Birding trips
Great Salt Lake Audubon is holding the following bird trips. The trips are free, but contributions for carpooling and gas costs are encouraged.
Jack Clark and Sylvia Gray are leading the monthly survey to the Mountain Dell Recreation Area in Parleys Canyon on Wednesday. Meet at the parking lot west of the Salt Lake REI store, 3285 E. 3300 South, East Millcreek, at 8:30 a.m. A total of 123 species have been counted in the four years the area has had a monthly survey. Call Jack (801-255-7989) or Sylvia (801-532-3485) if you plan to attend.
Roberta Wherritt is leading a trip to see greater sage grouse near Henefer on April 9. There will be a 5:15 a.m. departure from the Shopko parking lot in Salt Lake City. The drive takes about an hour. Call Roberta at 801-274-3058 for more information.
Baby Bird Basics
The Ogden Nature Center, 966 W. 12th St., is holding a free Baby Bird Basics program for new volunteers in the song rehabilitation program on April 5 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Wildlife specialist DaLyn Erickson will lead the class. Pre-register by April 4. Visit www.ogdennaturecenter.org for more information.
Big Air Competition
The ninth annual Big Air Competition and Pond Skim is Saturday at Beaver Mountain Ski Area in Logan Canyon. The family-friendly event is open to the first 100 registrants and a lift pass is required to compete. The registration fee is $15 and includes a swag bag, a T-shirt and an entry in a drawing for a free season pass. Visit www.ski thebeav.com for more information.
Topaz Mountain outing
The Utah Museum of Natural History is launching its spring field trip schedule with an outing Saturday to Topaz Mountain in Juab County. Geologists will lead adults and children 8 and older to topaz and other minerals and rocks found on the mountain. The trip runs from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Transportation from the museum and a sack lunch are provided. Cost is $110 per person.
Other Museum of Natural History field trips: Mill Creek Canyon Herb Walk, April 12; Oceanography on the Great Salt Lake, May 10; Archeoastronomy and the Summer Solstice at the Parowan Gap, June 21-22. For information and to register, call 801-581-5567 or visit www.umnh.utah.edu.
Free REI clinics
Jon M. Smith will lead a discussion and show a documentary, "Canyoneering - The Colorado Plateau: An Introduction to the Sport," April 3 at 7 p.m. at the Sandy REI store, 10600 S. 230 West. The documentary was produced by Southern Utah University in cooperation with the American Canyoneering Association.
Dave Pacheco, director of Utah Backcountry Volunteers, will talk about service projects on public lands April 10 at 7 p.m. at the Sandy store. He will also have a list of projects being offered by Utah Backcountry this year.
Alexis Kelner will talk about the development of Utah avalanche research and the benefits in resort and backcountry skiing. His talk will be Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Salt Lake REI store, 3285 E. 3300 South, East Millcreek.
Author Hal Crimmel will present a slide show and talk based on the title of his book Dinosaur: Four Seasons on the Green and Yampa Rivers. His presentation will be April 8 at 7 p.m. at the Salt Lake store.
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* To get your event listed, e-mail the information to brettp@ sltrib.com or mail it to Brett Prettyman, The Salt Lake Tribune, 90 S. 400 West, Suite 700, Salt Lake City, UT 84101.
