Each fall, as I mentioned in my previous blog post regarding birding on the Great Salt Lake, millions of shorebirds and waterfowl migrate through the Great Salt Lake wetlands as they head south for the winter.
One of the birds that congregate on the Great Salt Lake Causeway during fall migration in large numbers, especially during the months of September and somewhat into October, is the quirky American avocet.
This past Saturday, the first weekend in October to be exact, I took a drive out to Antelope Island for an impromptu photography and birding trip.
I am glad I did as thousands upon thousands of American avocets are still congregating on the shallow waters of the Great Salt Lake, feeding up for their flight south for the winter.
The Great Salt Lake ecosystem, including the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, is one of the vital pieces of wetlands in the western United States for the American avocet.
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It has been said around 14% of the continent’s American avocet breeding population comes to the Great Salt Lake wetlands for the summer to breed.
On Saturday, most of the avocets were in a couple large flocks near the Antelope Island mainland.
Thousands of ducks were also spread out all over the salty waters close to the island.
With how warm the current temperatures are, today was over 80 degrees Fahrenheit which is extremely warm for this time of year, who knows how long the avocets will stick around.
I have personally seen American avocets in northern Utah as late as the week of Christmas where a sudden deep freeze capped a very mild fall season, catching a few dozen avocets on the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge off guard a few years ago.
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So you just never know when it comes to bird migration how long and where these incredible sights can be enjoyed.
But for today, at least, the American avocet is still congregating on the shallow, salty waters of the Great Salt Lake for the avid bird watcher to come view and enjoy before winter pushes them south for the season.
And once the thirst for birding has been quenched for the time being, bison, pronghorn and a host of other forms of wildlife can oftentimes be found on Antelope Island during a casual drive around the park, making it a great place to get out and enjoy nature for a while.
As a matter of fact, I did come across numerous bison and a small herd of pronghorn on my trip around the island Saturday after I was finished with the birds on the Great Salt Lake.
All in all, Antelope Island is one of the best places in northern Utah to get away for a short while and enjoy nature and wide-open spaces.
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Birding is what usually brings me to the island but the host of other animals, as well as the scenery and solitude, is what keeps me there for a spell.
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