06-19-2008, 11:10 AM
SALT LAKE CITY - You can see two adult bald eagles - and their two baby eaglets - during a free field trip in June.
<br>The Division of Wildlife Resources will host the field trip on Saturday, June 28 (not June 26 as previously reported).<br>
<br>There's no cost to attend the field trips, but reservations are required. To reserve a spot call Bob Walters, Watchable Wildlife coordinator for the DWR, at (801) 538-4771.<br>
<br>Participants will follow Walters in their vehicles, traveling on mostly paved roads to the viewing site near the southeastern shore of the Great Salt Lake.<br>
<br>Walters will have some spotting scopes and binoculars, but if you have your own binoculars or a spotting scope, please bring it. "Also, dress for warm weather, and bring some mosquito spray and sunscreen," he says.<br>
<br>You can leave the viewing site anytime during the evening.<br>
<br>Eaglets just starting to fly<br>
<br>If you attend one of the field trips, there's a good chance you'll see the eaglets make some of their first flights from their nest and back. Walters says the eaglets should be learning to fly by the time the trips are held.<br>
<br>By the end of June, the eaglets should be about 11 to 12 weeks old. Walters says the eaglets and their parents will probably remain at the nest site until early July. Then they'll leave the nest site and fly to other areas, probably outside the state.<br>
<br>Walters says bald eagles often nest at the same site every year. The adult eagles you see on June 28 could be the same pair that has nested at the site since 1996.<br>
<br>Nesting bald eagles in Utah<br>
<br>Before this pair of eagles, 1928 was the last time biologists documented bald eagles nesting in the northern part of the state.<br>
<br>Bald eagles first nested at this northern Utah site in 1996. Two eaglets have been raised each year during seven of the past 12 years. During the remaining six years, three eaglets were raised successfully each year. "That's a total of 32 eaglets over a 13-year period," Walters says. "This Great Salt Lake eagle pair is extremely productive."<br>
<br>Walters says the success the eagles have found illustrates the quality and the importance of the streamside and lake habitat in the greater Great Salt Lake area. "Habitat within the greater Great Salt Lake area is important to these eagles and many other species of wildlife," he says. "Everything possible should be done to protect and preserve it."<br>
<br>In addition to the northern Utah site, biologists know of 11 or 12 other active bald eagle nest sites in Utah. "And there could easily be more nest sites we haven't found yet," Walters says.<br>
<br>When: Saturday, June 28 at 6 p.m.<br>
<br>Where: The trip will leave at 6 p.m. from the Department of Natural Resources, 1594 W. North Temple in Salt Lake City.<br>
<br>Special requirements: Access is limited, so we'll car pool to the site. We recommend long pants and mosquito repellant.ÊWe'll be 30 to 40 yards from the eaglets, so if you are bringing a camera, make sure to bring a lens that can capture good images from that distance.<br>
<br>Background: Bald eagles started nesting at the site in 1996.ÊIt's possible that the bald eagles that are nesting there this year are the same pair that has nested at the site since 1996. ÊA total of 32 eaglets have been raised successfully since 1996!
<br>The Division of Wildlife Resources will host the field trip on Saturday, June 28 (not June 26 as previously reported).<br>
<br>There's no cost to attend the field trips, but reservations are required. To reserve a spot call Bob Walters, Watchable Wildlife coordinator for the DWR, at (801) 538-4771.<br>
<br>Participants will follow Walters in their vehicles, traveling on mostly paved roads to the viewing site near the southeastern shore of the Great Salt Lake.<br>
<br>Walters will have some spotting scopes and binoculars, but if you have your own binoculars or a spotting scope, please bring it. "Also, dress for warm weather, and bring some mosquito spray and sunscreen," he says.<br>
<br>You can leave the viewing site anytime during the evening.<br>
<br>Eaglets just starting to fly<br>
<br>If you attend one of the field trips, there's a good chance you'll see the eaglets make some of their first flights from their nest and back. Walters says the eaglets should be learning to fly by the time the trips are held.<br>
<br>By the end of June, the eaglets should be about 11 to 12 weeks old. Walters says the eaglets and their parents will probably remain at the nest site until early July. Then they'll leave the nest site and fly to other areas, probably outside the state.<br>
<br>Walters says bald eagles often nest at the same site every year. The adult eagles you see on June 28 could be the same pair that has nested at the site since 1996.<br>
<br>Nesting bald eagles in Utah<br>
<br>Before this pair of eagles, 1928 was the last time biologists documented bald eagles nesting in the northern part of the state.<br>
<br>Bald eagles first nested at this northern Utah site in 1996. Two eaglets have been raised each year during seven of the past 12 years. During the remaining six years, three eaglets were raised successfully each year. "That's a total of 32 eaglets over a 13-year period," Walters says. "This Great Salt Lake eagle pair is extremely productive."<br>
<br>Walters says the success the eagles have found illustrates the quality and the importance of the streamside and lake habitat in the greater Great Salt Lake area. "Habitat within the greater Great Salt Lake area is important to these eagles and many other species of wildlife," he says. "Everything possible should be done to protect and preserve it."<br>
<br>In addition to the northern Utah site, biologists know of 11 or 12 other active bald eagle nest sites in Utah. "And there could easily be more nest sites we haven't found yet," Walters says.<br>
<br>When: Saturday, June 28 at 6 p.m.<br>
<br>Where: The trip will leave at 6 p.m. from the Department of Natural Resources, 1594 W. North Temple in Salt Lake City.<br>
<br>Special requirements: Access is limited, so we'll car pool to the site. We recommend long pants and mosquito repellant.ÊWe'll be 30 to 40 yards from the eaglets, so if you are bringing a camera, make sure to bring a lens that can capture good images from that distance.<br>
<br>Background: Bald eagles started nesting at the site in 1996.ÊIt's possible that the bald eagles that are nesting there this year are the same pair that has nested at the site since 1996. ÊA total of 32 eaglets have been raised successfully since 1996!