Outdoor notes

AVIARY BEGINS WINTER PROGRAM

Tracy Aviary has released its schedule of winter events, bird shows and new exhibits. The largest aviary in the United States located in Salt Lake City's Liberty Park will provide educational and fun opportunities to get "up close and personal" with a wide variety of birds, including pelicans, eagles and a kookaburra.

The new pelican feeding program will be daily at 1 p.m. Avian trainers will be on hand to offer information and answer questions about the big bird.

"Avian Idol" is one of the newest attractions slated to begin Saturday. The indoor show features exotic and interesting birds sharing their hidden talents, such as silent flight, kicking an egg out of a nest and playing a log as a drum to mark territory. The audience will vote on its favorite performing bird. The new bird show will be held weekends at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. The performing birds will vary from week to week but will include several varieties of owl, a kookaburra, an umbrella cockatoo and many others.

BIG GAME GUIDEBOOK

The 2008 Utah Big Game Guidebook is now available over the Utah Division of Wildlife Resource's Web site.

The Web site address is www.wildlife.utah.gov/proclamations.

Printed copies of the guidebook should be available at sporting goods stores and DWR offices in early January.

The period when hunters can apply for a big game permit started Wednesday and runs until Jan. 31.

For more information call the nearest DWR office or the DWR's Salt Lake City office at 810-538-4700.

CENTER NEEDS VOLUNTEERS

Anyone interested in birds and the Great Salt Lake can volunteer for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources' Farmington Bay Volunteer Naturalist program.

The DWR will hold a workshop for potential volunteers on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Great Salt Lake Nature Center. The center is located at the Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, 1700 W. Glover Lane (925 South) in Farmington.

"Our volunteers get to play in puddles, see some amazing birds and share their excitement with Scouts and school groups," said Justina Parsons-Bernstein, director of the Great Salt Lake Nature Center. "If you can tell the difference between a cinnamon teal and a great blue heron, or if you want to know the difference, you're the kind of person we're looking for."