UTAH: The Great Salt Lake, Uinta Mountains and the Deseret Ranch
August 4 to 12, 2008

Photo courtesy Kevin T. Karlson

GENERAL INFORMATION:
Enjoy spectacular mountain scenery, huge numbers of waterbirds, and western montane birds on this tour sampling some of Northern Utah’s avian wonders. Places visited will include Antelope Island State Park, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, the Uinta Mountains, Dinosaur National Monument, and the Deseret Ranch. We should see a variety of western birds including Cinnamon Teal, Chukar, Franklin’s Gull, Burrowing Owl, Three-toed Woodpecker, Williamson’s Sapsucker, and Pine Grosbeak. We will also take time to enjoy mammals, butterflies, and other wildlife among magnificent scenery. Tour starts and ends in Salt Lake City.                                           

PACE, WEATHER, AND TRAVEL CONDITIONS:
Our days in the field will usually begin about 7:00 a.m. and will end about 6:00 p.m. On most days lunches will be in the field (we have coolers for cold food and drinks), and we will provide ample opportunity to get them before the day begins. Optional evening excursions to look for owls, etc. will be offered on one or two nights. The trip involves easy-to-moderate walking over flat or somewhat hilly terrain.

Temperatures will be warm to hot (and dry), though early morning and evening may cool down. Expect a temperature range from approximately 50-90F degrees. Rain or thunderstorms are a possibility, so raingear is advised. The sun is very strong, especially at this season, so sunscreen and a brimmed hat are advised. Biting insects such as mosquitoes could be present at a few locations during the tour.

Travel during this tour will be in vans, with no more than 6 participants plus a leader in one "12 person" van. Tour size is limited to 12 participants. Most terrain is flat and walks are not strenuous.

Additional information about the tour, with specific meeting times, a list of participants, addresses of motels, lists of things to bring, a reading list, a list of probable/possible birds, further information about weather, dress, etc., will be mailed to all participants well in advance of the tour.

DATES: Monday, August 4, 2008 (meet at our hotel in Salt Lake City at 8:00 pm) to Tuesday, August 13, 2008 (flights home anytime)

PRICE: Cost for this tour is $1,895.00 per person for double occupancy; single supplement (payable if you request single occupancy, or if we cannot find you a suitable roommate) is $500.  A deposit of $500 will hold your place until June 6, 2008 when full payment becomes due.

PRICE INCLUDES:
Motel accommodations for 8 nights, tour leadership, ground transportation while in Utah and Wyoming, access and local guiding at Deseret Ranch, and entrance fees to all areas on the itinerary. It does not include meals or airfare to/from Salt Lake City.

SEND DEPOSITS & OTHER PAYMENTS TO:
NJAS Eco-Travel,
9 Hardscrabble Rd,
Bernardsville, NJ 07924
tel. 908-204-8998
Make Checks payable to NJAS.

TOUR LEADERS:
Scott Barnes began birding at the age of twelve and has been an avid naturalist ever since. Encouragement and learning came from his parents and many birders, including members of the Urner Ornithological Club and staff of New Jersey Audubon Society. An interest in travel and natural history has led him from northwestern Alaska to the desert southwest to Trinidad and Tobago in search of plants and animals. He began birding at Sandy Hook, where he is the Senior Naturalist for the Sandy Hook Bird Observatory. Scott is the Region 3 Editor for Records of New Jersey Birds, compiles the Sandy Hook Christmas Bird Count, six-year member of the New Jersey Bird Records Committee, leader on See Life Paulagics boat trips, and a tour leader for the NJ Audubon Travel Program. Scott has led NJAS tours to Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Florida, Utah, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Don Freiday is Director of Birding Programs at Cape May Bird Observatory.  A New Jersey native, Don’s degree in Natural Resource Management and Applied Ecology is from Rutgers University, where for several years he taught Wildlife Ecology to undergraduates.  Don has worked in the field of nature interpretation and/or wildlife biology for over 20 years, during which time he has led numerous nature tours to Arizona, Colorado, California, Montana, Texas, and Wyoming, among others.  He has also studied wildlife in Mexico and Kenya.  Don was a regional coordinator of the New Jersey Breeding Bird Atlas, and is a member of the NJ Bird Records Committee.  Don is an author and columnist on nature, with two books to his credit:  A Precious Place: a Naturalist Explores New Jersey, and Wild Journeys:  Migration in New Jersey, which he co-authored with Brian Vernachio and Dale Rosselet. 

For tour itineraries, to register, or for more information contact:

NJAS Eco-Travel at: (908)-204-8998
9 Hardscrabble Road
Bernardsville, NJ 07924
or email travel@njaudubon.org

If you are not a member and would like to become one, consider Joining New Jersey Audubon Society.