Bird festival anyone?

The Deseret News has an article today about the many upcoming bird watching events/festivals around the state of Utah.  The highlights include:

  • Bald Eagle Viewing Day – February 13 at locations around the state
  • Snow Goose Festival – February 19-20 in Delta, Utah
  • Tundra Swan Day – March 13 at the Farmington Bay waterfowl management area
Take an opportunity to get out and support these events and check out these amazing birds.  Read the full article here, Get look at big birds before they fly away (Deseret News).

Garden Bird Count 1/30/2010

Since I am stuck at home sick today I figured I’d keep an eye on the backyard to see what was flying around.  Here is the list for today:

  • European Starlings 30+
  • Song sparrow 2
  • House finch 10
  • Dark-eyed junko 7
  • Lesser goldfinch 5
  • Black-billed magpie 2
  • American robin 2
  • California quail 3
  • Mourning dove 2
  • Northern flicker 2
Lots of birds out and about.  I called some juncos into my feeder with my iPhone app iBird.  It was pretty cool as they flew right at me and then turned away.  Well, off to get more rest.

Great Salt Lake Bird Festival

The Great Salt Lake Bird Festival is coming up in May and will give you an opportunity to visit the bird refuge and see the great diversity of birds that call it home (or at least a place to crash on their way to somewhere else).  If you haven’t ever been out to the refuge this would be a great opportunity to do so.  I used to canoe through it with my Dad and brother when I was much younger.  It played a large part in my love of the outdoors and birds in particular.  Check it out.

Great Salt Lake Bird Festival events announced

Life List: War Torn Warbler

This undated photo released by the Wildlife Conservation Society ...
(AP Photo/Wildlife Conservation Society)
Reuters has a story on the large-billed reed warbler dubbed ”World’s least known bird” and it has been found breeding in Afghanistan.  Cool to hear stories like this were rare animals turn up in remote corners of the globe.  Apparently this is the largest ever find of these birds and so they are gathering a flood of new data on the species.  Thankfully these birds have chosen one of the quieter regions of Afghanistan to breed so hopefully they can survive the madness of wartime.  Sounds like an adventurous and possibly deadly trip to add to your life-list.  

Are you an avid enough birder to make the trek during wartime?  Know any bird lovers serving in Afghanistan that might like to check it out?