Enjoy the outdoors while watching colorful bird species at the Fourteenth Annual Winter Bird Festival in St. George, Utah
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ST. GEORGE, Utah—Every January, hundreds of wildlife and outdoor enthusiasts flock to St. George, Utah, to escape the cold and shake post-holiday blues. In Southern Utah, mild winter weather rarely thwarts birding efforts and with trees and shrubs devoid of leaves, it’s an ideal time to discover the 375 colorful bird species found in the area.
In its fourteenth year, the annual Winter Bird Festival provides members of the public, whether novice or experienced, the opportunity to discover the wonders of birding by participating in expert-led field trips and workshops. The event runs from January 26-28, 2017, with the majority of events taking place at the Tonaquint Nature Center, 1851 South Dixie Drive in St. George, Utah.
Activities are free to youth 17 and under and include a fun “Junior Birder Program,” and “How to Build a Birdhouse,” workshops. Both youth and adults can take part in exciting field trips like “Biking & Birding the Virgin River” and birding trips to Zion National Park and area State Parks and Reservoirs.
Becoming a birder is easy and engaging with daily lectures on species identification, banding, predators, and photography.
Keynote speaker Rick Watson, a biologist from the Peregrine Fund since 1990, will discuss his fascinating international work with bird species including the endangered Madagascar fish eagle, the reintroduction of the bearded vulture in Kenya, cape vulture conservation in South Africa, crowned eagle conservation in the Ivory Coast and kite research in the Cape Verde islands.
For more information regarding registration, activities, field trips, and lectures included in the 2016 St. George Winter Bird Festival, call 435-673-0096 or visit www.sgcity.org/birdfestival. The cost for the 3-day event is $10 general admission, with a family pass priced at $15 and all children age 17 and under are free.
Partner support for this annual event includes; Red Cliffs Audubon Society, Bureau of Land Management Arizona Strip District and St. George Field Office, Zion National Park, the Peregrine Fund, Hawk Watch International, Utah Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife Resources, the City of St. George, Dixie Arizona Strip Interpretive Association, St. George Inn & Suites, The Home Depot, The Bell Tower Courtyard, Red Cliffs Mall and Clik Elite.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.