
An association of people who share an interest in birds, all natural things, and Utah`s varied habitat.

  festivals

 

St. George Winter Bird Festival

http://www.sgcity.org/birdfestival
January 25-27, 2008: Join us for the 5th Annual Winter Bird Festival in sunny St. George, Utah. Presentations, Kid’s Workshops, Exhibits, Sales, Field Trips, Guest Speakers and an evening Banquet. The festival is designed for beginning and experienced birders. Admission is free, banquet a fee event.

  reserves

 

Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge

http://bearriver.fws.gov/
In the spring, Bear River is active with life as birds fly back from the south. There is a continuous flow of different species in and out of the refuge. Each day offers something new. Birds are in their bright and colorful breeding plumage and the observant visitor can witness eons-old courtship rituals. Geese and ducks begin to arrive in late March. Shorebird migration lasts from early April through mid-May...

Bryce Canyon National Park

http://www.nps.gov/brca/
At Bryce Canyon National Park, erosion has shaped colorful Claron limestones, sandstones, and mudstones into thousands of spires, fins, pinnacles, and mazes...

Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge

http://gorp.com/gorp/resource/us_nwr/ut_fish.htm
Getting to Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge is in itself a memorable experience. Located in Western Utah, on the southern edge of the Great Salt Lake Desert, this isolated refuge is 80 miles in any direction from the nearest gas station or grocery store...

Ouray National Bird Refuge

http://www.utohwy.com/o/ounabire.htm
The refuge is located on a stretch of undeveloped land along the banks of the Green River...

  trip reports

 

Travelling Birder
http://www.travellingbirder.com
The Travellingbirder.com birding trip report search engine guides you to 7,000+ birding trip reports on the Internet. You can search for trip reports from a specific country and time of year. Not all these reports are in English. So, if you can’t find the trip report you want on this Fatbirder page… give them a try!

1997 [April] - Stephen Poley

http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/maybank/USA/CA/CA-04-97.htm
...An early morning walk produced 25 Franklin`s gulls over the lake. From Page to Bryce the country gets higher and greener, and we had some rain. The pond at Ruby`s Inn, near the entrance to Bryce, produced 8 Yellow-headed blackbirds, and in Bryce itself the colony of the very rare Utah prairie dogs had awoken from hibernation. For the rest it was another scenery day, although it was invisible for a while after we arrived at Bryce thanks to a heavy snowstorm! Bryce is at around 2600 metres, and April is a bit early to be visiting it. It was worth it though - for us Bryce has the most remarkable scenery of the entire trip...

1998 [December] - Steve McConnell

http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/maybank/USA/AZ/AZ-11-98.htm
As a result of an interview trip out west, I was able to spend a considerable amount of time birding in Utah and Arizona last week. What follows is a brief overview of the places I visited and the species tallied.

2000 [May] - Robert Grimmond

http://www.surfbirds.com/mb/Trip%20Reports/arizona.html
Our route would take us to Tucson, Madera Canyon, California Gulch, Kino Springs, Patagonia, Sierra Vista, Portal, Cottonwood and the Verde Valley, Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, Navajo National Monument and Monument Valley. In the main body of the following report lifers are marked with an asterisk. Detailed directions for the south-east Arizona sites are not given because they are covered in the well-known guides...

2004 [June] - Andy Benson - Birding the Kokopelli trail


Our trip took in four states – Nevada, Utah, Arizona and California and we travelled over 2,700 miles by car in our three weeks from May 19th to June 8th. The weather was unsurprisingly warm and dry, though the canyons could be fairly cool during the morning and we did encounter about ˝ hour of rain when in Northern Arizona. The trip was planned as follows...

2005 [October] - Niels J Larsen

http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/maybank/USA/AZ/AZ-10-2005.htm
... added about 30 to my life list. The best bird would (subjectively!) be Elegant Trogon, with a whole bunch of close seconds. Those familiar with Arizona birds will notice that we actually saw quite a few birds that in the ABA guide are listed as summer birds as well as some that are listed as winter only...

  tour operators

 

Avian Adventures

http://www.avianadventures.co.uk/home.htm?Templates/pages.dwt~mainFrame
Utah has a remarkable variety of landscapes, geology and habitats, and as a birdwatching destination its potential has only recently been discovered. On this tour we will visit Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge...

Birding Pal

http://birdingpal.org/ut.htm
Local birders willing to show visiting birders around their area...

Wings

http://www.wingsbirds.com/tours/view/96
The spectacular canyons, rivers and forests of northern Arizona and southwestern Utah are among the most dramatic in North America...

  places to stay

 

Sorrel River Ranch Resort B&B

http://www.bbonline.com/ut/sorrelriver/
You will find on the ranch an abundance of wild life attracted by the protected environment. They include, bald eagles, golden eagles, blue herons, a herd of mule deer, otters, beaver, canadian geese, mallards, falcons, raccoons, horses, goats and many species of birds.

The Garden B&B

http://www.bbonline.com/ut/garden/
Our site offers a small farm with animals and plenty of wildlife to view (elk, deer, rabbits, chipmunks, eagles, hawks and many other birds). We have 20 acres of natural beauty and a majestic panorama - the sunsets are beautiful and the stars are great at night!

Willow Glen Inn B&B

http://www.willowgleninn.com/
Willow Glen is open year round with each season of the year having its special attractions of birds, gardens, weather and room decorations. Willow Glen is in close proximity to Bryce, Zion and Grand Canyon National Parks and the Utah Shakespearean Festival.

  mailing lists

 

BirdTalk

To post to list:birdtalk@utahbirds.org
List contact:birdtalk-owner@utahbirds.org
To subscribe to list:birdtalk-subscribe@utahbirds.org
To make field trip reports, to participate in discussions, to ask questions about birds and birding and to announce birding-related activities, use Bird Talk.

Red Cliffs Birdnet

To post to list:redcliffs@utahbirds.org
List contact:redcliffs-owner@utahbirds.org
To subscribe to list:redcliffs-subscribe@utahbirds.org
(Southwestern Utah)

Salt Lake Birdnet

To post to list:slbnet@utahbirds.org
List contact:slbnet-owner@utahbirds.org
To subscribe to list:slbnet-subscribe@utahbirds.org
(Northern Wasatch area)

Utah Birdnet

To post to list:birdnet@utahbirds.org
List contact:birdnet-owner@utahbirds.org
To subscribe to list:birdnet-subscribe@utahbirds.org
To report rare or unusual bird sighting and to ask questions or make comments about these sightings, use the Birdnet.

Utah County Birdnet

To post to list:ucbnet@utahbirds.org
List contact:ucbnet-owner@utahbirds.org
To subscribe to list:ucbnet-subscribe@utahbirds.org
(Southern Wasatch area)

  other links

 

Bird Watching Spots

http://www.utah.com/wildlife/bird_watching.htm
e.g.Logan is located in the Cache Valley which is a rich year-around birding area. The entire valley is a great place to see a wide variety of raptors any time of the year and there are several roads which access the raptor country north and west of Logan...

Birds and Great Salt Lake

http://ut.water.usgs.gov/birds/
Important lake wetlands include Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Locomotive Springs, Salt Creek, Public Shooting Grounds, Harold Crane, Ogden Bay, Timpie Springs, and Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Areas operated by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources; and Gillmor Sanctuary wetlands managed by the Audubon Society...

Common Marsh Birds of Northern Utah

http://www.geocities.com/naturenotes/marshbrd.htm
The following list includes the most common species of birds to be seen in the marshes of Northern Utah...

Index of Birding Places in Utah

http://www.utahbirds.org/counties/SiteIndex.htm
This is an index of popular birding sites in the state of Utah. Most of the information concerns directions on how to get to these sites...

Salt Lake Birders

http://www.utahbirds.org/organizations/slbirders/index.html
Membership in Salt Lake Birders is open to any interested person. Dues are $15 per year and may be sent to Salt Lake Birders, P.O.Box 58343, Salt Lake City, UT 84158.

Stokes Nature Center

http://www.logannature.org/
Located one mile up beautiful Logan Canyon on the Logan River, the 3,000 square-foot lodge was constructed in 1924 by members of the American Legion and later donated to the Trapper Trails Council of the Boy Scouts. Logan`s First Presbyterian Church took title to the building in 1996 and in a partnership with the Bridgerland Audubon Society designated a board to establish a separate organization to develop a not-for-profit nature center.

Thumbnail Guide To Bear River National Wildlife Refuge

http://donb.furfly.net/bear_river/index.html
The Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, managed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, lies on the eastern edge of the Great Basin, just west of Brigham City, Utah. Directly east lie the Wellesvilles Mountains, which form the divide separating those watercourses which eventually lead to the ocean from those which lead to the Great Salt Lake. The Bear River, which runs through the heart of the refuge and lends its name to it, is one of those which run into the lake...

Tim Avery Birding

http://www.timaverybirding.com/
Bird phottography and identification… from Utah birders.

Utah Birds

http://www.utahbirds.org/
An excellent site featuring articles, sites, records, checklists and much more… the definite starting point for visitors. Fatbirder recommended.

Utah Department of Natural resources

http://www.nr.utah.gov/
The place to start looking for pages on particular parks etc.

  artists

 

Gallery - Utah Wings

http://www.xmission.com/~cldavis/Mornwngs1.htm
Photos of Utah birds...

Photographer - Don Getty

http://www.dongettyphoto.com/bearriver/index.html
Has a gallery of fine photographs taken in Utah...

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