They say the shores of the Great Salt Lake are a five-star resort to visiting birds. They fly by, stop, then move on. Some stay year-round because accommodations are so nice.

In all, the area attracts more than 400 species of birds, including visiting red-throated loons, an occasional wood stork and the common California gull.

The Great Salt Lake, in fact, is recognized as one of only 17 Hemispheric Reserves that make up the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network.

In recognition of this bird sanctuary, organizers will be putting on the sixth annual Great Salt Lake Bird Festival. It begins today and runs through May 22.

Included in the celebration will be workshops, speeches, tours and a Dutch oven meal.

The Great Salt Lake provides 1,500 square miles of aquatic environment for the millions of birds that pass through Utah each year, as well as for the permanent residents, like the gulls, prairie falcon, white-tailed ptarmigan and American coot.

A number of tours will be offered. Some will involve bus rides, others car rides and some boat rides.

John Acorn, best known as "Acorn, The Nature Nut" of Canadian Discovery Channel, Animal Planet and National Geographic, will be the keynote speaker this year.

His presentations will begin today at 6 p.m. at the Davis County FairPark. On Saturday he will host a nature walk at the Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve from 8-11 a.m., and he will then speak at the annual Festival Dinner at 6 p.m.

The bus and van tours are scheduled to tour Antelope Island, and there will be special "Behind the Gates" tours of the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Gillmor Sanctuary, Inland Sea Shorebird Reserve, Farmington Bay and Ambassador Duck Club.

Other tours are scheduled in the Wasatch Mountains, Cache Valley, Utah Valley and some urban trail and wetland sites.

According to Neka Roundy, Davis County tourism coordinator and festival chair, workshop topics will vary from "Beginning Birding" to "Identifying Flycatchers."

Expected to be popular this year will be the live-bird presentations given by Tracy Aviary and HawkWatch International.

Booths, workshops and food outlets will be at the Davis County FairPark today, noon-6 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Workshops, exhibits and presentations are free to the public.

The American white pelican will be spotlighted this year. The Great Salt Lake provides one of the largest breeding colonies of pelicans in North America.

For a complete schedule or tickets, call Davis County Tourism at 801-451-3286, or visit the Internet at http://www.greatsaltlakebirdfest.com.

In addition, the Great Bear River Bird Festival will be held May 22 at Pioneer Park in Brigham City. Some events will be held at the refuge.

Activities will include "Nature Photography Talk 'N Walk," "Identifying Raptors in the Field" and "Birdscaping Your Back Yard."

Art and craft shows will include wildlife art, carvings, books and souvenirs.

A number of wildlife and nature organizations will be available to provide information on wildlife within the refuge.

For information call 1-435-723-5887.


If you go. . .

What: Great Salt Lake Bird Festival

Where: Various locations

When: Today through May 22

Phone: 801-451-3286

Web:www.greatsaltlakebirdfest.com

What: Great Bear River Bird Festival

View Comments

Where: May 22

When: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge and Pioneer Park, Brigham City

Phone: 1-435-723-5887


E-mail: grass@desnews.com

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