Feb 19, Mindful Birding Through a Camera Lens

Event/Trip Reports

Mindful Birding Through a Camera Lens: White-breasted Nuthatch Teton Splendor Field Trip Courtesy & Copyright Meg Kast, Photographer

White-breasted Nuthatch
Teton Splendor Field Trip
Courtesy & Copyright Meg Kast, Photographer

Mindful Birding Through a Camera Lens:
Immerse yourself in the world of birds with your camera, or without should you choose! Bridgerland Audubon board member Meg Kast will enthrall us with her bird photos and how they came about. Meg is an outstanding young photographer and recently attended a “Mindful Birding” workshop in Colorado where her camera was a hit! If you have some photos you wish to share, please bring them on a thumb drive, as we will have some time following Meg’s presentation.

Mindful Birding Through a Camera Lens, Meg Kast February 19, 7 pm Logan Library 200 N Main Street Logan UT 84321

Mindful Birding Through a Camera Lens, Meg Kast
February 19, 7 pm
Logan Library
200 N Main Street
Logan UT 84321

Light refreshments will be served.

Co-sponsored by Bridgerland Audubon Society and the Logan Library

February 19, 7 pm
Logan Library
285 N Main Street
Logan, UT 84321

Definitions:

Audubon Defines “Mindful Birding”:
Mindful birding combines mindfulness practices with the joy of observing birds. This practice is gaining popularity due to the health benefits of slowing down and immersing yourself in nature. Mindful birding can be done almost anywhere and requires little experience and equipment for participants, making it a great way to introduce new people to the joys of being outdoors with birds!

Birdability Defines “Mindful Birding”:
Mindful birding, also known as ‘slow birding’ or ‘casual birding’, is birding quietly, intentionally and gently, with the aim of deeply engaging with and enjoying the birds and nature around you. For many folks with accessibility challenges, this is the best way for them to go birding (rather than rushing around and checking off lists). Please remember, though, that there is no wrong way to go birding! https://www.birdability.org/mindful-birding

Background:

Meg Kast:
https://www.instagram.com/megs.wildlife.photography/reel/DEwPbNrOxv-/
https://www.instagram.com/megs.wildlife.photography/
http://facebook.com/megs.wildlife.photography1

Adams, Jill U, Birding With Benefits: How Nature Improves Our Mental Mindsets, Audubon Magazine, Winter 2019, https://www.audubon.org/magazine/winter-2019/birding-benefits-how-nature-improves-our-mental

Yuhas, Daisy, Five Ways to Connect With Nature and Boost Your Mood No Matter Your Schedule, Audubon Magazine, Fall 2024, https://www.audubon.org/magazine/five-ways-connect-nature-and-boost-your-mood-no-matter-your-schedule

Greene, Jack, Mindful Birding, Wild About Utah, November 18, 2024, https://wildaboututah.org/mindful-birding/
on UPR: https://www.upr.org/show/wild-about-utah/2024-11-18/wild-about-utah-mindful-birding
Mindful Birding Through a Camera Lens
Mindful Birding, The Morrissey Family Foundation, https://www.mindfulbirding.org/

Feb 22, Birding with Bridgerland Audubon at Trapper Park and the Logan River Icon Trail

Event/Trip Reports, ,

Birding with Bridgerland Audubon at Trapper Park and the Logan River Icon Trail:

Black-capped Chickadee
Courtesy Hilary Shughart
One of the species that may be seen
Saturday February 22, 2025
Birding with Bridgerland Audubon at Trapper Park and the Logan River Icon Trail.

 

Trip report: A cold frosty morning greeted us at the Icon River Trail. Temperatures were in the teens, no wind and thick rime of hoarfrost coated all of the vegetation obscuring our views in some areas. There were around 18 or 20 participants most of them meeting us at the Trapper Park area. Not everyone stayed for the full 2 hours. Unfortunately, the city had not plowed the paved trail since the last snow and there was ice and hard crunchy snow in some spots making it more difficult to hear birds over the sound of people walking. It had melted off in some areas also, so it was walkable, but a little tricky footing.

We had a good mix again of experienced seasoned birders and some newer people, old and young. Kim Sullivan and Eric Bingham were in attendance. We decided after the fact that it might have been better to split up a group this large and go in two different directions. We will plan to do this in the future if we have a bigger group show up and other people that could act as leaders present.

We ended up seeing 19 different species. Linda Sargent kept an eBird list for us and posted it on-line. Highlights were good looks at a Belted Kingfisher in flight and perched, Green-winged Teal, Spotted Towhee and multiple Song Sparrows. We did find one mystery sparrow that was later determined by photos to be a rare Swamp Sparrow. This bird stuck around and was seen by several other people later that day.
Trip leader Dawn Holzer (dawnholzer80@gmail.com, 435-799-1991)

***** Future Events & Trip Reports *****

January 25 – First Dam and USU Water Lab
February 22 – Trapper Park and Logan River Icon Trail
March 22 – Wellsville Reservoir
April 12 – Sue’s Pond – Logan River Wetlands and Shorebird Playa
May 17 – Third Dam/Spring Hollow
June 21 – Bud Phelps Wildlife Management Area
July 19 – Tony Grove
August 23 – Amalga Barrens
September 27 – Benson Marina and Railroad Trail
October 25 – King Nature Park and Green Canyon
November 22 – Hyrum Reservoir and State Park
December 6 – Lundstrom Park Trail

***** Background, Trapper Park and the Logan River Icon Trail *****

eBird:
Birdlist for Logan River Icon Trail: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L2107185/bird-list
Recent Checklists for Logan River Icon Trail: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L2107185/recent-checklists
Media Images for Logan River Icon Trail: https://media.ebird.org/catalog?regionCode=L2107185

Trapper Park and Logan River Icon Trail, Places to Bird in Cache County, Utah Birds, http://www.utahbirds.org/counties/cache/FirstDam.htm

Birdlist for Trapper Park: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L4629436/bird-list
Recent Checklists for Trapper Park: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L4629436/recent-checklists
Media Images for Trapper Park: https://media.ebird.org/catalog?regionCode=L4629436

Signed waivers required for all participants. Complete form, print results and bring printed waiver to meeting point.

Mar 22, Birding with Bridgerland Audubon at Wellsville Reservoir

Event/Trip Reports, ,

Birding with Bridgerland Audubon at Trapper Park and the Logan River Icon Trail:

American Wigeon Mareca americana
Courtesy US FWS, Valerie Fellows, Photographer
One of the species that may be seen
Saturday March 22, 2025
Birding with Bridgerland Audubon at Wellsville Reservoir.

 

Trip Report
Fourteen people joined us at Wellsville Reservoir on Saturday morning. The weather was overcast with a temperature of around 40 degrees and a little wind, which dissipated as we got away from the north end of the lake. Several people had caravaned from the Hyrum Senior Center and had never been birding before. It was great to see them watching American Coots and learning that they are not ducks, but more closely related to cranes and rails. Wild Turkeys were one of the highlights seen walking around town on the way in. We also saw Ring-necked Ducks, Redheads and one of the first female Red-winged Blackbirds of the season. We were treated to songs of the Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Juncos and a Great-tailed Grackle’s crazy electronic vocalizations. We also noted multiple Bullock’s Oriole nests from previous seasons that appeared to be made entirely out of fishing line. See Scott Erickson’s eBird checklist for all 21 species noted.

***** Future Events & Trip Reports *****

January 25 – First Dam and USU Water Lab
February 22 – Trapper Park and Logan River Icon Trail
March 22 – Wellsville Reservoir
April 12 – Sue’s Pond – Logan River Wetlands and Shorebird Playa
May 17 – Third Dam/Spring Hollow
June 21 – Bud Phelps Wildlife Management Area
July 19 – Tony Grove
August 23 – Amalga Barrens
September 27 – Benson Marina and Railroad Trail
October 25 – King Nature Park and Green Canyon
November 22 – Hyrum Reservoir and State Park
December 6 – Lundstrom Park Trail

***** Background, First Dam *****

eBird:
Birdlist for Wellsville Reservoir: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L805147/bird-list
Recent Checklists for Wellsville Reservoir: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L805147/recent-checklists
Media Images for Wellsville Reservoir: https://media.ebird.org/catalog?regionCode=L805147

Signed waivers required for all participants. Complete form, print results and bring printed waiver to meeting point.

Apr 12, Birding with Bridgerland Audubon at Sue’s Pond – Logan Wetlands

Field Trips, ,

Birding with Bridgerland Audubon at Sue’s Pond – Logan River Wetlands and Shorebird Playa:

Willet (Tringa semipalmata) Courtesy US FWS, Lee Karney, Photographer
One of the species that may be seen
Saturday April 12, 2025
Birding with Bridgerland Audubon at Sue’s Pond – Logan River Wetlands and Shorebird Playa.

 

Sue's Pond & Shorebird Playa - Logan River Wetlands Birding with Bridgerland Audubon Society April 12, 2025, 8:00 am Meet at the SW Corner of Smith's Marketplace Parking Lot

Sue’s Pond & Shorebird Playa – Logan River Wetlands
Birding with Bridgerland Audubon Society
April 12, 2025, 8:00 am
Meet at the SW Corner of Smith’s Marketplace Parking Lot

Saturday April 12, 2025. Birding with Bridgerland Audubon at Sue’s Pond – Logan River Wetlands and Shorebird Playa.

Trip Report:
About 23 people met at the Sue’s Ponds Playa and Wetlands site just west of the old landfill site. We had perfect early spring weather with comfortable temperatures, no wind and no mosquitoes yet. Plenty of harmless midges though (great bird food). We had some brand new birders, beginners and seasoned pros attending once again. About 35 species were seen including a wide assortment of ducks, first of the year Black-necked Stilts and lots of flashy, noisy male Yellow-headed Blackbirds. Other early migrants included Sandhill Cranes, American White Pelicans and American Avocets. A good time was had by all. One new birder even proclaimed that they are “hooked, and that this is worth getting up early for”!

***** Future Events & Trip Reports *****

January 25 – First Dam and USU Water Lab
February 22 – Trapper Park and Logan River Icon Trail
March 22 – Wellsville Reservoir
April 12 – Sue’s Pond – Logan River Wetlands and Shorebird Playa
May 17 – Third Dam/Spring Hollow
June 21 – Bud Phelps Wildlife Management Area
July 19 – Tony Grove
August 23 – Amalga Barrens
September 27 – Benson Marina and Railroad Trail
October 25 – King Nature Park and Green Canyon
November 22 – Hyrum Reservoir and State Park
December 6 – Lundstrom Park Trail

Background, Sue’s Pond – Logan River Wetlands and Shorebird Playa

eBird:
Birdlist for Sue’s Pond – Logan River Wetlands and Shorebird Playa: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L586105/bird-list
Recent Checklists for Sue’s Pond – Logan River Wetlands and Shorebird Playa: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L586105/recent-checklists
Media Images for Sue’s Pond – Logan River Wetlands and Shorebird Playa: https://media.ebird.org/catalog?regionCode=L586105

Signed waivers required for all participants. Complete form, print results and bring printed waiver to meeting point.

May 17, Logan Canyon Weed Day

Community Events, Field Trips

Please join the Logan Ranger District, Bridgerland Audubon Society, Utah Native Plant Society, Cache Trails Alliance, Logan City, and Stokes Nature Center to help control the spread of spread of noxious weeds on our lands.
What: 7th Annual Logan Canyon Weed Day
When: Saturday, May 17, 2025, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Where: Canyon Entrance Park Pavilion (First Dam), US 89 & Canyon Road, Logan, UT
Contact: Kristin Johansen, Volunteer Coordinator, 385-466-0369, kristin.johansen@usda.gov
Wear protective clothing, including gloves, long pants, long sleeved shirts, sturdy footwear and bring drinking water. Some tools will be provided but bring your own heavy-duty weeding tools if you can.
The goal of this project is to help reduce and eradicate invasive weeds threatening the native plant community of the local area. Target weeds are dyers woad, burdock, houndstongue, Scotch thistle, myrtle spurge and other invasive plants. Control methods will include hand pulling, digging and possible bagging.
For more information, contact Kristin Johansen, Volunteer Coordinator, Logan Ranger District, 385-466-0369,
kristin.johansen@usda.gov, Dave Wallace, Utah Native Plant Society, (435) 750-5913, or Hilary Shughart,
Bridgerland Audubon, hilary.shughart@gmail.com.

Sponsored by:
USDA Forest Service
Utah Native Plant Society
Bridgerland Audubon Society
Cache Trails Alliance
Logan City
Stokes Nature Center