Contrary to popular belief, it is not only brine shrimp that call the Great Salt Lake home. Numerous bird species also populate the area. The 17th annual Great Salt Lake Bird Festival is a time to celebrate and learn about these feathered lake dwellers.
The festival features many opportunities to see the birds in action and learn about their ecosystem, with options for everyone, whether you’re a novice or an avid birdwatcher. The festival extends Thursday through Monday and is composed primarily of a variety of field trips for which participants can register before the beginning of the festival. These trips are led by local avian experts and take festival-goers on expeditions across the diverse areas that make up the Great Salt Lake ecosystem. Within these four days, participants can explore everywhere from the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge to the Jordan River Parkway. However, the trips aren’t limited to the Great Salt Lake area, as there are also field trip offerings that take groups to various birding locations around Utah County. Trip cost starts at $10 and range in price depending on distance and duration.
Though they make up a large part of the festivities, field trips are not the only way to enjoy the Great Salt Lake Bird Festival. The event also sports vendors, artists, food booths and various lectures, workshops and activities for a younger crowd. For those not looking to commit to a guided trip, the student art display, crafts and vendor booths are open to the public on Friday and Saturday afternoon. The artwork featured is part of an annual student competition supported by the festival. If you’re inclined to stick around after the food and art, there will be free lectures and presentations. One of these presentations introduces participants to the bats at Farmington Bay while another is a talk on bird illustrations by David Allen Sibley, author of a well-known bird guide.
Though the name of the festival implies all things feathered and flying, there are some opportunities to learn of other creatures native to the area. A program offered on both Friday and Saturday evening explores native amphibians and reptiles of Utah. The presentation features not only pictures and information but also some live specimens to keep things interesting. Aside from the reptiles, the festival also has panel discussions and movies on various topics surrounding the local ecosystem, wildlife values and the various creatures that call the Salt Lake area home.
The Great Salt Lake often gets overlooked as a fun way to spend a few days, especially by locals. The bird festival is a wonderful way to connect with and discover the eclectic ecosystem and to see what bird watching is all about. Grab a couple friends and spend the day with the brine shrimp and the gulls — just remember your bug spray.
More details and a complete festival guide can be found at http://www.greatsaltlakebirdfest.com/index.php
@Unchained116