Register for the 14th Annual
Great Salt Lake Bird Festival
May 17-21, 2012 on March 1, 2012
***Dinner Tickets with
Big Year Birder Greg Miller
on sale now!
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The Birds Seen at the
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2011
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Mail Check to:
Great Salt Lake Bird Festival
PO Box 618, Farmington, UT 84037
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2012 Great Salt Lake Bird Festival Field Trips
Photo by: Dr. Jimmy Chen. Cache County
Photo by: Deedee O'Brien. Pineview Reservoir
 = Field Trips 
= Workshops and Presentations  = Fun for KIDS |
| Thurs, May17 » Fri, May18 » Sat, May19 » Sun, May20 » Mon, May21 » |
| THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012 | |
| #1 5:15am - 10:30am |
4-Mile Ranch Ron Greer, Val Grant, Bret Selman & Dick Mueller Tour the Aldo Leopold Conservation Award-winning 4-Mile Ranch. This is a working ranch that practices beneficial wildlife stewardship and is owned and operated by the Selman Family. Here you will have an opportunity to see the Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse and , with a little luck, their breeding dance. Other species that are often seen at the Ranch include: Sandhill Crane, Red-tailed Hawk, Golden Eagle, Northern Goshawk, Northern Harrier, Grasshopper, Sage, Vesper, and Brewer’s Sparrows, Wild Turkey, Dusky and Ruffed Grouse Mountain Bluebird, and Hairy Woodpecker. Meet at the McDonald’s in Hyrum at 5:15 am. It is a moderate hike to the site. Accommodations will be arranged for those unable to hike. Bring water and snacks. Limit 20. Own vehicles. Cost $13 |
| #2 6am – 6pm |
Deseret Ranch
 Bill Fenimore & John Bellmon Enjoy a birding 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 and 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 $60 |
| #3 7am – 4pm |
Jordanelle State Park & Rock Cliff
Recreation Area Wetlands
Kathy Donnell, Steve & Louise Brown, Adam Brewerton The Jordanelle area offers outstanding birding in a wide variety of habitats. You will bird the wetlands below Jordanelle Dam, which has been designated a Utah Audubon Important Bird Area (IBA). This trip involves birding along a boardwalk through wetland and riparian woods, as well as the open water reservoir for migrating waterfowl. Possible species include: American Dipper, Warbling Vireo, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow and Yellow-rumped Warblers, Swainson’s Thrush, American Redstart, Bullock’s Oriole, and Osprey. Bring your own lunch and water. Meet Adam in the ShopKo parking lot near the 13th East exit of I-80 in Salt Lake City. Limit 20. Own Vehicles Cost $13 |
| #4 7am – 1pm |
Willard Bay State Park Lee Shirley and Valerie Frokjer Willard Bay is a spring migrant trap along the eastern edge of Great Salt Lake. The area also includes a variety of nesting passerines and shore birds. Stroll along trails and roadways around wetlands and uplands. Possible species include Gray Catbird, Northern Oriole, Western Tanager, Downy Woodpecker, Willow Flycatcher, Black-headed Grosbeak, swallows, and various warblers. Bring your own lunch and water. Meet at the Davis County Legacy Events Center. Limit 15. Vans. Cost $33 |
| #5 7am – 2pm |
ISSR and Gillmor Sanctuary
Ella Sorensen, Ann Neville, Wayne Martinson Join three of Utah’s birding experts for a “behind-the-gates” tour of the south shore of Great Salt Lake, Inland Sea Shorebird Reserve (ISSR), a private mitigation property with numerous ponds, mudflats, and upland areas. The Gillmor Sanctuary is a National Audubon property, not open to the general public. Possible species include: American Avocet, Black-necked Stilt, Long-billed Curlew, Wilson’s Phalarope, Snowy Plover, various waterfowl, grebes, swallows, Peregrine Falcon, and Golden Eagle. Bring your own lunch and water. Meet at the Davis County Legacy Events Center. Limit 20. Vans. Cost $33 |
| #6
7:30 - 11 am |
Kaysville
East Mtn. Wilderness Park Les Talbot Enjoy a leisurely walk through the foothills east of Kaysville. the gentle terrain through oakbrush forest provides a perfect habitat for local songbirds. there will be a short hike up to the Bonneville Shoreline. Possible bird sightings include: Western Tanager, Lazuli Bunting, Black-headed Grosbeak, American Robin, Western Scrub jay, House Finch, House Sparrow, Mourning Dove, and black-billed Magpie Limit 20. Own vehicles. Cost $13 |
| #7 7:30am - 11:30am |
Jordan River Parkway Roberta Wherritt and GSL Audubon A popular local urban birding area, this walkway extends along the Jordan River from the south end of the Salt Lake Valley almost all the way to Farmington Bay. This trip focuses on an area in the central part of the Salt Lake Valley north from 5300 South. Possible species include Yellow Warbler, Western Tanager, Bullock’s Oriole, Red-Winged Blackbird, Song Sparrow, and ducks. Meet at Jordan River Parkway parking lot on the north side of 5300 South at 1070 West. 1070 West is the 3rd stoplight west of I-15 on 5300 South. Limit 15. Own vehicles. Cost $13 |
| #8 5pm – 7pm |
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 resting, nesting and feeding area.. There are an amazing number of migratory shorebirds. 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 |
| #9
5 - 9:30 pm |
Owl Prowl, Antelope Island State Park
Katie McVey, Wendy Wilson & Brian Ferguson 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. You will see 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 $33. |
| #10 6pm – 8pm |
Sunset Trail Tour at Farmington Bay
MarJean Muhlstein The Director of the Great Salt Lake Nature Center will serve as guide along the new education area trail system at Farmington Bay WMA. This 1.5 mile loop crosses upland, emergent marsh, large ponds, streams and riparian areas. Yellow-headed Blackbird, Cinnamon Teal, Great Blue Heron, Black-necked Stilt, Northern Harrier, American Kestrel and Belted Kingfisher are just some of the avian delights you can expect to see. The extra stealthy may catch a glimpse of Virginia Rail. Meet at the Great Salt Lake Nature Center at the west end of Glover Lane, Farmington. Bring water. Limit 20. Own Vehicles. Cost $13 |
