[Birdtalk] You're Needed at Farmington Bay

[Mark Hadley]

Hi Utah birders,

The Farmington Bay WMA needs volunteers to teach people about birds and
the Great Salt Lake.

I thought some of you might be interested in knowing about this
opportunity.

A volunteer workshop -- which will include a field trip to see bald
eagles -- will be held this Saturday, Jan. 5.  The workshop is free and
runs from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Please see the news release below for more information.  You can also
contact Justina Parsons-Bernstein at jparsonsbernstein at utah.gov or (801)
589-2373.  Thank you!

Mark Hadley
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
 

Teach Others about
Birds and the Great Salt Lake

Chance to see bald eagles part of Jan. 5 training

Farmington -- If you’re passionate about birds and the Great Salt
Lake -- and you want to share your passion with others -- the Division
of Wildlife Resources wants you in its Farmington Bay Volunteer
Naturalist program.

You can learn more about the program -- and other volunteer
opportunities with the DWR -- at a workshop on Jan. 5.

The workshop will be held from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Great Salt
Lake Nature Center.  The center is located at the Farmington Bay
Waterfowl Management Area, 1700 W. Glover Lane (925 South) in
Farmington.

“Our volunteers get to play in puddles, see some amazing birds, and
share their excitement with scouts and school groups,” says Justina
Parsons-Bernstein, director of the Great Salt Lake Nature Center.  “If
you can tell the difference between a cinnamon teal and a great blue
heron, or if you want to know the difference, you’re the kind of
person we’re looking for.”

Here’s what you can do in the following DWR programs:

Farmington Bay Volunteer Naturalist – take people on fun field trips
and nature tours.  You’ll also get to help the staff at the nature
center teach school groups about birds and the Great Salt Lake.  The
staff will teach you about wetland ecology, how to identify birds and
how to share what you’ve learned with others.

Wild Guides Naturalist – this brand new program will give you a
chance to get into your community and teach eight- to nine-year-olds
about wildlife and the places wildlife live.  The DWR will provide you
with all of the lesson plans you’ll need.  You’ll also receive neat
items to show the kids, including snowshoe hare pelts, and elk and deer
antlers.

Community Fishing – teach kids in youth fishing clubs about fish and
how to catch them.  The clubs meet in the spring at community fishing
waters in Utah.

Watchable Wildlife – staff booths at wildlife festivals in Utah. 
You’ll learn more about Utah’s wildlife, and then you’ll get to
share your enthusiasm for that wildlife -- including peregrine falcons,
mountain goats, bald eagles and bighorn sheep -- with those who attend
the festivals!

Hunter Education – teach the next generation of Utah’s hunters how
to be safe, responsible and ethical.

At the workshop, Parsons-Berstein will highlight the volunteer
opportunities at Farmington Bay.  Jill West, the DWR’s volunteer
program coordinator, will also provide information about other volunteer
opportunities with DWR.

The workshop is free, and everyone is welcome and encouraged to
attend.

After the presentation, the staff at the nature center will take those
who attended the workshop on a tour of the Farmington Bay WMA.  You
might see some bald eagles during the tour.  The eagles are just
starting their winter migration into Utah.

For more information, call Parsons-Bernstein at (801) 589-2373.

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