[TopOfUtah] Extreme Landfill Birding

[Jason Pietrzak]

I went out to the landfill and Sue's Ponds for lunch today. First-of-year
highlights included 3 SNOWY EGRETS, 1 LESSER YELLOWLEGS, and 2 FORSTER'S
TERNS. While there, I saw Avocets mating a couple times, flyovers from Barn
Swallows and a Herring Gull dominating the California Gulls over some trash.

As I was leaving, I saw an injured Sandhill Crane in the fields next to the
Landfill. It was dragging a wing, so I got a couple volunteers and decided
to attempt to capture it and bring it down to Ogden Nature Center. The three
of us went out and made several attempts at the bird, but it could still run
faster than we could and he kept outsmarting us by ducking under barbed-wire
fences. In the end, the Crane ran out onto a pond full of cattle, so we gave
up for the day. I'm still out of breath.

I will be checking in on the bird periodically to see if it goes into an
area where it can be captured. Since the bird hasn't been seen before, my
guess is that it ran into a powerline and broke its wing. IF that is the
case, it will be easier to rehabiltate (if possible) if it is captured soon.
If anybody knows the owner of the property just North of the landfill,
please let me know so that I can contact them.

I just want to state one more thing: if you see an opportunity to grab this
bird, be very careful. It will strike at your face and it is very fast and
powerful. Wear eye protection, gloves, and bring something to throw over the
bird from a distance. Also, this bird is VERY fast. I am in decent shape and
could keep up with it for a while. If anybody out there happens to be a
sprinter and is also skilled in using a lasso, email me.

Jason
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