The public is invited to witness a modern Western roundup on Oct. 31, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and if necessary, on Nov. 1, when horseback riders move the Antelope Island State Park bison herd to the handling facility at the park's northern end.

Visitors can view the riders and bison from the east-side road leading to the Fielding Garr Ranch. Visitors are encouraged to bring binoculars for a closer view of the animals and handlers.

Another opportunity to see one of the nation's largest and oldest public herds will be Nov. 6-8, 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily, when the bison are weighed, blood-tested, inoculated and scanned. All bison have a microchip implanted behind the ear, which serves as permanent identification and stores the animal's health history.

On Nov. 14, "excess" bison will be sold to keep the population within the carrying capacity of the island's available forage. The sale is held at the Antelope Island State Park Bison Corrals. Sale animals may be viewed as early as 8 a.m., with the sale beginning at 10 a.m. For additional sale information, call Steve Bates at 801-209-4678.

Food, drink and memorabilia, such as T-shirts and sweatshirts, are available for purchase throughout the bison roundup. To reach Antelope Island State Park, take I-15 to exit 332 (Syracuse-Freeport Center) and travel west on Antelope Drive to the entrance station. Park fees are $9 per vehicle or $3 for bicyclists and walk-ins. For more information, call 801-773-2941.

Rendezvous on the river

The Moab River Rendezvous, a two-day event focused on the use, conservation and history of waterways in the Great Basin, is Nov. 14-15 at the Red Cliffs Adventure Lodge in Moab.

On Nov. 15, a series of speakers will cover such topics as the history of river maps, control of noxious vegetation and ancient landscapes of the Colorado Plateau. On Nov. 15, pre-registered participants will float the Colorado River. The event is sponsored by Plateau Restoration and is a fundraiser for guide training seminars and ecological restoration projects in the Colorado River watershed.

The event also includes a river film festival on Nov. 13, 6-9 p.m., at the Moab Regional Arts Center, with screenings of films from the University of Utah's special collections.

For more information, or to register, visit www.moabriverrendezvous.com/index.html.

The ways of water

Alexandra Cousteau, granddaughter of explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau, and a water policy and conservation activist, will speak Oct. 29, 7 p.m., at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, 138 W. 300 South, Salt Lake City.

Cousteau's appearance is sponsored by The Nature Conservancy, which described her presentation this way in a news release about the event: "Alexandra shows how individuals and communities contribute to an interdependent worldwide water system. With unforgettable tales from the Ganges to the Colorado River, she reveals how water connects us and how we can work together to save Earth's most precious resource."

Cousteau is the founder of Blue Legacy, a Washington, D.C.--based nonprofit dedicated to exploring how humans relate to our water-based planet.

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at www.arttix.org or by calling 801-355-ARTS.

Spooky ride

Children 8 through 15 can celebrate Halloween with an evening of spooky off-highway vehicle riding at the Jordan River Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Center on Oct. 30, 3 to 8 p.m. Cost is $10 per family. The trail will be closed to other riders during this time.

Prizes will be awarded for best, most creative and scariest costumes. A a tricked-out trunk or treat from 6 p.m. to sundown will also offer prizes for best, most creative and scariest trunks or vehicles.

All riders must wear helmets and all machines must be currently registered. State-required youth off-highway vehicle education certificate must be carried while riding.

The OHV center is on Rose Park Lane, exit 25 off I-215. For more information, call 801-533-5425.

Himalayan Cataract Project

Westminster College and the Utah Council for Citizen Diplomacy will host a presentation by physician and social entrepreneur Geoffrey Tabin on a project to restore sight and economic independence to residents of the Himalaya Mountain region who are suffering from cataracts. The free lecture is on Nov. 2, 7:30 p.m., in Westminster's Emma Eccles Jones Conservatory, 1250 E. 1700 South, Salt Lake City.

Tabin is a professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences and director of the division of international ophthalmology at the John A. Moran Eye Center at the University of Utah. In 1994, after summiting Mt. Everest, he co-founded the Himalayan Cataract Project with Sanduk Ruit to eradicate preventable and curable blindness through high-quality care, education and establishment of a world-class eye-care infrastructure.

Horse lover wanted

Utah State Parks and Recreation is seeking a citizen to represent the interests of equestrian trail users on the Utah Recreational Trails Advisory Council. Applications will be accepted through Dec. 1.

The council reviews requests for financial help on nonmotorized trail projects and makes recommendations to State Parks staff and the Board of Utah State Parks. The nine-member advisory council includes representatives from the Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service, Utah League of Cities and Towns, Utah Association of Counties and citizens representing hikers, bicyclists, equestrians and Nordic skiers. One member-at-large represents the interests of nonmotorized trail users in general.

For more information or to apply, contact State Parks Trails Coordinator John Knudson at johnknudson@utah.gov or 801-538-7344.

State parks events

Oct. 29, 6 p.m. » Learn the history of Utah's Paiute people from Shanan Martineau, cultural resource manager for the Shivwits Paiute, at Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum in Blanding. The free program begins at 6 p.m.; 435-678-2238.

Oct. 29, 7 p.m. » Join park staff for a program about scorpions at Dead Horse Point State Park in Moab. Meet at the visitor center amphitheater; 435-259-2614.

Oct. 29-30, 7:30 p.m. » Show off your costume and enjoy a short Halloween night hike of storytelling fun sprinkled with a dash of fright at Snow Canyon State Park in Ivins. Designed for children 5 to 12. Space is limited and registration required. Call 435-628-2255.

Oct. 30, 5 p.m. » Join park staff for a 4.2-mile bike ride along the Intrepid Trail and learn about area geology at Dead Horse Point State Park in Moab. The ride is approximately 1.5 hours and is rated as moderate. Helmets are required and children must be accompanied by an adult. Dogs are not allowed. Meet at the Intrepid Trailhead across the parking lot from the visitor center; 435-259-2614.

Oct. 31 » Wear your costume and join an OHV poker ride. Registration is from 9 to 10 a.m. at Sand Hollow State Park in Hurricane OHV staging area, followed by the run until 4 p.m. Prizes will be awarded, including best costume. Day-use fee is $10 per vehicle; 435-680-0715.

Oct. 31 , 1 p.m. » Go on a two-mile round-trip hike to Johnson Canyon and Johnson Arch with staff of Snow Canyon State Park in Ivins. Learn about the natural history of the area while traversing lava flows and desert scrub community. Space is limited and registration required. Call 435-628-2255.

Wasatch Mountain Club events

The club hosts the following events for members. To learn more about the club, or to become a member, visit www.wasatchmountainclub.org.

Oct. 25 » Day hike, Hounds Tooth; Julie, 801-244-3323,, or jk@wasatch-environmental.com.

Oct. 25 » Day hike, Maybird lakes; Liz, 801-486-0909, or liz1466@live.com.

Oct. 25 » Day hike, TBA; Monty, 801-583-0287, or mgully@xmission.com.

Oct. 29 » Day hike, Cottonwood/Mill Creek canyons area; Norm, 801-266-3703.

Oct. 29 » Evening climb at a local climbing gym; Peter, 801-733-0313 or wmc-alpinist@hotmail.com.

Oct. 31 » Day hike, Mt. Olympus/Tolcat Canyon; Mark, 801-708-3976 or mark.balboni@parexel.com.

Oct. 31 » Day hike, TBA; Mohamed, 801-466-9310.

Oct. 31 » Day hike, and Dutch oven cookoff potluck; Beth/Cheryl, 801-274-1035 or 435-649-9008; baebling@yahoo.com or csoshnik@yahoo.com.

Nov. 1 » Day hike, Lake Blanche; Liz, 801-486-0909 or liz1466@live.com.

Birding events

Nov, 2, 7 p.m. » Birding in Utah class at HawkWatch International, 2240 S. 900 East, Salt Lake City. Join instructor Tim Avery to learn about winter birding. At this point new birds are far and few between, but November has hidden gems, such as late-season warblers that may show up in southwestern Utah, where some trees are still green and filled with food.

Nov. 4, 9 a.m. » Mountain Dell Recreation Area, Parleys Canyon. Meet in the parking lot just west of REI, 3285 E. 3300 South, East Millcreek. Check the forecast and come prepared. Call Jack at 801-255-7989, or Sylvia, 801-532-3486, if you plan to attend.