14th Annual Great Salt Lake

Bird Festival, May 17-21, 2012

Top Ten Reasons to Attend Great Salt Lake Bird Festival

10. See the birds in Utah - up close and personal! Exotic birds and Raptors!

9. Visit the HOT SPOTS of Northern Utah in the company of Expert Field Trip Guides

8. Experience the geology of the Great Basin; Birds already do this

7. Get to go "Behind-the-Gates" - where the public cannot go

6. It's Spring Time in the Rockies, go outdoors!

5. Learn what makes the Great Salt Lake GREAT!

4. Meet new friends; share interests and network

3. Lots of live birds, kids art, free workshops, great food!

2. Take advantage of the opportunity to meet famous people

1. Birding is Fun! Bring the whole family this Friday and Saturday

Davis County Events Center, 151 S. 1100 W. Farmington, UT 84025

'The Big Year' birder, Greg Miller, is the Keynote Speaker. Dinner tickets sold out.

Great Salt Lake Bird Festival is excited to present the 2012 Keynote Speaker (May 18 & 19, 2012) , ‘The Big Year’ birder, Greg Miller (picture by Cam Shaw). Miller is portrayed by actor Jack Black in the new comedy movie, "The Big Year" about the world of competitive birding. He also appears as an extra in the film. See more about Greg Miller under Festival Presenter Information.

Registration for field trips for the 2012 Festival is open.

Great Salt Lake Bird Festival 2012 Big Stay at Farmington Bay

A "Big Stay" is like a birding Big Day or a bird-a-thon in that the object is to tally as many bird species as can be seen or heard within a 24 hour period from one location. It's kind of like a tailgate party for birdwatchers - hang out and watch and listen for birds with your friends. Attendees are welcome to come and go from this event as they please.

Purpose:

Share the love of birds with the public. Local birders and experts will be on hand to share their knowledge and optical equipment with the guests.
Fundraiser for Great Salt Lake Nature Center at Farmington Bay. Pledges can be obtained for each species tallied. For example, if a generous person donates $1 per species and we see 75 bird species that day, we will have earned $75 from that donor. Donor pledge sheets are available here or at the Festival information booth.

Rules:

The Big Stay At Farmington Bay will include the entire hill of Goose Egg Island to be the official observation area.
Only birds seen or heard from the official observation area are countable, but there are strategic ways to accomplish this.
The Big Stay begins at 5 pm on Friday May 18th and goes until 5 pm on Saturday May 19th. To reserve your time 'on the hill', contact Robert Mortensen

2012 Notes: Tracy Aviary live birds with be at 12 pm and 3 pm.

Previous speakers include: Bill Thompson III, Bill Fenimore, Scott Weidensaul, Bruce Thompson, Rosalie Winard, Ron Rohrbaugh, Denny Olson, Arthur Morris, John Acorn, Al Batt, Kent Clegg, Pete Dunne, Kenn Kaufman, Terry Tempest Williams, Ella Sorensen, Michael O. Leavitt