Workshops 

Presenter(s): Tracy Aviary, Sageland Collective, HawkWatch International

Time: Friday, May 19th, 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Birds make natural subjects for scientific study, and birders are often an asset to scientists when it comes to collecting data. Join representatives from three local organizations that rely on birders to help with projects. Learn about their work and how you might be able to get involved.

Presenter(s): Eccles Wildlife Education Center

Time: Friday, May 19th, 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm

Embrace your inner scientist with this fun family activity. Owls often eat their prey whole. After digesting the soft tissues, they cough up compact pellets of fur and bones. Dissect a real (sanitized) owl pellet to discover what the owls have been dining on!

*Registration required.

Presenter(s): Tom Mathewson

Time: Saturday, May 20th, 8:00 am - 8:50 am 

This is a quick introduction to taking great bird pictures. We'll cover basic theory as well as the best camera settings and saving your pictures. Then we'll look at shooting techniques for bird photography, and finally examine how to tap your own artistic vision to capture those great bird scenes.

Presenter(s): HawkWatch International, Eccles Wildlife Education Center

Time: Saturday, May 20th, 9:00 am - 9:50 am

Embrace your inner scientist with this fun family activity. Owls often eat their prey whole. After digesting the soft tissues, they cough up compact pellets of fur and bones. Dissect a real (sanitized) owl pellet to discover what the owls have been dining on!

*Registration required.

Presenter(s): HawkWatch International

Time: Saturday, May 20th, 9:00 am - 9:45 am

All raptors share a set of three important features, but did you know that these features can vary between types of raptors? Meet three live Raptor Ambassadors from HawkWatch International and learn how different raptors have evolved to use different hunting strategies and survive in all kinds of environments. 

**Includes live birds.

Presenter(s): Chris Roybal, Wasatch Avian Education Society

Time: Saturday, May 20th, 10:00 am -10:50 am

With viral videos of people cuddling parrots, they may seem like an ideal family pet. While birds can be wonderful companions, they have special needs that many people don't understand before bringing home a new feathered friend. Join the Wasatch Avian Education Society to learn what it takes to be a forever home for a pet bird.

Presenter(s): Natalia Wilkins-Tyler

Time: Saturday, May 20th, 10:30 am - 11:20 am

Join a scientific illustrator to learn some tips and tricks for drawing birds from life. We'll focus on the "three sharps" that distinguish raptors from other birds and practice by using a live bird as a model. Bring your sketchbook and pencils and get ready to draw! Supplies will be provided if you don’t have your own or are just getting started. 

**Includes live birds.

Presenter(s): HawkWatch International, Eccles Wildlife Education Center

Time: Saturday, May 20th, 11:00 am - 11:50 am

Embrace your inner scientist with this fun family activity. Owls often eat their prey whole. After digesting the soft tissues, they cough up compact pellets of fur and bones. Dissect a real (sanitized) owl pellet to discover what the owls have been dining on!

*Registration required.

Presenter(s): Ogden Nature Center

Time: Saturday, May 20th, 11:30 am - 12:15 pm

Winter months in Utah are brightened by one of the most majestic birds in North America! Bald Eagles (named after the old English word "balde" meaning white) love to migrate down from the frigid north to the milder temperatures of Utah to go fishing. Fortunately, even though winter is over, you can learn all about these beautiful birds and where to find them next time the snow flies in Utah as you meet Ogden Nature Center's Bald Eagle, Des Ta Te.

**Includes live birds.

Presenter(s): Frances Ngo

Time: Saturday, May 20th, 12:00 pm - 12:50 pm

Join Tracy Aviary’s biologist Frances Ngo for an introduction to bird sketching. This workshop is geared toward beginner artists. During this workshop, we will explore observational drawing techniques and the basics of drawing bird forms. Frances will share tips for sketching birds in the field and lead participants through guided exercises. Bring your sketchbooks and pencils and get ready to draw!

Presenter(s): Krista Hong Edwards

Time: Saturday, May 20th, 12:30 pm - 1:20 pm

This is certain: your life has been affected by falconry. Falconry is an ancient sport dating back 5,000 years ago, with its origins being traced in Asia, spreading to the Middle East, Europe, and eventually the Americas. In some way, shape, or form, our lives have been affected by falconers and falconry. Discover the role of falconers in conservation, the role of falconry in culture, and how falconry has shaped the political landscape in this interactive workshop led by Vice President of the Utah Falconer’s Association.

Presenter(s): Dallin Henderson & Max Malmquist

Time: Saturday, May 20th, 1:00 pm - 1:50 pm

Enjoy this free workshop for beginners and families. We will discuss bird identification and the common backyard birds in the Farmington area. 

*Pre-registration required for Beginning Birding: Farmington Bay field trip that takes place immediately following the workshop. Workshop open to all.

Presenter(s): Utah Falconers Association

Time: Saturday, May 20th, 1:30 pm - 2:20 pm

The sport of falconry has been practiced for thousands of years, and modern falconers continue to refine it as science provides more information about birds and their needs. If you have always been interested in falconry, or just want to learn a little more about it, please join us for this moderated panel discussion where local falconers will take questions from audience members.

**Includes live birds.

Presenter(s): Scott Baxster

Time: Saturday, May 20th, 2:00 pm - 2:50 pm

Enjoy a fast-moving presentation followed by a Q&A session based on years of in-the-field photography by internationally published photographer and writer Scott Baxter. Whether you have thousands of dollars of camera equipment or use a camera that can send text messages, you will get ideas on how you can capture what you experience in an image that will engage the viewer.

Presenter(s): Lynn Defratis

Time: Saturday, May 20th, 2:30 pm - 3:20 pm

In 2019, the Utah Legislature and Governor Cox unanimously supported (HCR-10) House Concurrent Resolution to Address Declining Water Levels of the Great Salt Lake. Finally there was a political will recognizing “the critical importance of ensuring adequate water flows to

Great Salt Lake and the wetlands to maintain a healthy and sustainable lake system.” Details in the HCR-10 report released December 2020, provided recommendations to be considered that would meet the goal of addressing and mitigating declining lake levels. In November 2022,

Great Salt Lake hit a new historic record low, increasing salinity concentrations in Gilbert Bay (South Arm) to the point where the ecological viability of the food web is now in peril, thus endangering the millions of birds that depend on that food web for survival. This presentation will provide an update of the ongoing work to sustain the future of this hemispherically important ecosystem.