Schedule of the Event:

May 14, 2025

Pre-Festival: Bird Fest Kick-Off Frary Peak Hike

$40

Frary Peak Trailhead, Antelope Island State Park

Kick off Bird Fest 2025 with a bright and early morning hike up Frary Peak on Antelope Island!

Pre-Festival: Mountain Owls

$75

Pitta Tours

When birders think about owls, Utah probably isn’t near the top of their list of places to look. But 14 of the 19 regularly occurring species found in North America have been seen in Utah.

May 15, 2025

10:00 am - 12:00 pm or 1:00 am - 3:00 pm: GSL Ecosystem Boat Tour

$60

Great Salt Lake State Park Marina

This tour is focused on the management of the brine shrimp fishery on the lake and will be guided by GSL Ecosystem Program Biologists.

6:00 - 8:00 pm - Grow with GSLBF: Intro to Nature Journaling
 
$30

Woodland Park Pavilion

Join us at Grow with GSLBF for a nature journaling workshop led by Susan Snyder.

6:00 - 8:00 pm - Grow with GSLBF: Landscaping for Birds & Beyond

$30

Western Sports Park

Join us at Grow with GSLBF for a landscaping for birds workshop led by Sheriden Hansen.

6:00 am - 12:00 pm - Biking and Birding along the West Davis Highway Trail

$40

1954 W Glovers Lane, Farmington

Discover beautiful scenery on a paved path that offers over 10 miles of biking trails along the eastern shore of the Great Salt Lake.

6:00 am - 11:30 pm - Marathon Scouting

$199

Pitta Tours

Explore the beautiful areas surrounding the Great Salt Lake, including its shores and wetlands, as well as the stunning canyons and mountains of the Wasatch front.

7:00 - 9:00 am - Glover Ponds at Sunrise
 
$25

Eccles Wildlife Education Center

These ponds bring YOU into nature and the surrounding wetlands enhance your opportunity for close-up observation.

7:00 - 9:00 am - Glover Ponds at Sunrise
 
$25

Eccles Wildlife Education Center

These ponds bring YOU into nature and the surrounding wetlands enhance your opportunity for close-up observation. A nearby Great Blue Heron breeding colony will be active.

7:00 am - 1:00 pm - Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge - Guided Auto Tour and Walk Behind the Gates

$80

Western Sports Park

Spend a day with expert birders on a birding adventure at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.

7:00 am - 1:00 pm - Inland Sea Shorebird Reserve
 
$115

Western Sports Park

Visit over 8,000 acres of private land managed just for shorebirds on the edge of Great Salt Lake. Enjoy this area that is not open to the general public!

9:00 am - 1:00 pm - American Kestrel

$70

Western Sports Park

Learn about the American Kestrel from Hawkwatch International. They have been monitoring kestrels for a decade as part of their Cavity Adopting Raptor Ecology Study (CARES).

4:00 - 6:30 pm - Introduction to Birding by Ear

$25

Western Sports Park

Some have said that experienced birders identify ten times as many birds with their ears as with their eyes, but no other aspect of birding is more difficult to master than voice identification.

6:00 - 10:00 am - Antelope Island Through the Lens – Inland and Causeway

$30

Antelope Island Entrance Booth Parking Lot

This field trip will focus on seeing and identifying birds and will teach how to best view birds through a camera lens

4:30 - 9:00 pm - Antelope Island Owl Prowl

$85

Antelope Island Entrance Booth Parking Lot

Who, Who should go? Owl lovers, that's WHO! Antelope Island is prime habitat for several species of owl: Great Horned, Barn, Burrowing, Long-eared, and Short-eared Owls.

7:00 am - 12:00 pm - Jordanelle Wetlands and Heber Fields
 
$35

Provo Riverwalk and Fishing Site

The Jordanelle Reclamation Area south of Jordanelle Reservoir and nearby agricultural fields of Heber City offer excellent birding!

7:00 am - 1:00 pm - Utah County Pinyon Juniper Specialties

$40

Saratoga Springs

Bird the area around Soldiers Pass in Utah County in the pinyon juniper forests, along with the sage and upland grassland habitats.

7:30 am - 12:00 pm - Photography at Adam’s Reservoir

$30

Adam's Reservoir

We’ll cover photographing birds with a tripod as well as hand-held shooting, equipment tips, camera settings and shooting techniques.

7:00 - 9:00 am or 10:00 am - 12:00 pm: Mindful Birding by Kayak at Bountiful Pond

$60

Bountiful Pond

Experience birding in a peaceful way, while taking in the surroundings and activities of birds.

7:00 - 11:00 am - Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter, Sandhill Cranes, and More!

$45

Swaner EcoCenter

Come visit high altitude wet meadows, marshes, and riparian areas of the Swaner Preserve in search of Sandhill Cranes.

1:00 - 3:00 pm - Birds & Botany

$25

USU Botanical Center Kaysville

There are few factors that influence birds' survival more than the plants in their habitat, so on this trip we will be learning more about the relationships between plants, birds, and water.

3:00 - 9:00 pm - Sunset Hike Along Maple Syrup Trail

$40

Mueller Park

If you have a sweet tooth for spotting birds, this hike is perfect for you! The 6-mile Maple Syrup Trail, newly opened in 2024, is ready to be explored.

6:00 - 8:00 pm - Sunset at Galena Soo’nkahni

$25

Jordan River Rotary Park

Galena Soo’nkahni is a conservation easement nestled in the heart of southern Salt Lake County, a treasure in the middle of suburban development.

May 16, 2025

6:30 pm - Nature Through Art: Level Up Your Bird Photography

FREE

Western Sports Park

Attend our FREE Nature Through Art workshop with local photographer Mary Anne Karren

6:30 pm - Nature Through Art: Watercolor Bird Illustrations

FREE

Western Sports Park

Attend our FREE Nature Through Art workshop with local artist Lyra Zoe Smith.

Wings & Things Vendor Fair

FREE

Western Sports Park

Explore our new vendor booths for a unique shopping experience!

1:00 - 1:50 pm - Utah Butterfly Basics

FREE

Western Sports Park

This presentation explores the life histories, habitat, and distribution of several Utah butterflies from varying geographic regions.

2:00 - 2:50 pm - How to Help Injured Wildlife

FREE

Western Sports Park

In this presentation, we will cover bird species commonly found injured, ill, or orphaned in our urban environments and frequent injury types.

4:30 - 5:00 pm - Owl Pellet Dissection

FREE

Western Sports Park

Embrace your inner scientist with this fun family activity. Dissect a real (sanitized) owl pellet to discover what the owls have been dining on!

4:30 - 6:00 pm - Live Birds with Long Wing Inc.

FREE

Western Sports Park

In this meet and greet program for all ages, people can ask questions, observe wild birds up close, and take photos with the birds.

6:00 am - 12:00 pm - Fairfield Birding Oasis

$95

Western Sports Park

Enjoy exclusive access to a special project on private land – a habitat that has been carefully developed and curated over the past 20 years.

6:00 am - 4:00 pm - Mountains in May

$79

Pitta Tours

Join us for a day exploring the Wasatch Mountains and the incredible birds that inhabit the west fringe of the Rocky Mountains. Visit Pitta Tours to register.

7:00 am - 9:00 am or 9:00 am - 11:00 am - Mist Netting & Bird Banding at Farmington Creek

$25

Eccles Wildlife Education Center

Learn how and why biologists use fine “mist” nets for trapping small birds and so much more.

7:00 - 11:00 am - Buffalo Ranches Pond near Farmington Bay

$30

1954 W Glovers Lane, Farmington

Buffalo Ranches Ponds, on the eastern shore of the Great Salt Lake flyway, is a migrant trap where 200+ bird species have been observed.

7:00 am -1:00 pm - Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge - Guided Auto Tour and Walk Behind the Gates

$80

Western Sports Park

Spend a day with expert birders on a birding adventure at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.

7:00 am - 3:00 pm - Sage-Steppe Birding at Promontory Point

$95

Western Sports Park

See birds associated with many habitats in sagebrush and upland communities

7:30 am -12:00 pm - Digiscoping at Farmington Bay

$95

Eccles Wildlife Education Center

"Digiscoping" is a method of telephoto photography, often used by placing a digital camera to the eyepiece of a spotting scope or binoculars to take photos.

8:00 am - 12:00 pm - Photography at Farmington Bay
 
$30

Eccles Wildlife Education Center

We’ll have hands-on sessions at each stop for photographing birds with a tripod as well as hand-held shooting and shooting from a car.

4:00 PM - Cassia Overnight

$399

Pitta Tours

Join our guide in search of Cassia Crossbill, Flammulated Owl, and up to 100 more species! Expect to see around 75-100 species of birds.

4:00 - 7:00 pm - Evening Photography in East Farmington

$30

Farmington Bench

Join award winning photographer Elizabeth Moon as she takes you birding along the Farmington mountainside.

5:30 - 8:00pm - E-Bike at Farmington Bay

$90

Eccles Wildlife Education Center

This trip is for the adventurer who wants an easy biking tour of Farmington Bay. Experience sunset at one of the best birding spots in the state.

7:00 am - 9:00 am or 10:00 am - 12:00 pm - Mindful Birding by Kayak at Bountiful Pond

$60

Bountiful Pond

Experience birding in a peaceful way, while taking in the surroundings and activities of birds.

7:00 am -12:00 pm - Jordanelle Wetlands and Heber Fields
 
$35

Provo Riverwalk and Fishing Site

The Jordanelle Reclamation Area south of Jordanelle Reservoir and nearby agricultural fields of Heber City offer excellent birding!

7:00 am - 2:00 pm - Birding Diamond Fork Canyon
 
$40

Springville Walmart Parking Lot

Diamond Fork Canyon encompasses a wide diversity of habitats including montane forest, sagebrush, scrub oak, and more, where wide diversity of bird species may be found.

7:30 am - 2:00 pm - Morgan Backyard Birding

$40

Riverside Park, Morgan

Some of the best birding in Morgan County is found in the backyards of the houses in the quaint small towns of Morgan and Croydon in Weber Canyon.

7:30 - 10:00 am - Birding at Kaysville Ponds
 
$25

Kaysville Ponds

Located off I-15, Kaysville Ponds at the USU Botanical Center are home to a network of family friendly walking trails in a beautiful wetland environment.

7:30 am - 12:00 pm - Bird Banding at Tracy Aviary’s Nature Center at Pia Okwia
 
$35

Tracy Aviary’s Nature Center at Pia Okwia

Join Tracy Aviary's Conservation Department as we monitor migrating songbirds through our bird banding program.

7:45 am - 2:00 pm - Birding Rockport by Canoe
 
$70

Rockport Reservoir main boat ramp.

Rockport Reservoir’s nearby springs host many ducks, grebes, herons, and raptors. You will have a grand birding experience at the reservoir using canoes.

4:30 - 9:00 pm - Antelope Island Owl Prowl

$85

Antelope Island Entrance Booth Parking Lot

Who, Who should go? Owl lovers, that's WHO! Antelope Island is prime habitat for several species of owl: Great Horned, Barn, Burrowing, Long-eared, and Short-eared Owls.

5:00 - 11:00 pm - Explore Mueller Park's Hiking Trails & Birdwatching Bliss!

$40

Mueller Park

Embark on an adventure through Mueller Park's newly opened hiking trails, where miles of unexplored terrain await your discovery!

May 17, 2025

6:00 pm - 2025 Keynote Speaker: Joanna Wu

$45

Western Sports Park - Building 4. 151 S 1100 W Farmington, UT 84025

Join Keynote Speaker Joanna Wu, PhD, for her presentation, "The Most Overlooked Birds in North America: Females".

Wings & Things Vendor Fair
 
FREE

Western Sports Park

Explore our new vendor booths for a unique shopping experience!

9:00 am - 2:00 pm - Family Day Activities

FREE

Western Sports Park

Join us on Saturday, May 17th from 9:00 am - 2:00 pm for FREE birding activities the whole family will enjoy!

9:00 - 9:50 am - Bird Photography: Finding the Artist Inside You

FREE

Western Sports Park

This is a quick introduction to taking great bird pictures!

10:00 am - 10:50 am - Bald and Beautiful**

FREE

Western Sports Park

Meet Des Ta Te, a resident Bald Eagle of Ogden Nature Center and learn about America's national symbol.

10:00 - 10:50 am - Drawing Raptors from Life**

FREE

Western Sports Park

Sketch a live raptor along with professional artist, Colleen Palmer. This workshop is for artists of all skill levels.

11:00 - 11:50 am - Backyard Birds 101
 
FREE

Western Sports Park

This presentation will cover the hobby of backyard birding, which can be fun, engaging, and relaxing for all ages to enjoy.

11:00 - 11:50 am - Parade of Raptors**
 
FREE

Western Sports Park

Meet some of HawkWatch International's live Raptor Ambassadors in this presentation for all ages.

12:00 - 12:45 pm - Owl Pellet Dissection

FREE

Western Sports Park

A Family Day favorite! Join curious folks of all ages in this exploration of one of nature's coolest phenomena: owl pellets! Pellets are first come, first served.

12:00 - 12:50 pm - How to Help Injured Wildlife

FREE

Western Sports Park

In this presentation, we will cover bird species commonly found injured, ill, or orphaned in our urban environments and frequent injury types.

1:00 - 1:50 pm - Beginning Birding

FREE

Western Sports Park

Enjoy this free workshop for beginners and families. Learn about bird identification and the common backyard birds in the Farmington area.

1:00 - 1:50 pm - Falconry 101: Ask a Falconer Anything
 
FREE

Western Sports Park

If you have always been interested in falconry, join us for this moderated panel discussion.

6:00 - 11:00 am - Young Birders at Antelope Island
 
$65

Western Sports Park

A trip exclusive to birders aged 13-21. Get ready for an excellent morning of birding at one of Utah's most incredible wildlife destinations - Antelope Island and the Great Salt Lake.

6:00 am - 4:00 pm - Utah Birds Scavenger Hunt

$99

Pitta Tours

With 10 hours on the clock and a secret list of 100 species of birds to find, you'll set out with our guide to see if you can complete the scavenger hunt before the clock runs out.

6:30 am - 4:30 pm - Cache Valley Birding Adventure for Beginners
 
$95

Western Sports Park

Cache Valley is one of the lesser known birding hotspots in the West. Our trip will reveal the area’s great diversity and other wildlife secrets.

7:00 - 9:00 am or 9:00 - 11:00 am - Mist Netting & Bird Banding at Farmington Creek

$25

Eccles Wildlife Education Center

Learn how and why biologists use fine “mist” nets for trapping small birds and so much more.

7:00 - 11:00 am - Buffalo Ranches Pond Near Farmington Bay

$30

1954 W Glovers Lane, Farmington

Buffalo Ranches Ponds, on the eastern shore of the Great Salt Lake flyway, is a migrant trap where 200+ bird species have been observed.

7:00 am - 12:00 pm - Behind the Gates at Legacy Nature Preserve
 
$90

Western Sports Park

This is a rare opportunity to go behind the gates at Legacy Nature Preserve!

2:15 - 5:00 pm - Beginning Birding: Farmington Bay
 
$20

Eccles Wildlife Education Center

Walk to explore the area and wetlands around the Eccles Wildlife Education Center and practice new birding skills.

6:00 am - 4:00 pm - Utah County Birding

$55

Payson

We will begin near the Warm Springs to search for Chukar and migrant warblers; shorebirds and Swainson's Hawks near Goshen; and then head to Goshen Canyon.

7:00 - 10:00 am - Birding Dimple Dell

$25

Dimple Dell Trailhead

Put on your hiking shoes to search for Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jays, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Black-headed Grosbeaks, Lazuli Buntings, and three species of hummingbirds.

7:30 - 10:30 am - Bountiful Pond

$25

Bountiful Pond

Located on the outskirts of Farmington Bay WMA, Bountiful Pond is a lovely oasis for all kinds of birds. This trip involves walking around the pond, about a mile long loop.

7:30 am - 2:00 pm - Morgan Backyard Birding

$40

Riverside Park, Morgan

Some of the best birding in Morgan County is found in the backyards of the houses in the quaint small towns of Morgan and Croydon in Weber Canyon.

8:00 am - 12:00 pm - Birds & Bugs for Families

$25

Red Butte Canyon

From warblers and woodpeckers to dragonflies and beetles, we’ll discuss the critical roles these species play in the ecosystem. This trip will have a focus for families and children.

9:00 - 11:00 am - Birding for Families at Red Butte Garden

$15

Red Butte Garden Visitor Center

If you've been looking for a way to get the whole family into birding, this field trip is the perfect opportunity!

8:00 am - 12:00 pm - Springhill Geologic Park - Birds of the Foothills

$30

Springhill Geologic Park Lower Trailhead Parking

See the unique species and habitats of our foothills and benches along the Wasatch front.

8:30 - 10:30 am - Urban Birding at Ogden Nature Center

$15

Ogden Nature Center Visitor Center

Meet Blue, one of our western screech owls! Learn about his adaptations and the basics of birding.

5:00 - 11:00 pm - Explore Mueller Park's Hiking Trails & Birdwatching Bliss!

$40

Mueller Park

Embark on an adventure through Mueller Park's newly opened hiking trails, where miles of unexplored terrain await your discovery!

6:00 - 10:00 am - Antelope Island Through the Lens – Inland and Causeway
 
$30

Antelope Island Entrance Booth Parking Lot

This field trip will focus on seeing and identifying birds and will teach how to best view birds through a camera lens.

9:00-10:30 am; 11:00 am-12:30 pm; 1:30-3 pm - Birding the Great Salt Lake by Kayak for Families

$85

Antelope Island State Park Marina

Calling all bird-loving kids! Bring your favorite adult on an awesome aquatic adventure.

6:00 am - 12:00 pm - Sunrise Hike Along Maple Syrup Trail

$40

Mueller Park

If you have a sweet tooth for spotting birds, this hike is perfect for you! The Maple Syrup Trail, newly opened in 2024, is ready to be explored.

May 18, 2025

5:00 - 11:00 pm - Explore Mueller Park's Hiking Trails & Birdwatching Bliss!
 
$40

Mueller Park

Embark on an adventure through Mueller Park's newly opened hiking trails, where miles of unexplored terrain await your discovery!

6:00 am - 4:00 pm - Bird the West Desert & Pony Express Trail

$150

Western Sports Park

Experience the birds of the West Desert and the ruggedness of the Pony Express Trail firsthand.

6:00 am - 8:00 pm - Birds of Great Salt Lake
 
$160

Western Sports Park

Join Tracy Aviary’s Conservation Ecologist, Bryant Olsen, as you explore the different habitats at Great Salt Lake.

6:00 am - 11:30 pm - Marathon Birding
 
$179

Pitta Tours

Join a beloved tradition of the Festival since 2008! It's a unique opportunity to witness the incredible spectacle of bird migration at its peak.

6:30 am - 4:30 pm - Cache Valley Birding Adventure – High Activity

$95

Western Sports Park

Explore Cache Valley, one of the lesser known hotspots in the West, on this high activity trip.

7:00 - 10:00 am - Morning Photography in East Farmington
 
$30

Farmington Bench

Join award winning photographer Elizabeth Moon as she takes you birding along the Farmington mountainside.

7:00 am - 2:00 pm - Parley's Mitigation Area and Little Dell Reservoir
 
$95

Western Sports Park

On this field trip we will bird in the Parleys Creek, Alexander Creek and Dell Creek drainages in the mountains east of Salt Lake City.

7:30 - 11:30 am - Mantua Reservoir and Surrounding Area

$75

Western Sports Park

The reservoir sits at an elevation of 5,000 feet and is lined with Cottonwood trees and willow that are great for finding birds.

8:00 am - 4:00 pm - Spiral Jetty Adventure
 
$85

Western Sports Park

One of the world’s most iconic examples of land art is also a birders paradise! Located in the remote North Arm of Great Salt Lake there are many opportunities to spot diifferent birds

7:30 - 10:30 am - Bountiful Pond

$25

Bountiful Pond

Bountiful Pond is a lovely oasis for all kinds of birds. This trip involves walking around the pond, about a mile long loop.

7:30 - 10:00 am - Birding at Fort Buenaventura

$25

Fort Buenaventura Visitor Center Parking Lot

Located on the outskirts of west Ogden off of 24th Street, Fort Buenaventura is a lovely location near Weber River for all kinds of birds on its 84 acres.

8:00 - 10:00 am - Andy Adam's Reservoir by Paddleboard and Kayak
 
$60

Adam's Reservoir

Enjoy a gentle paddle across and around the reservoir. While trying to not flush waterfowl, we’ll head out on the water to gain a better view.

8:00 am - 12:00 pm - Birds & Bugs for Adults

$25

Red Butte Canyon

From warblers and woodpeckers to dragonflies and beetles, we’ll discuss the critical roles these species play in the ecosystem. This trip is for adults only.

9:00 - 11:00 am - Birding for Families at Red Butte Garden

$15

Red Butte Garden Visitor Center

If you've been looking for a way to get the whole family into birding, this field trip is the perfect opportunity.

6:00 - 7:30 pm - Kaysville East Mountain Wilderness Park

$25

Kaysville East Mountain Wilderness Park

This wilderness park features scrub oak patches and several small creeks. Target species will be the Lazuli Buntings!

Date: May 14-18, 2025

Location: Various Location in Utah

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