Field Trips

Saturday, May 16th

#20

6:00am – 3:00pm

Cache Valley Hotspots

Joseph Andreasen, Adam Brewerton, Mike Taylor

Cache Valley is one of the lesser known birding hot spots in the West. Our trip will reveal the area’s great diversity and wealth of birds and other wildlife secrets. The trip will visit a variety of habitats and microclimates, ranging from sub-alpine forest to fast-flowing trout streams and semi-desert savanna to wetlands. We will also see The Barrens, a Bridgerland Audubon Chapter sanctuary project. Possible species include: 3 species of hummingbirds, Wood Duck, Chukar, Gray Partridge, Northern Pygmy- and Short-eared owls, Swainson’s and Hermit thrushes, Green-tailed Towhee, Peregrine Falcon, Golden Eagle, and migrating waterfowl, shorebirds, flycatchers, vireos, and warblers.

Meet at the Wildlife Education Center: 1157 S. Waterfowl Way (1100 W. Glovers Lane) Farmington, UT 84025

Limit 53. Bus. Cost $45

#21

7:00am – 9:00am

Glover Ponds at Sunrise

Susan Snyder & Daniel Brown

These ponds bring YOU into nature. The Great Salt Lake Nature Center deck and surrounding wetlands enhance your opportunity for close-up observation. A nearby Great Blue Heron breeding colony will be active and American Avocets and other shorebirds and waterfowl will be building nests. Other possible species include: Cinnamon Teal, four species of grebe, Snowy Egret, Ruddy Duck, and American White Pelican, plus other shorebirds, and other wildlife. A spotting scope will be available.

Meet at the Wildlife Education Center: 1157 S. Waterfowl Way (1100 W. Glovers Lane) Farmington, UT 84025 to follow guide to site.

Limit 15. Own Vehicles. Cost $15

#22

7:00am –12:00pm

Birding by Ear

Bryant Olsen & Merrill Webb

Every bird species has its own unique song. Imagine being able to identify birds that you cannot see in the canopy and dense scrub by their vocalizations. Spend the morning developing your listening skills. Likely species include a variety of warblers, vireos, chickadees and orioles including: Yellow, MacGillivray’s Orange-crowned warblers, Warbling Vireo, Bullock’s Oriole, and Black capped Chickadee.

Meet at the Wildlife Education Center: 1157 S. Waterfowl Way (1100 W. Glovers Lane) Farmington, UT 84025.

Limit 11. Mini-bus. Cost $45

#23

7:00am – 1:00pm

Antelope Island: Causeway & Garr Ranch

Mike Hearell & Taylor Abbott

Bird a popular migrant stopover at Fielding Garr Ranch on Antelope Island. Birds crossing the west desert drop into the Ranch’s grove of giant cottonwood trees as the first green spot they see. The area offers several springs and trees with plenty of insects. Possible species: migrating warblers, vireos, flycatchers; also owls, falcons, hawks, woodpeckers, and Virginia Rail.

Meet at the Wildlife Education Center: 1157 S. Waterfowl Way (1100 W. Glovers Lane) Farmington, UT 84025.

*Ticket includes park entry

Limit 35. Mid-size Bus. Cost $45

#24

7:30– 10:00am

Bountiful Pond

Ian Batterman

Located on the outskirts of Farmington Bay WMA, Bountiful Pond is a lovely oasis for all kinds of birds. This trip involves walking around the pond. The large pond provides a stopover area for many gulls and waterfowl, and the surrounding trees and fields hide many songbirds, owls, and other birds with close viewing opportunities. During migration, Bountiful Pond can often house rare vagrants like Eastern Wood Warblers.

Species to see: Wood Duck, Mallard, Cinnamon Teal, Red-breasted Merganser, Pied-billed Grebe, Western Grebe, American White Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Northern Harrier, Osprey, Virginia Rail, American Coot, Wilson’s Snipe, California Gull, Caspian Tern, Forster’s Tern, Barn Owl, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, American Kestrel, Western Wood-pewee, Dusky Flycatcher, Black-billed Magpie, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Marsh Wren, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Western Tanager, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle.

Meet at the Wildlife Education Center: 1157 S. Waterfowl Way (1100 W. Glovers Lane) Farmington, UT 84025.

Limit 20 Own Vehicles Cost $15

#25

7:30am – 2:00pm

Morgan County: Backyard Birding in Two Habitats

Arnold Smith & Weston Smith

Some of the best birding in Morgan County is found in the backyards of the houses in the quaint small towns of Morgan and Croydon in Weber Canyon. Cavity-nesting Tree Swallows, House Wrens, and American Kestrel will be target birds. Bird feeders will be attracting Black-headed Grosbeaks, Bullock’s Orioles, Cassin’s Finches, Lazuli Buntings and hummingbirds. This trip has averaged approx. 65 species per year and surprises are always possible. We will also bird along the Weber River in Henefer looking for large nesting birds such as raptors and herons.

Meet at 7am in Morgan Utah at the north side of 7-Eleven: 404 E. 300 N. Morgan 84050. Take I-84 east to exit 103. The 7-Eleven is on the south side of the railroad tracks.

Limit 20. Own Vehicles. Cost $25

#26

9:00am–12:00pm

Farmington Bay WMA “Behind-the-Gates”

John Bellmon & Dan Johnston

Great Salt Lake is a western hemisphere shorebird preserve IBA and the Bay will be alive with residents and arriving ‘new’ migrants. You can be part of their adventure and see nest-building in action. Possible species include: Northern Shoveler, Grebes, Black-necked Stilt, Cinnamon Teal, American White Pelican, Great Blue Heron, and maybe Virginia Rail and Sora.

Meet at the Wildlife Education Center 1157 S. Waterfowl Way (1100 W. Glovers Lane) Farmington, UT 84025.

Limit 53. Bus. Cost $25

#27

9:00am–12:00pm

Burrowing Owl Field Trip

Annette Hansen & Melissa Halvorsen

Think you know everything about owls? Well not these little hoots. Come see the underground-dwelling, awake in the day, sentinels of the grasslands – burrowing owls. This is a field trip to Antelope island State Park to look for Burrowing owl sites.

Meet at the Wildlife Education Center: 1157 S. Waterfowl Way (1100 W. Glovers Lane) Farmington, UT 84025.

*Ticket includes park entry

Limit 35. Mid-size Bus. Cost $45

#28

1:00 – 4:00pm

Farmington Bay “Behind-the-Gates”

Nelson Holmes & Ian Batterman

Farmington Bay WMA is a great resource for migrating and nesting birds. Several hundred thousand birds utilize this area during spring migration and 57 nesting species have been documented. The majority of dikes, ponds, canals, and upland areas are off-limits to the public during the nesting season so this “Behind-the-Gates” tour is a privilege.

Meet at the Wildlife Education Center 1157 S. Waterfowl Way (1100 W. Glovers Lane) Farmington, UT 84025.

Limit 53. Bus. Cost $25

#29

1:00 – 4:00pm

Burrowing Owl Field Trip

Ellen Labotka & Trish Ackley

Think you know everything about owls? Well not these little hoots. Come see the underground-dwelling, awake in the day, sentinels of the grasslands – burrowing owls. This is a field trip to Antelope Island State Park to look for Burrowing owl sites.

Meet at the Wildlife Education Center: 1157 S. Waterfowl Way (1100 W. Glovers Lane) Farmington, UT 84025.

Limit 35. Mid-size Bus. Cost $45

Workshop

1:00 - 2:00 pm

Free

🏫

AND

#30 Field trip

2:00 - 5:00 pm

Needs ticket.

Birding for Beginners Workshop

Dallin Henderson & Max Malmquist

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

Farmington Birding Hot Spots

AFTER the workshop we will explore the area and wetlands around the Wildlife Education Center and practice your new skills.

Field trip tickets can be purchased on-line.

Meet at the Wildlife Education Center: 1157 S. Waterfowl Way (1100 W. Glovers Lane) Farmington, UT 84025.

Limt: 20. Adults $5. Children free.

Sunday, May 17th

#31

5:00am–12:00pm

East Canyon State Park

Billy Fenimore, Weston Smith, Chris Haramoto

We will begin at the Henefer lek to look for the greater sage grouse we will leave at approximately 6:30 to return to the state park office. The continuing tour will view feeders placed in the state park and look for water birds on the reservoir. We will then travel to several other locations within the park looking for mountain birds. We expect to see around 60 species. Possible sightings include greater sage grouse, common loon, grebes, swallows, different hawks, and eagles. Bring food and water.

Meet: East Canyon State Park Office:

5535 South Highway 66, Morgan, UT 84050

For correct navigation, please put the full address into your GPS (5535 South Highway 66, Morgan, UT 84050) rather than East Canyon State Park.

Limit 20. Own Vehicles. $25

#32

6:00am – 3:00pm

Bird the West Desert & Pony Express Trail

Keeli Marvel & Samantha Phillips

Bird the West Desert and the Pony Express Trail. Experience the birds of the West Desert and the ruggedness of the Pony Express Trail first hand. We'll bird a loop starting at Clover Springs CG in Johnson Pass, traveling over to Lookout Pass, and back around past Fitzgerald WMA. Highlights could include desert specialties such as Bushtits, Juniper Titmice, Pinyon Jays, Sagebrush Sparrows, Black-throated Gray Warblers, and Horned Larks.

Meet at the Wildlife Education Center: 1157 S. Waterfowl Way (1100 W. Glovers Lane) Farmington, UT 84025 at 6 AM OR at the Macey's Grocery parking lot next to the McDonalds in Tooele at 972 N. Main St. Tooele UT 84074 at 7am.

Limit 12. Van. Cost $80

#33

6:00am – 7:00pm

Rare Bird Chase

Bryant Olsen

Join us to "twitch" after any rarities. Late May is the peak of neo-tropical songbird and shore bird migration, and one of the best times of year to find "rare" and unusual migrants and vagrants in Utah. It also just so happens that this will be on the last day of the festival, so we can chase after any rarities found on the previous field trips. Itinerary to be determined the day of the field trip, depending on what is being reported at that time.

Meet at the Wildlife Education Center: 1157 S. Waterfowl Way (1100 W. Glovers Lane) Farmington, UT 84025

Limt: 14. Van. Cost: $80

#34

6:00am–12:00am

*All day and Late Night Trip

Marathon Birding

Tim Avery, Jeff Bilsky, Mike Hearell, Taylor Abbott

What happens when you take 4 crazy birding guides, a couple of vans, and have 18 hours during the height of migration in northern Utah? Marathon Birding with Mountain West Birding Tours of course! Join, Mike, Taylor, Jeff, and Tim as they guide you along the shores and wetlands of the Great Salt Lake, through the canyons and mountains of the Wasatch front, and try to seek out 150 species in a fast-paced, bird-filled, sort-of big day. Over the past 12 years, we've averaged just over 150 species each day and topped out at 170 in 2015. We never know what we'll find, but we will have a great time, and cap things off with a spectacular Flammulated Owling outing! Lunch, dinner, water bottles, and a swag bag are included as well!

Meet at the Wildlife Education Center: 1157 S. Waterfowl Way (1100 W. Glovers Lane) Farmington, UT 84025.

Limit 10. Van. Cost $170

#35

7:00am–12:00pm

Jordanelle Wetlands and Heber Fields

Terri Pope

The wetlands below Jordanelle Dam offer excellent birding in these foothills to the Uinta Mountains. This area is an Audubon Important Bird Area (IBA). 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 the Salt Lake City REI located at 3285 E. 3300 S. Salt Lake City, UT. 84109. The drive is about 40 minutes and will be following the guide.

Limit 20. Own Vehicles. Cost $25

#36

7:00am –3:00pm

“Behind-the-Gates” at Bear River MBR

Jim Parrish, Adam Brewerston, Bear River Staff, and Keynote Speaker: Steve Shunk.

Spend a day with expert birders on a “behind-the-gates” birding adventure at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. 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 78,000 acres provide a vast wetland habitat for a phenomenal number of migrants including waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors, White-faced Ibis, several species of blackbirds, gulls, terns, swallows, marsh wrens, and more. This trip will also go around the auto tour loop with stops and do some walking behind the gates.

Meet at the Wildlife Education Center: 1157 S. Waterfowl Way (1100 W. Glovers Lane) Farmington, UT 84025.

Limit 33. Mid-size Bus. Cost $60

#37

7:00am- 1:00pm

“Behind-the-Gates” ISSR & Gillmor Sanctuary

Ann Neville & Ella Sorenson

Rio Tinto Kennecott’s Inland Sea Shorebird Reserve and Gillmor Sanctuary Behind the Gates. Light walking with probable muddy conditions. Visit over 8,000 acres of private land managed just for shorebirds on the edge of Great Salt Lake. Shallow ponds or playas invite avocets, black-necked stilts, willets, migrating ‘peeps’ and one of the few places to consistently see snowy plovers. Prairie type sparrows, larks, pipits, shrike, hawks and falcons possible. Access to some areas may be limited with wet weather.

Meet at the Wildlife Education Center 1157 S. Waterfowl Way (1100 W. Glovers Lane) Farmington, UT 84025 and follow guide to site.

Limit 22. Mini-bus. Cost $75

#38

8:00am – 4:00pm

Avifauna and Art: Spiral Jetty Adventure

Jaimi Butler & Max Malmquist

Spiral Jetty, one of the world’s most iconic examples of land art, is also a birders paradise! Located in the remote North Arm of Great Salt Lake there are many opportunities to spot different birds. On the long drive through the grassland and sagebrush landscape, we will surely see many raptors including Ferruginous Hawks, Swainson’s Hawks and Golden Eagles. Once at Spiral Jetty, amidst the hypersaline (and very pink) waters we will encounter American White Pelicans that breed on the remote Gunnison Island flying overhead in their daily search for fish in the lake’s eastern freshwater wetlands. National Audubon’s Max Malmquist will help us try to find Grasshopper and Sagebrush Sparrows, Long-billed Curlews and Snowy Plovers As a steward of Spiral Jetty and avid GSL nerd, Westminster’s Jaimi Butler will help explore the ecology, history and the art of Spiral Jetty. She also never shuts up about Pelicans that form the basis of her student’s research.

We will provide you with sandwiches from Caputo’s Deli and can accommodate any dietary restrictions. This trip requires walking over uneven terrain for long distances in any kind of weather. There is no cell phone service or bathrooms at the site (but there are bathrooms along the way!).

Meet at the Wildlife Education Center: 1157 S. Waterfowl Way (1100 W. Glovers Lane) Farmington, UT 84025.

Limit 8. Van Cost $80

#39

5:00 – 9:30pm

Owl Prowl on Antelope Island

Nikki Wayment & Melissa Halvorsen

Who, Who should go? Owl lovers that’s WHO!Antelope Island is prime habitat for several species of owl: Great Horned, Barn, Burrowing, Long-eared and Short-eared owls. Great opportunity to see other wildlife in the park. Picturesque views of the Lake and timing of this evening trip will be great for photographing the island’s famous sunsets.

Meet at the Wildlife Education Center: 1157 S. Waterfowl Way (1100 W. Glovers Lane) Farmington, UT 84025.

Limit 34. Mid-size Bus. Cost $45

Monday, May 18th Post Festival Field Trip

#40

6:00am – 6:00pm

Deseret Ranch Field Trip

Billy 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, and has 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 Sagebrush Sparrows, Hammond’s, Gray, Dusky, Olive-sided and Cordilleran Flycatchers, American Dipper, Lazuli Bunting, Caspian Tern, and migrant warblers.

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 Hwy 89 and I-84 junction on the west side of UT Hwy 89.

Limit 25. Mid-size Bus. Cost $90