Sky Should 'Turn White' at Snow Goose Festival

Delta -- The sights and sounds of thousands of pure white snow geese flying and feeding will be enjoyed at the Tenth Annual Snow Goose Festival.

Snow geese may be viewed at and near Gunnison Bend Reservoir, west of Delta. The festival runs Feb. 23, 24 and 25. Admission is free.

"Spotting scopes will be set up so participants can get a close view of the geese. Division of Wildlife Resources personnel will also be available to answer any questions you might have," says Bob Walters, Watchable Wildlife coordinator for the DWR.

On Saturday, Feb. 24, free wildlife-related workshops, and arts and crafts and photography exhibits, also will be offered.

Walters encourages visitors to view the geese with binoculars or a spotting scope. "If you get too close to the geese, you'll probably scare them away," he says.

When viewing from the side of roads, visitors are strongly encouraged to use caution and to watch for vehicles. You should also prepare for cold or wet weather by wearing the proper clothes.

The areas where you can see geese vary according to the time of the day. "The geese usually feed in fields that surround the reservoir early in the morning. Then they fly back to the reservoir before about 10:30 a.m.," Walters says. "They usually stay at the reservoir until about 4 to 6 p.m., and then they fly out to the fields again to feed."

Walters says DWR personnel will watch which fields the geese fly to and will direct visitors, who arrive after the geese have left the reservoir, to the fields where the geese are.

For more information about the 2007 Snow Goose Festival call Walters at (801) 538-4771; the Division of Wildlife Resources' Southern Region office at (435) 865-6100; or the Delta Area Chamber of Commerce at (435) 864-4316.

Quail Find a New Home

Huntington -- Life just got a little calmer for 33 California quail.

After trapping the birds along the busy Wasatch Front, Division of Wildlife Resources biologists released the quail - 19 males and 14 females - at the agency's Emery Farm Harvey Place Wildlife Management Area in central Utah.

The WMA is about one mile north of Huntington.

The 33 birds released on Feb. 10 are among more than 200 quail trapped and relocated by DWR biologists this winter. The biologists will continue trapping quail through the end of March.

Putting Quail in New Places

California quail are relatively abundant along the foothills of the Wasatch Front. As urban sprawl has spread into these foothills, some of the quail have helped themselves to plants and vegetables in peoples' backyards. When this happens, DWR biologists step in and transplant the excess birds to areas in Utah where they'll be more appreciated.

Small numbers of quail have lived at the Emery Farm Harvey Place WMA for more than a decade. The population at the WMA is struggling, however, because of years of drought, poor chick production and predation by raccoons and feral cats.

DWR biologists hope the 33 new arrivals will bolster the existing flock.

For more information, call the DWR's Southeastern Region office at (435) 636-0260.

Sky Should ‘Turn White’ at Snow Goose Festival

Delta -- The sights and sounds of thousands of pure white snow geese flying and feeding will be enjoyed at the Tenth Annual Snow Goose Festival.

Snow geese may be viewed at and near Gunnison Bend Reservoir, west of Delta. The festival runs Feb. 23, 24 and 25. Admission is free. “Spotting scopes will be set up so participants can get a close view of the geese. Division of Wildlife Resources personnel will also be available to answer any questions you might have,” says Bob Walters, Watchable Wildlife coordinator for the DWR.

On Saturday, Feb. 24, free wildlife-related workshops, and arts and crafts and photography exhibits, also will be offered.

Walters encourages visitors to view the geese with binoculars or a spotting scope. “If you get too close to the geese, you’ll probably scare them away,” he says. When viewing from the side of roads, visitors are strongly encouraged to use caution and to watch for vehicles. You should also prepare for cold or wet weather by wearing the proper clothes.

The areas where you can see geese vary according to the time of the day. “The geese usually feed in fields that surround the reservoir early in the morning. Then they fly back to the reservoir before about 10:30 a.m.,” Walters says. “They usually stay at the reservoir until about 4 to 6 p.m., and then they fly out to the fields again to feed.”

Walters says DWR personnel will watch which fields the geese fly to and will direct visitors, who arrive after the geese have left the reservoir, to the fields where the geese are.

For more information about the 2007 Snow Goose Festival call Walters at (801) 538-4771; the Division of Wildlife Resources’ Southern Region office at (435) 865-6100; or the Delta Area Chamber of Commerce at (435) 864-4316.

View Bald Eagles Feb. 3 and Feb. 10

New bald eagle license plate will be unveiled

Two chances are available to view bald eagles in February. And those who attend the Bald Eagle Day event at the Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area will get an added treat: they can watch as Utah's newest license plate - featuring a bald eagle - is unveiled at a ceremony that begins at 10 a.m.

Bald Eagle Day

Utah's annual Bald Eagle Day will be held Feb. 3 at sites in central, northeastern and southwestern Utah. On the following Saturday, Feb. 10, viewing will be offered at two sites in northern Utah.

Admission to Bald Eagle Day is free. Viewing times are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. except at the Salt Creek Waterfowl Management Area site, where viewing will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

On Feb. 3, you can view eagles at the following locations:

Feb. 3

Fountain Green State Fish Hatchery, located east of Nephi. If coming from the north, take I-15 and exit the freeway at the second Nephi exit (Exit 225). After exiting the freeway, turn east on SR-132 and travel about 10 miles. About 1 mile before the city of Fountain Green, a Bald Eagle Day sign will point to an access road that leads to the hatchery. Once you reach the hatchery, you'll be given a driving map of the Sanpete Valley that highlights the best areas in the valley to view eagles. Literature, displays and bathroom facilities will also be available at the hatchery. If eagles are near the hatchery, Division of Wildlife Resources staff will set up spotting scopes so you can view them. Spotting scopes will also be set-up at a viewing location about one mile from the hatchery.

Split Mountain / Green River, located north of Jensen and below the Dinosaur Quarry in Dinosaur National Monument (DNM). To reach the site, drive north from Highway 40 in Jensen on the road (SR 149) to the Dinosaur Quarry. First stop should be at the staging area located just inside the DNM boundary where displays, spotting scopes and possibly bald eagles and other raptors await. From the staging area biologists will direct viewers to other sites where they may have better views of eagles and other wildlife of interest. In past years, visitors have seen bald and golden eagles hunting and feeding, as well as prairie falcons, hawks, mule deer, river otters, pheasants, turkeys, sandhill cranes, porcupines, mergansers, Canada geese and other wildlife. During your trip, you may also want to stop and visit the Dinosaur National Monument. The monument's dinosaur quarry is closed, but you can see a few dinosaur bones at a temporary visitor center near the quarry. The visitor center also includes a small bookstore.

Cedar Valley, located on the northwest side of Cedar City. To reach the site, exit I-15 at Exit 59 and travel west on SR-56 to 3900 W. Turn right on 3900 W. and travel north to 2800 N. The viewing site is located at 3900 W. and 2800 N.

On Feb. 10, viewing will take place at the following locations:

Feb. 10

Salt Creek Waterfowl Management Area (Compton's Knoll), located about 10 miles northwest of Corinne. To reach the WMA, take Exit 365 off of I 15 and travel west on SR-83 through Corinne. Stay on SR-83 until you get to 6800 W. (Iowa String). Travel north to 6800 N. Travel west on 6800 N. until you reach the Salt Creek WMA/Compton's Knoll Watchable Wildlife site.

Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, located on the west side of Farmington.

Traveling north on I-15:

To reach the WMA, exit the freeway at Exit 322. After exiting the freeway, stay right where the road splits, and then turn at the first right. This will put you on a frontage road, and you'll be traveling south. Then turn right at the stop sign, which is Glover Lane. Travel west to 1325 West, and then turn left into the WMA.

Traveling south on I-15:

To reach the WMA, exit the freeway at Exit 325. Go to the stoplight and turn right. Travel south to the next light, which is at Clark Lane, and turn right. Travel west to the first stop sign, which is at 1525 West, and turn left. Travel south for three miles to the next stop sign, which is Glover Lane, and turn left. Travel east for two blocks and take the first right at 1325 West. This is the north entrance to the WMA.

"Spotting scopes will available at each viewing site, and Division of Wildlife Resources biologists and volunteers will be on-hand to help you spot eagles and to answer any questions you might have," says Bob Walters, Watchable Wildlife coordinator for the DWR.

Displays will also be set up at each location, and pamphlets and other materials about bald eagles will be available for free, or for a small cost.

Seeing Eagles

The best time to view eagles on Feb. 3 and Feb. 10 depends on the individual, Walters says.

The most comfortable time is late morning and early afternoon, when the temperature is the warmest and the visibility is the best. The warmer temperatures are especially important if you're bringing young children.

You can expect to see eagles during the late morning and early afternoon but not as many as just before sundown, when eagles fly to trees to roost for the night. At most of the sites, the best time to see the greatest number of eagles is probably from 2 to 4 p.m., Walters says.

Walters says those who attend should dress warmly. If there's snow on the ground, make sure you wear waterproof boots too.

If you'd like to photograph the eagles, make sure and bring a telephoto lens. The eagles will be some distance from the viewing areas. Photographers who don't bring the proper equipment and try to get close to the eagles for a better shot will probably scare them away, Walters says.

Walters started Bald Eagle Day in 1990 as a way to introduce people to Utah's wildlife. "It was started as a way of arousing people's interest, whetting their appetite and making them aware of the wildlife around them," Walters says.
Since it began Bald Eagle Day has grown into Utah's most well attended, and one of its most enjoyed, wildlife-viewing events.

For more information about Bald Eagle Day, call Walters at (801) 538-4771 or Division of Wildlife Resources offices in Ogden, Springville, Vernal or Cedar City.

Eagle VS Fox?

I wanted to share this picture I received from one of the hunting lists I am on. It can originally from Geoffrey B. Higginbotham, Major General, USMC (Ret.) and he stated he could not authentic the pictures origin, but I have looked it over and if it is a photoshop fix up.. it is a good one.

Thought I would share it with you all!