Urban Wildlife

BLM seeks volunteers for raptor inventory nest survey

Submitted by David Wells, Senior Web Producer

Thursday, February 21st, 2013, 6:46pm

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Utah Salt Lake Field Office is seeking volunteers to assist with the annual Raptor Inventory Nest Survey (RINS) in northern Utah. Participation as a volunteer does not require special experience or education, and the BLM will provide training. In fact, the only prerequisites are a love for the outdoors, especially Utah’s beautiful west desert, and a sincere desire to help the magnificent birds of prey that call our state home.

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"When Birds of a Feather MURDER Together"

Submitted by David Wells, Senior Web Producer

Friday, May 18th, 2012, 1:28pm

"When Birds of a Feather MURDER Together"

The 14th annual Great Salt Lake Bird Festival May 17-21, 2012 explores this very question.

One crow by itself is nothing to worry about, but a group of crows is a MURDER! And a group of their larger cousins, the ravens, while not so sinister is known as an UNKINDNESS. Do you know bird group names and how the names originated? For example, can you guess why a group of Mourning Doves might be called a PITYING? How about this, do you know the difference between a SKEIN of geese and a GAGGLE of geese? Which group of birds would you feel most secure being with (a group of ducks is a SAFE)? What group of birds would get you in hot water (a KETTLE is a group of flying hawks).

Hey, did you hear what those starlings were saying about you (a MURMURATION of starlings)! Can you guess which species these bird group names belong to: herd, fling, charm, host?

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Bald eaglets prepare for first flight

Submitted by Brittany Green-Miner, Fox 13 Web Content Producer

Thursday, June 23rd, 2011, 10:27am

Two eaglets are preparing for their first flights.

The pair of 10-week-old bald eagles live in a nest near the southeastern shore of the Great Salt Lake. Adult eagles have produced 34 eaglets over the last 14 years.

"Utah only has 11 known nesting pair of bald eagles statewide. That means it's taking a long time given that when I began which would've been way back in the mid-70s, I believe at that time we were only aware of one or two nesting paris. It's taken that long to get to 11 known nesting pairs of bald eagles," said Bob Walters, Watchable Wildlife Coordinator.

Walters will be hosting public tours Thursday and Saturday night. For more information, visit wildlife.utah.gov.

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More horse herpes cases confirmed in Utah

Submitted by Associated Press on Wednesday, May 25th, 9:11 am

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Authorities say seven cases of the horse herpes virus have been confirmed in Utah, with as many as eight more suspected cases.

Utah state veterinarian Bruce L. King says Monday a second horse has been euthanized after it could not stand in its stall over the weekend.

King says four facilities are under quarantine orders because of horses infected with Equine Herpes Virus-1. The horses are in Kane, Box Elder, Davis and Utah counties.

The virus began spreading after an event last month in Ogden. More than 30 horses in nine states and Canada have been infected and at least seven infected horses have died.

The Utah Department of Agriculture is not recommending cancellations of events featuring horses.

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Great Salt Lake Bird Festival

Submitted by Brittany Green-Miner, Fox 13 Web Content Producer

Thursday, May 12th, 2011, 11:52am

This is a news release from Clearfield City.

The 13th Annual Great Salt Lake Bird Festival will be held May 12-16, Thursday through Monday, in Farmington. The Saturday, May 14th Dutch oven dinner will feature keynote speaker Bill Thompson III, editor of “Bird Watcher’s Digest,” author and creator of Bill of the Birds blog.

The Great Salt Lake Bird Festival offers ‘behind-the-gates’ guided field trips to the best birding hot-spots in northern Utah, around the world famous Great Salt Lake, including Farmington Bay. Programming includes birding by bus, van, boat, kayak, and horseback.

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West Davis corridor citizen meeting

Submitted by Ryan Lesar on Monday, February 28th, 10:51 am

SAVE OUR COMMUNITY!

MEETING

Monday, February 28th, 7pm

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Utahns birdwatch on Bald Eagle Day

Submitted by Brittany Green-Miner, Fox 13 Web Content Producer

Sunday, February 13th, 2011, 12:38am

Birdwatchers across Utah headed out to catch a glimpse of the symbol of our nation on Saturday--the day the Division of Wildlife Resources and US Fish and Wildlife Services have declared Bald Eagle Day. This year marks the 22nd Bald Eagle Day.

"The rule of thumb for wintering Bald Eagles is November through March," said Bob Walters, Watchable Wildlife Program Coordinator. "And we've found through the years that just after that first weekend in February is about as good a time as we can guestimate."

Each winter, about 1500 bald eagles cross through the state on their way north to add to the ten nesting pairs who make Utah their home year-round. Wildlife officials say the sudden increase in the birds of prey provides for interesting viewing experiences for Utahns.

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