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January 2010
Logan
Sewage Lagoons, January 16, 2010:
The Logan Sewage Lagoons and Polishing Ponds are real
hot spots for over-wintering waterfowl. Join us for a
trip with local expert birder Ryan O’Donnell. We
will look for all the common wintering ducks and try to
find a few rarities like a Long-tailed Duck or a scoter
as well. Meet at 9 a.m. at the parking lot between Caffe
Ibis and the Logan Fire Station. Bring binoculars and
dress for the season; a cold wind often blows across the
lagoons. Beginning birders are welcome. Carpooling will
be available. We will finish up around noon. NOTE: THE
DATE IN THE STILT IS INCORRECT, THIS TRIP IS ON SATURDAY
THE 16TH.
Where Have
We Gone This Year?
January 2010
Two-hundred
Club:
It it possible to seee 200 species of birds in Cache County
in the calendar year? It is not only possible, but several
local birders do it every year. This trip will be led
by local birding expert Reinhard Jockel, who is not only
good with visual birding, but also a gifd birding-by-ear
expert. Anyone is welcome to attend the field trip, expecially
those who want to set a New Year resolution to get out
of the house and see 200 of the great, natural beauties
of Cache Valley. Meeet at 9:00 a.m. at the parking lot
between Caffe Ibis and the Logan Fire Station (50 East
150 North). Bring something to munch on, because the trip
will run into the early afternoon. Those ambitious souls
will undoubtedly want to continue, pehaps into the evening.
Be prepared for whatever weather conditions are forecast
for the day.
December 2009
Outing,
Saturday, December 5, 2009 @ 8:30 am:
Join local birding expert Reinhard Jockel as he leads
a field trip up Logan Canyon. Stops will include First
Dam, Third Dam, and perhaps other areas as time and desire
permits. First Dam is sure to offer up Common and Barrow's
Goldeneyes as well as other wintering waterfowl. Third
Dam is a fantastic place to find the elusive Winter Wren.
Golden-crowned Kinglets, Townsend's Solitaire, and nuthatches
will be target species as well. Meet at 8:30 am at the
parking lot between Caffe Ibis and the Logan Fire Station
(50 East 150 North). Come prepared for the weather and
for some light hiking around Third Dam. The field trip
should be finished by early afternoon.
Christmas
Bird Count, Saturday, December 19, 2009:
This year marks the 110th Christmas Bird Count and the
50th for Bridgerland Audubon Society.
Join Bridgerland Audubon for the Christmas Bird Count
Saturday December 19 as we count every bird in a 15 mile
circle. This is the same circle we've been counting since
the mid-1950s. We need eyes and ears, beginners and experts.
If you can spend part or all of the day helping out, call
Bryan Dixon at 752- 6830, to be linked with one of our
sector leaders.
To consolidate the count, an evening potluck will be at
the Cache Valley Unitarian Universalists' building at
596 N 600 E in Logan, beginning at 6 p.m. $5.00 will get
participants a copy of the consolidated Christmas Bird
Count report published in the fall.
It should be a hoot (quite literally for those of us who
go owling...). Please join us! Visit
the CBC Page for more...
November 2009
12 General Meeting
Join us at our same great location, the Cache Valley Learning Center (75 S. 400
West), as Robert Schmidt will lead a panel discussion regarding the controversial topic of cat control.
He will bring his own insight and experience controlling the feral cat population on and around USU’s
campus. Come with questions. The meeting will start at 7 p.m. Enter through the building’s west doors. All are
welcome to attend and refreshments will be provided by Crumb Brothers and Caffe Ibis. We hope to see you there!
21 Field Trip: Hyrum Dam
Join us as we visit a Cache Valley site that is sure to provide a good variety of
waterfowl. We will be looking for early wintering birds, perhaps even scoter. Meet at 8:30 a.m. at the
parking lot between Caffe Ibis and the Logan Fire Station (50 East 150 North). Dress warmly and bring
snacks and something warm to drink. The trip will most likely be finished by 1 p.m.
October 2009
24 Joint Bridgerland and Great Salt Lake Audubon Field Trip to east Box Elder County
Bridgerland Audubon Society will be joining Great Salt Lake Audubon for a field trip to east Box Elder County. We will go behind the gates at Salt Creek Waterfowl Management Area near Tremonton to view ducks, geese and other marsh birds on the resting ponds; we'll also look for any lingering burrowing owls at the Salt Creek nesting colony. From there, we'll go in search of sharpies and Huns between Promentory, Whites Valley and ATK. And, we're sure to see various hawks throughout the trip. Target species: sharp-tailed grouse, Hungarian partridge, migrating watrfowl, and raptors. We'll meet at the Ibis parking lot at 8:00 am and meet the other Audubon group in Tremonton at 9:00 am. If you have any questions, call Frank Howe at 801-244-4329 or Bridgerland Audubon 435-227-5201. GSL Audubon contact Deedee at 801-272-8060.
25 Bear River Bottoms Assistance
So as to not conflict with the outing on the 24th, Brian Dixon is asking for assistance with fencing along the west side of the Bear River Bottoms property. Anyone can come. Contact Bryan Dixon, 752-6830 or bdixon (at) xmission.com.
3 Richmond Roadside Cleanup
Bridgerland Audubon manages roadside cleanup along Hwy 142/(Center) west of Richmond.
We met at 8:00 am and carpooled from the parking lot betweeen Caffe Ibis and the Logan fire station. We were finished by 11:30am thanks to the assistance of 9 members. After the roadside cleanup, a few "cleaners" lead an impromptu outing to the Bear River Bottoms property.
8 General Meeting: Join us at our same great location, the Cache Valley Learning Center (75 S 400 West) at Christopher Cokinos will read from his new nonfiction book The Fallen Sky: An Intimate History of Shooting Stars, which chronicles the triumphs and tragedies of meteorite hunters through history. The book blends scientific facts (including some little-known information about dust, lettuce and dead stars) along with Chris's personal journey to understand the obsession that drives meteroite hunters and scientists, a journey that helped him weather significant changes in his own life. Chris believes that meteorites not only reveal secrets of the solar system, but also of the human heart. The Fallen Sky took him to Greenland, the Outback and Australia. Natural History magazine says of the book, "the author knows what he's doing; he's not just taking you to the places where heaven fell to the Earth, but also into the minds of people who have their eyes on those sites and their heads in the stars." The book's stories are "richly told and a delight to read," according to New Scientist. Cokinos will have actual meteorites to show from his collection too--and the book will be for sale, as will too a new edition of Hope is the Thing with Feathers: A Personal Chronicle of Vanished Birds. The meeting will start at 7:00 p.m. Enter through the building's west doors. All are welcome to attend and refreshments will be provided by Crumb Brothers and Caffe Ibis. We hope to see you there!
10 Bridgerland Audubon Outing with the Cache Hikers
This is a moderate hike to the Tony Grove area. We will hike from Tony Grove Lake to White Pine Creek and on to Bunch Gras. From Bunch Gras, we'll make ourr way to the highway again. We will meet at the Southwest corner of the Smith's Marketplace parking lot (700 North ) at 8:00 am. Dress appropriately for the weather and bring water and snacks. For more information, please call Jim Sinclair at 752-0061
3, 4Raptor Count @ Hawkwatch Wellsville Site
See training above and contact Val Grant, 752-7572, biores (at) mtwest.net, or Bryan Dixon, 752-6830, bdixon (at) xmission.com.
September 2009
TBA Wellsville Hawkwatchers Needed – Raptor Identification Training
Hawkwatch International has placed hawk migration observers on the Wellsvilles almost every fall for most of the past three decades. Due to the slowdown in donations as a result of the recession, Hawkwatch decided not to station observers on the Wellsvilles this year. In order to maintain as much data continuity as possible, Bridgerland Audubon Society volunteered to provide observers on three weekends – September 19-20, 26-27, and October 3-4 – during the peak of the flight. Anyone interested in helping with the actual count should plan on a training day on Saturday, September 12. We’ll hike up to the site, learn where to watch for birds, how to identify the smaller accipiters, how to differentiate between migrants and local birds, and how to record the data. Observation hours on the mountain are 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. MDT, so we’ll need an early start and we may need headlamps to descend. In addition to food and water, bring warm clothing (even if it’s warm in the valleys), and a pad to sit on. Meet at the Caffe Ibis parking lot at 7:00 a.m. or at the trailhead at the end of 300 North in Mendon at 7:30 a.m. Those who can stay for the entire shift will return to Logan at approximately 8:30 p.m. For more information, contact Stephen Peterson 435*760*7880/cllslp (at) msn.com. We're thinking of a classroom training session on hawk identification and recording data, and having the on-the-mountain training Saturday, September 12.
7 Day of Labor at the Bear River Bottoms
Want to labor at good deeds on Labor Day?
Join us as we go the Bear River Bottoms easement property to install a walk-through gate and remove interior fencing. Meet at the Caffe Ibis at 8:00 a.m. to carpool to the site. Bring heavy work gloves, lunch, and water. Those who work on removing barbed-wire fencing will need to wear long sleeves and eye-protection and they must be current on their tetanus vaccination. (Nasty stuff, that barbed-wire!) We’ll return by mid- to late afternoon. For more information contact Bryan Dixon, 752-6830, or bdixon (at) xmission.com.
10 General Meeting:
Steve Slater, PhD, of HawkWatch International, will be talking about the effects of Human Recreation on Raptors, drawn from the body of research that has been conducted. He will also touch on some of the things we can do to help minimize our impact.
Join us tonight, the 2nd Thursday evening at our same great location, the Cache Valley Learning Center (75 S 400 West). The meeting will start at 7:00 p.m. Enter through the building's west doors. All are welcome to attend and refreshments will be provided by Crumb Brothers and Caffe Ibis. We'll see you there!
12 Annual Kokanee Salmon Run above Porcupine Reservoir
Come with us and local fish expert Ron Goede to learn about and witness the spawning habits of this inland salmon variety. Ron will explain the ecology and natural history of this unique fish an will tak us to places where we can view them up close and personal. This should be an excellent trip for families. Birding in this area is also good, so bring our binoculars and plan to have fun. The last few years we have seen both Bald Eagles and Ospreys. will leave at 8:00 am from the parking lot between Caffe Ibis and the Logan fire station. Carpooling will be available and encouraged. Bring a snack and binoculars. We plan to return in early afternoon. For more information, call Ron at 752-9650.
18, 19, 20 The Tetons for Elk Bugling and More
Jack Greene will organize and lead our field trip to witness the Elk Bugling in the scenic Teton Mountains. The car pool will leave at 3:00 pm Friday afternoon, September 18th and return Sunday afternoon/evening September 20th. Witness the Tetons in their best fall dress where rampaging large ungulates (elk, bison, moose) release their fall passion with grunts, bugling, and a nasty disposition. Fall migrating birds along with winter residents will add to the fun. Some participants choose to camp while others choose to stay in a hotel. You will need to provide your own meals. Expect anything from 40 to 80 degree weather; rain, snow or sunshine. For more information, call Jack Greene at 563-6816.
19, 20 Raptor Count @ Hawkwatch Wellsville Site
See training above and contact Val Grant, 752-7572, biores (at) mtwest.net, or Bryan Dixon, 752-6830, bdixon (at) xmission.com.
26 Bridgerland Audubon visits the Hawkwatch Station in the Wellsvilles Let local naturalist and avid hiker Reinhard Jockel lead you on a hike up to the crest of the Wellsville Mountains to witness one of the wonders of the avian world. Thousands of raptors migrate along the Wellsvilles during the fall migration season. On a good day, we'll see over 100 raptors of a number of different species. We'll hike up Deep Canyon and plan to eat lunch while watching raptors drift by. The trail gains three thousand feet in approximately four miles, so be prepared and be sure to wear appropriate footwear. Bring plenty of water. Since it is usually cool and windy up on top, a change of layers, a warm sweater, and a good wind shell makee the experience more comfortable. Bring binoculars, lunch and water. Meet at 9:00 am in the parking lot betweeen Caffe Ibis and the Logan fire station. Carpooling will be available. For further information, call Lyle Bingham at 227-5201.
26, 27 Raptor Count @ Hawkwatch Wellsville Site
See training above and contact Val Grant, 752-7572, biores (at) mtwest.net, or Bryan Dixon, 752-6830, bdixon (at) xmission.com.
August 2009
1 Ride in the Mountains Meet at 8:00 am in the parking lot between Caffe Ibis and the Logan Fire Station (50 East 150 North) to Carpool. We will be hiking up to Beaver Creek, Logan Basin, and Franklin Basin on this adventure. Birding and botanizing will occur as well. Bring plenty of fluids and a snack or lunch. We will be back in the late afternoon.
11 Riverside Trail Adopt-a-Trail work day Meet at the logan Ranger District Office (1150 W Hwy 89 (4th N)) to car pool or join us on the Guinavah-Malibu side of the trail at 7:00 pm. Plan to wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, boots, and work gloves. The fun will end around 9:00 pm.
July 2009
4 Birding Sink Hollow Meet at 8:00 am in the parking lot between Caffe Ibis and the Logan Fire Station (50 East 150 North)
and plan on carpooling. We will be hiking up to Sink Hollow and Gibson Basin, botanizing along the creek. It is an easy to moderate 4.5 mile hike. Bring water and a snack. We will be back in the late afternoon.
11 Birding Tony Grove Lake Meet at 8:00 am in the parking lot between Caffe Ibis and the Logan Fire Station (50 East 150 North)
and plan on carpooling. We will be hiking around Tony Grove Lake, botanizing and birding. Bring water and a lunch as we will have a picnic afterward. We will be back around 3:00 pm.
14 Riverside Trail Adopt-a-Trail work day Meet at the logan Ranger District Office (1150 W Hwy 89 (4th N)) to car pool or join us on the Guinavah-Malibu side of the trail at 7:00 pm. Plan to wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, boots, and work gloves. The fun will end around 9:00 pm.
June 2009
6 Birding Green Canyon Meet at 6:00 pm in the parking lot between Caffe Ibis and the Logan Fire Station (50 East 150 North) and return into the night. Bring a flashlight and a drink. We will spend the evening listening and watching for our summer canyon residents. We will also be birding into the night in search of owls.
13 Riverside Trail Adopt-a-Trail work day Meet at the logan Ranger District Office (1150 W Hwy 89 (4th N)) to car pool or join us on the Guinavah-Malibu side of the trail at 1:00 pm. Plan to wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, boots, and work gloves. The fun will end around 4:00 pm.
May 2009
14-18 Great Salt Lake Bird Festival. Call Val Grant 752-7572 or visit www.greatsaltlakebirdfest.com for more information.
30 Songbirds North of Clarkston - Steele Canyon. Leave at 7:30 am from the Caffe Ibis parking lot. Prepare for a long day as we will return mid afternoon. Bring water, lunch, insect repellant, sunscreen and possibly a light jacket. This is one of the best sites for seeing a great variety of songbirds in one place because of the mixing of several habitats. We will surely hear and see the special bird for this area, which is the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher.
9 Birding Logan Canyon. Leave at 8:00 am from the parking lot between Caffe Ibis and the Logan Fire Station and return early afternoon. Bring something to eat, drink and perhaps a light jacket. We will visit various sites in Logan Canyon including 1st, 2nd and 3rd dams, Woodcamp Hollow and Tony Grove turnoff to find resident birds and newly arriving migrants. We will see several warblers, grouse, woodpeckers, Mountain Bluebirds, etc.
16 Riverside Trail: Adopt-a-Trail Workday Meet at the Logan Ranger Station (1550 E. Hwy. 89) to car pool or join us on the
Guinavah-Malibu side of the trail at 9 am. We will primarily be removing noxious
weeds and trash along the trail. Plan to wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt,
boots, and work gloves. Watch hummingbirds, yellow warblers, song sparrows,
etc. while you work! The fun will end around noon.
April 2009
25 South-County Sharptailed Grouse. Meet at 5:00 am at the McDonalds in Hyrum. We will park our cars at the grocery store across the street and carpool to the site on the Selman ranch. We had about 90 people and as many Sharptailed Grouse last year. We hope for as good a response. This requires about a 3/4 mile walk up a hill.
11 Blacksmiths Fork Sage Grouse. Camp out the night of the 10th, or join us at 6:00 am at the Cafe Ibis parking lot. We will hike about 2 miles up a local foothill near Hardware Ranch WMA in persuit of the Sage Grouse. Wear layers and bring a lunch.
March 2009
7 Signs of Spring II Benson-Amalga area, Birch Canyon east of Smithfield. We will be searching for early spring flowers and the very rare Say’s Phoebe.
21 Birds of Hyrum Dam, Wellsville Pond, and the Old Mendon Road. We may find newly arriving birds such as Osprey, loons, Red-breasted Merganser, and other ducks as we look at some valley hotspots. We may also find songbirds such as Tree Swallows, Mountain Bluebirds, and herons at the rookery. Meet at 8 a.m. at the parking lot between Caffe Ibis and the Logan Fire Station (50 East 150 North). Dress warmly and bring something warm to drink and something to snack on. The trip will most likely be finished by 2 p.m.
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