The Binocular Site
Antelope Island State Park, Utah
Antelope Island is the largest of the ten islands within Great Salt Lake, and is part of Utah State’s Park System.
Sand beaches give way to diverse wildlife, and the island includes a herd of hundreds of bison descended from the original 12 brought over in 1893. Pronghorn and bighorn sheep and antelope are also found here. Mountain ranges and hiking trails provide unique views, and the highly salty water offers a uniquely buoyant swimming opportunity.
Over 250 species of birds nest and feed here, and various species are seen each month. Bald eagles, winter ducks, and prairie falcons are found in January, February, and March, with peregrine falcons, stilts, and burrowing owls through the rest of spring. Canada geese goslings are born in June, pelicans are seen in August, and wintering ducks are found in December.
Fielding Garr Ranch is a beautiful place to visit when on Antelope Island. Originally built in 1848, the ranch house itself was used to manage church tithing herds. Nowadays the surrounding corrals and rich surrounding brush attract northern waterthrush, American redstarts, vireos, hermit thrush, northern shrike, great horned owls, and long-eared owls.
The gates passed to get to the ranch are open from 9am to 6pm. See the Antelope Island State Park website for more information.
The state bird of Utah is the California Gull and you can find a birding checklist for Utah here.
Photo credit to YoHandy, used with permission under the creative commons license.
If you've visited Antelope Island State Park, please take the time to share your experience and any tips or insight you have about this Utah birding location below.
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Average User Rating
If you're looking for a one stop birding spot, Antelope Island is the place. Between the millions of shore, wading birds, ducks and geese to be seen along the causeway, to the great variety of birds found at the Garr Ranch, there aren't many better places to spend a day.
The sunsets are incredible.
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