Bird fest registration opens

FARMINGTON — Registration for the 11th annual Great Salt Lake Bird Festival begins today.

The annual birding event, which runs May 14-18, is chockablock with popular field trips that likely will fill up quickly when registration begins at 9 a.m.

Registration is required for the 61 field trips, which range in price from $5 to $85 per person. Destinations for the trips include the Jordan River Parkway, Antelope Island, Bear River, Farmington Bay, Pineview Reservoir, hot spots in Cache County and Utah County, the Oquirrh Mountains, various sites in Davis County and a canoe trip along Blacksmith Fork River. Each trip is led by an experienced guide.

Specific field trips are available to feature this year's spotlight bird, the snowy plover, which nests along the Great Salt Lake shoreline after wintering near the Pacific coast of Mexico.

Registration is also required for the Dutch-oven dinner and keynote address by naturalist and author Scott Weidensaul, who has written more than two dozen books on natural history.

Weidensaul's keynote address will be "Of a Feather: A Brief History of American Birding," the title of his latest book. He will also be leading a field trip at Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area.

Registration is not required for some events and activities held at the Davis County Events Center, including workshops and youth and family activities on May 16. The activities include bird-banding, make-and-take bird houses, live bird presentations, bug and bird discussions, making bird masks and an art show.

Register in person at the Davis County Memorial Courthouse, 28 E. State St., or by calling 801-451-3286. For more information, visit greatsaltlakebirdfest.com

E-MAIL: jdougherty@desnews.com