The official Utah Checklist contains 434 species with well over 250 birds as permanent residents or summer breeders. Historically, birds have played an important role in the evolution of Utah as a desirable destination. Utah’s state bird, the California Gull, attained fame when it devoured swarms of locusts that threatened the pioneers’ first crop. More recently, Great Salt Lake was named a Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network site, so designated for its importance as a staging area for millions of migrating waterfowl and shorebirds. Birding festivals abound, multiple birding trails are mapped, and the website www.utahbirds.org is one of the top-rated state birding websites in the country.

With numerous life zones and habitats throughout the state, birders should be able to experience many uniquely western birds. Our diverse field trips are designed to expose you to a variety of these habitats, and ultimately to provide many opportunities for expanding one’s life list. An average summer bird-day will probably approach 60-80, with some areas of over 100.

The Full Package convention option includes five dinners and evening programs, three field trip days including breakfasts and boxed lunches and entry fees (except as noted), bus driver tips, and attendance at all three workshops and your choice of Special Presentation. Not included are breakfast and lunch on workshop days (Wednesday and Friday), dinner on Wednesday night, cash bars during the socials, hotel rooms, resort fees and incidentals. The Partial Package is designed for nonbirding companions and includes all offered dinners and evening programs. The A La Carte Package is priced per event and includes all benefits of that activity, and has been designed for those unable to attend the entire convention. Registration fees are required for all packages. Any field trips on Sunday are an additional fee, as they are outside the convention dates, but do include breakfast and boxed lunch. Please keep the 11:00 AM check-out from the hotel in mind when signing up for a Sunday trip.

Birding Conditions

Utah in June can be very cool in the early mornings and heat up considerably during the day. By noon it could be very warm and by mid-afternoon – hot, even in the higher elevations. Birders should dress in layers. There will be very little chance of rain in any of the locations, but a sudden thunderstorm in June would not be unexpected and high elevation snow is a slight possibility, even in late June. A light rain jacket and/or umbrella in a day pack would be wise. Sturdy walking shoes will be fine at all locations. Whether in high desert or high elevation montane habitats, hydration is the key to avoiding overheating or the affects of altitude. Cliff Lodge is located at 7760 feet while some field trips may reach 11,000 feet. Please drink more water than you think you need, limit your alcohol intake, and let someone know immediately if you are feeling any effects of the altitude.

The insects that can be encountered on the trips to the environs of the Great Salt Lake include clouds of midges and millions of brine flies, but they do not bite. Birders in the mountains may find deer flies and “no-see-um” gnats that do bite. Mosquitoes are usually a problem only at dusk. An insect repellant is usually quite effective for any of the pests one might expect. The only places where snakes might be expected (with a very low chance of rattlesnakes) would be the Jordanelle and Antelope Island trips. Poison Ivy occurs only in a few damp places, although Stinging Nettle might be encountered on some of the hillsides. Utah birding is some of the safest and driest in the nation.

Accommodations

Our quarters for the convention are the Cliff Lodge at Snowbird Resort located up Little Cottonwood Canyon from the Salt Lake Valley and about 45 minutes from the airport. All convention activities will originate at the Cliff Lodge, including meals, field trips and workshops. We have arranged for the ABA rate to include two days before and after the convention for your extended visit. Snowbird has a non-taxable daily resort fee of $10 that will be included on your room bill. Parking is by valet or self-park and is complimentary. The website is www.snowbird.com/lodging/clifflodge.html. Originally built in 1973 by the Gaylord family, the Cliff Lodge has since doubled in size and increased dramatically in amenities and services. Offering three restaurants, two lounges, two swimming pools, four hot tubs, a full-service spa, and extensive meeting space, the Cliff Lodge is the flagship of the four lodging properties in Snowbird Village.

Renovations to the Cliff Lodge totaling $5.6 million were completed in 2006 and include completely revamped rooms with new furnishings, flat screen televisions, new bathroom tile, modern fixtures, and original art. Wireless internet access is complimentary and available throughout the lodge. All Cliff Lodge rooms have two queen beds. Included in each room are a hairdryer, coffee maker, small refrigerator, iron and ironing board. The floors and walls of the Cliff Lodge feature North America’s foremost collection of oriental rugs and the canyon side and slope side views are nothing short of breathtaking.

While known for the world-class powder skiing, Snowbird in summer is overflowing with everything from outdoor recreation to indoor pampering. There is a myriad of hiking trails (35 bird species tallied on-site in June 2007), a stream, fishing pond and multitudes of other exciting activities including Tram rides, Euro-Bungy, Alpine Slide, Zip Rider, Mountain Bike Rentals and more. Contact the Snowbird Activity Center at (801) 933-2147 or visit www.snowbird.com/events/summeractivities.html for inquiries, reservations, or more information. Group rates are available by showing your room card. For those less adventuresome or those looking to relax after adventure activities, the Cliff Spa is on the 9th level. Since 1987, the Cliff Spa has served as a place where people can get away and find balance, vitality and relaxation. Their goal is to provide an experience of solitude and reflection leaving you refreshed and inspired. Visit www.snowbird.com/spa/cliffspa.html for details. With so much to offer, your non-birding companion is sure to find entertainment or relaxation.

ABA SALES

ABA SALES will feature a complete selection of bird books, checklists, bird song recordings, videos, software, binoculars, scopes, a variety of other accessories and gift items. They will also have the 2008 Convention t-shirt, featuring John Sill’s painting of Black Rosy-Finches. ABA SALES will be open daily, Monday through Saturday during exhibitor hours in the Wasatch Room at Cliff Lodge.

ARTISTS AND EXHIBITS

A number of artists and exhibitors will display a variety of optics, birding products, tour services, bird art, photos and other bird related items. At the time of printing, the following exhibitors are expected to attend:
 

Alpen Optics Ancon Expeditions of Panama Birding America BirdLife South Africa Bird Uganda Safaris Borderland Tours Bushnell Outdoor Products Canopy Tower and Canopy Lodge Field Guides Guyana Houghton-Mifflin KOWA Optimed Leica Sport Optics Leupold Nikon Sport Optics Ocoee Adventure Travel Panama La Verde	Paradise Birding Pentax Princeton University Press Rockjumper Birding Tours St Paul Island Tours Seriema Nature Tours Swarovski Optik, NA Trinidad and Tobago Tourism Tropical Birding WINGS Wingscapes Zeiss Sports Optics Artists: John Sill Radeaux Debbie Goodman

ABA AWARDS

The following awards can be given out annually to nominated candidates, although not all awards are always bestowed. Candidates are recommended to the Board of Directors, are voted upon, and the recipients are recognized at our annual convention. Traditionally, optics companies sponsor a particular award, and donate a pair of binoculars to the winner, as well as make a $1000 donation to the ABA Education Fund.

ABA Ludlow Griscom Award for Outstanding Contributions in Regional Ornithology is given to individuals who have dramatically advanced the state of ornithological knowledge for a particular region.
 
ABA Roger Tory Peterson Award for Promoting the Cause of Birding is given for a lifetime of achievement in promoting the cause of birding. Sponsored by Leica Sport Optics.
 
ABA Robert Ridgway Award for Publications in Field Ornithology is given for excellence in publications pertaining to field ornithology. Sponsored by Zeiss.
 
ABA Chandler Robbins Education and Conservation Award is given to an individual who has made significant contributions to birder education and/or bird conservation. Sponsored by Swarovski Optik.
 
ABA Claudia Wilds Distinguished Service Award is given to any member who has given long and useful service to the organization, either paid or as a volunteer.

Non-Birding Companions

Besides adventure activities or relaxing in the coolness of the day in Snowbird Village and its comfortable lodges, there are numerous things to do and see in Salt Lake City. The world-renowned Mormon Tabernacle Choir conducts a live nationwide broadcast on Sunday mornings at 9:30 in the Salt Lake Tabernacle on Temple Square. The Square and Visitor Center are open all day every day for tours. The Bingham Canyon Copper Mine, the largest open-pit mining operation in the world, is also open for tours. “This is the Place” Heritage Park, at the mouth of Emigration Canyon, presents living history tours of 1850’s Salt Lake City. Utah offers five national parks, ten national monuments and recreation areas, seven national forests, over 40 state parks, more than two dozen scenic byways and over 50 scenic backways. For more information on Utah, visit www.utah.travel (call 800.200.1160), or see www.visitsaltlake.com (call 800.541.4955). The concierge across from the main registration desk at Cliff Lodge can assist with suggestions and arrangements. Utah is one of the few places in the world where you can snowboard in the morning, golf in the afternoon and dine by candlelight in the evening.

MEALS AT THE CONVENTION

While your breakfast and lunch are included on your field trip days, you will be able to visit the hotel restaurants on Wednesday and Friday. Wednesday evening will be dinner on your own to sample other restaurants in the Snowbird Village.

Boxed lunches will have a vegetarian option if desired – just check the appropriate box on your registration form. If you have special dietary needs due to medical reasons, allergies, or taste buds, please bring your own food on field trips. Convention registrants can select from the entrees below for each dinner offered, according to the following legend: (m) beef or pork option, (f) seafood or fish option, (c) chicken or turkey option, and (v) vegetarian option. All entrees include a salad or soup, seasonal vegetables, rolls and butter, dessert and beverage (coffee or tea).

MONDAY (m and c sides are Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Seasonal Vegetables)
- (m) Roasted Pork tenderloin with Orange-Balsamic-Thyme Reduction
- (c) Maple-glazed Roasted Turkey with cranberry-orange relish
- (v) Vegetable Szechuan Stir Fry with Tofu and Udon Noodles

TUESDAY
- Italian Buffet: Turkey Picatta, Salad and Pasta Bar
- Vegetarian Lasagna with the Italian Buffet

THURSDAY (all sides are Spaghetti Squash, Herbed Couscous)
- (c) Chicken Breast Parmesan
- (f) Breaded Trout Parmesan
- (v) Eggplant Parmesan

FRIDAY (all sides are Au Gratin Potatoes and Green Beans Almondine)
- (m) Roasted Beef with Green Peppercorn Demi-glaze
- (f) Blackened Salmon with Corn Coulis
- (v) Grilled Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms

SATURDAY
- Western BBQ Buffet: Barbequed Chicken and Braised Short Ribs, Mountain Greens, Homemade New Potato Salad, Corn on the Cob, Baked Beans
- Vegetarian entrée with the Western BBQ Buffet

Travel Arrangements

Snowbird Village is only 29 miles from Salt Lake City International Airport, with over 600 daily non-stop flights from most major US cities and a full slate of car rental companies. We have negotiated travel discounts with the following airlines: Frontier Airlines (Meeting ID #C24RBZ), Continental Airlines (Z Code: ZDBQ, Agreement Code: C7BYBQ) and American Airlines (Auth. # A8268AI). Should you choose to rent a car to get to Snowbird, the following companies have extended discounts to ABA: Hertz (#1460494) at (800) 654-3131 or Avis (#A843000) at (800) 331-1212.

To assist you with any travel needs, ABA has partnered with Academy Travel & Tours, Inc., located in Colorado Springs. Nancy Heck is our dedicated representative and can be contacted at (719) 598-5552 or . She can assist you with any air or car travel arrangements you have, including the special convention discounts described here.

Airport shuttle service to Snowbird is most often provided by Canyon Transportation (www.canyontransportation.com/ and (800) 255-1841). Canyon maintains a kiosk at Cliff Lodge. They have offered a special $58 round-trip price for the ABA Convention when booked directly using Group Code 798. Reservations are required. Shuttles depart the airport every hour between 8:00 am and midnight. Return trips depart Cliff Lodge from 5:00 am to 10:00 pm. Return trips should be reconfirmed with Canyon the day prior to departure by dialing RIDE (7433) from a Snowbird house phone. After-hour shuttle service can be arranged at an additional cost.

CONSERVATION PROJECT

As North America’s leading birding organization, the ABA plays an important part in bird conservation through our Conservation Fund. One of the largest manifestations of this fund is the Convention Conservation Project. The 2008 Snowbird Convention Conservation Project Award recipient is Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area for their project named, “Crossing Tracks Without Tripping Up: Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area Habitat Preservation and Education Trail.”

As one of the closest natural areas to metropolitan Salt Lake City, Farmington Bay receives over 80,000 visitors per year, including 12,000 students and scouts. In efforts to increase conservation awareness and develop a formal education program, the Utah Division of Wildlife partnered with the Utah Wildlife and Conservation Foundation, a nonprofit organization, to create a Nature Center facility and fund a fulltime Education Specialist. The Great Salt Lake Nature Center Wetland Classrooms were recently built by Davis County high school students who are members of the Future Homebuilders of America. A dedicated body of Volunteer Naturalists runs field trips and educational workshops on site. The Conservation Project funds are to be used to help build the first phase of a comprehensive Habitat Preservation and Education Trail network, consisting of wildlife observation blinds, interpretive signage, and resting benches. Farmington Bay represents a unique public/private partnership with the goal of protecting important avian habitat for more than 200 avian species totaling 5 million individuals annually and educating visitors to the importance of habitat conservation. ABA is proud to help them attain their goals.

BIRDERS' EXCHANGE

To successfully address Neotropical migratory bird issues, good science and public awareness are essential. However, in the Neotropics, many researchers, educators, and conservationists work without the most basic equipment. The ABA addresses their need for equipment and educational tools, and contributes to bird conservation through its Birders’ Exchange program. Birders’ Exchange takes new and used equipment and educational materials and distributes it free of charge to conservation scientists, educators, students and naturalists throughout Latin America.

If you wish to donate products to BEX at the convention, please bring your items to the Membership Table in the Registration Office. All equipment must be in good working condition and of the quality useful to researchers.

CORPORATE SPONSORS

The ABA appreciates the continued support of the following sponsors:
 

	Leica is the Lead Sponsor of the 2008 ABA Convention in Snowbird, UT.
Additional support provided by: