Sandhill cranes, mountain goats focus of viewings
By Standard-Examiner staff - Tue, Apr 16, 2013 4:00 pm
Sandhill cranes are in Northern Utah in good numbers right now, and opportunities to see and hear the giant birds abound.
One of the best places to experience sandhill cranes is the Ogden Bay Waterfowl Management Area west of Hooper.
To help you experience the birds, the Division of Wildlife Resources and the Wild About Birds Nature Center are teaming up to hold a special Sandhill Crane Day. The...
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New egg in nest of Salt Lake City’s falcons
By The Associated Press - Tue, Apr 16, 2013 2:42 am
SALT LAKE CITY — There could soon be some new additions to a family of peregrine falcons that nest in downtown Salt Lake City.
A speckled brown egg showed up last week in a nesting box atop the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. Another three eggs were expected before the end of the week.
Hatching could begin just after Mother’s Day, with the young birds testing their wings at the end of June, said...
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Hundreds of dead birds at U.S. Army base in Utah
By The Associated Press - Tue, Apr 16, 2013 2:24 am
DUGWAY PROVING GROUND — The U.S. Army says hundreds of birds have died after thousands of Eared Grebes were found struggling and stranded Monday morning at Dugway Proving Ground.
Dugway spokeswoman Paula Thomas says the birds were looking for water and mistook the area at the Army base for water. The birds cannot take off without water once they land.
Thomas says a large number of the waterfowl...
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Mojave Desert Joshua trees in unusual bloom
By The Associated Press - Thu, Apr 11, 2013 2:14 am
JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK, Calif. — Joshua trees, those spiky sentinels of the Mojave Desert, are having a blossom bonanza and nobody is quite sure why.
Millions of the trees have been bursting into bundles of greenish-white flowers in California, Arizona, Nevada and Utah. Just about every tree has bloomed this spring when usually far fewer do and they produce fewer flowers, biologists said.
“...
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Symptoms of chicken pox-like virus in Zion sheep
By The Associated Press, The Associated Press - Thu, Apr 4, 2013 5:05 pm
SALT LAKE CITY — Officials say some bighorn sheep at Zion National Park are showing symptoms of a disease similar to chicken pox.
Park officials say sore mouth disease could be transmitted to people if they come in contact with an infected sheep, but there have been no reported human cases.
The virus has no cure and leaves sores and lesions on the animals, often around the mouth, that last for...
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Northern pygmy-owl a welcome diversion in Ogden Canyon
By Kristin Purdy, Standard-Examiner correspondent - Tue, Apr 2, 2013 6:40 pm
Not all great encounters with wildlife occur in pristine wilderness, in wildlife refuges or in hard-to-reach habitats. Great encounters can occur when you’re stuck in a long line of traffic on a state highway.
Those who travel through Ogden Canyon are well familiar with the project to replace the line that transports water from Pineview Reservoir to Ogden. Travel is restricted to one lane,...
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Browns Canyon proposal moves forward
By The Associated Press - Mon, Apr 1, 2013 3:32 pm
FRISCO, Colo. — Colorado Sen. Mark Udall has launched a detailed legislative proposal to establish Browns Canyon National Monument and Wilderness Area on the Arkansas River.
Udall’s proposal reflects feedback from dozens of stakeholders, including business owners, sportsmen, elected officials and recreational groups for a river known for its white-water rafting.
According to the Summit Daily (...
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Lake Erie has been revived, but its troubles aren’t over
By Matt Markey, Toledo Blade - Thu, Mar 28, 2013 2:41 pm
There were some long faces in the room when Lake Erie’s virtual report card was displayed for all to see at a recent Waterkeeper conference. After a detailed examination of the key areas of concern, the brows were knit, the expressions pained, and the anxiety impossible to disguise.
Lake Erie faces a prime number of major issues -- seven. According to one member of the all-star lineup of experts...
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Bear River Refuge volunteer gets national award
By Standard-Examiner staff - Tue, Mar 19, 2013 4:07 pm
When Great Salt Lake flooded and reached its highest level on record in the mid-1980s, inundating Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, it took a small army of volunteers to restore it so the public could enjoy it once again.
Leading that army was Bob Ebeling, who has dedicated decades and thousands of hours to maintaining the refuge as one of the best places in Utah for nature and bird lovers.
Three...
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Beloved owl 'Chitters' at Ogden Nature Center dies
By Contributed, Standard-Examiner staff - Mon, Mar 18, 2013 1:44 pm
OGDEN -- The Ogden Nature Center is mourning the passing of its beloved Great Horned Owl, Chitters, who passed away on Thursday, March 14, 2013. Chitters died at the ripe old age of 37 years.
Chitters didn’t lead the life of your typical wild owl, but a non-traditional life which left a lasting legacy. During his 33 years at the Ogden Nature Center, Chitters educated an estimated 200,000+...
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