02/05/2023
I sat back and pondered at what lay across the slowly swaying ripples of the lake. The shards of glass that make up the mirror of the lake began to separate with the ever-so-slight gust of wind that always breezes round the shores of Vineyard. My hands grew colder and stiffer with each pluck of my guitar. I call her Belle. As I waited for nothing else but the tea to slowly settle in and wake my laxed body, I was greeted by an unfamiliar face. A feathered ruler with its white-headed crown came and joined me on my morning dive into mentality. The bird's talons radiate with a golden-yellow glow. So strong it can be seen through the subtleness of the lurking haze that invades the lowlands of Utah Valley. Though I am quite certain I did not add much to the bird's experience in the tree just beyond my patio, I hope to see the ruler again.
02/13/2023
My winged friend has returned in his sharply dressed feathered coat of brown and white. This time it looks more comfortable with his surroundings. Two small distant relatives (tree swallows if I am not mistaken) mock my friend the eagle though the bird pays little to no attention to their mockeries. I cannot quite make-out what these little birdies are.
*Note to self: binoculars
My thoughts after spending another riveting moment with my friend the eagle is why my friend needs to be here? Surrounded by construction, cars, trafficked footsteps, loud music, and hazing skies. I have never seen such behavior from one of the animal kingdom’s greatest warriors. Are you lost my friend?
02/20/2023
A calming restlessness tore the waves apart this afternoon on the sands of Vineyard. Through the cooled gusts that blew across Utah Lake I made out what I believed to be California Gulls fighting their natural air-born enemy, the wind (must talk with Tanner). There are no signs of my friend. I saw the monarch perched down the shoreline in a wilted dying tree this afternoon. Perhaps my friend has made a new home for itself. Perhaps my winged companion has always had its home there (not likely—Tanner)
Tanner would no longer be of assistance for today.
02/22/2023
A short yet beloved glance at the lake from my living room window. No sign of any birds today.
*Walk down shoreline
03/01/2023
A jam session the other night with my dear Ornithology-obsessed friend Tanner quickly turned into a discussion between us and my friend the eagle (though the eagle was unaware of this conversation). I told Tanner that I missed my cloaked and feathered friend. The rulers (the eagle) gaze spoke a million words and its balance with each talon on the thinnest branch riddled peace within a world of the birds that is progressively fading.
Tanner and I talked much about why the eagle chose to share his wisdom with all of the buffoons who stamper around the Vineyard shoreline. My peer explained that he could be here for a number of reasons. Perhaps the creature’s home was lost within the mountains. His lakes and rivers frozen from the winter storms. I then told him of my disagreement because my friend began to join me in my morning tea and guitar rituals while the lake was still frozen over.
Is there a simple answer?
03/14/2023
I arrived late last night. Landing in Salt Lake City at twilight. I missed my friend, the royal leader of aerial predators, the symbol of freedom, of hope and of liberty. The next morning (today) I noticed an alarming amount of folks outside my window. Typically, this would not bother me, however, with knowing the reclusiveness of my bird friend, I knew this could only mean one thing.
After this day, I have had not a sign of the eagle. Not a whisper in the wind of his presence. I can only hope that the ruling monarch, the eagle, my friend, has found a new home. A safe home. One that is not flooded with the impolite, privacy-invading tendencies of humans.
In my time observing my friend the eagle and its other winged relatives I have come to a conclusion about the shores of Vineyard. They serve a purpose. As the days pass I reminisce on the dozens of heron, pelicans, gulls and cormorants that have kept me company in my moments of solitude.
I must talk with my ornithology companion, Tanner.
After my studies and observations of the great birds of Utah Lake’s Vineyard shoreline I am ready to research the possibilities of what I have observed. As Spring approaches,
I sat back and pondered at what lay across the slowly swaying ripples of the lake. The shards of glass that make up the mirror of the lake began to separate with the ever-so-slight gust of wind that always breezes round the shores of Vineyard. My hands grew colder and stiffer with each pluck of my guitar. I call her Belle. As I waited for nothing else but the tea to slowly settle in and wake my laxed body, I was greeted by an unfamiliar face. A feathered ruler with its white-headed crown came and joined me on my morning dive into mentality. The bird's talons radiate with a golden-yellow glow. So strong it can be seen through the subtleness of the lurking haze that invades the lowlands of Utah Valley. Though I am quite certain I did not add much to the bird's experience in the tree just beyond my patio, I hope to see the ruler again.
02/13/2023
My winged friend has returned in his sharply dressed feathered coat of brown and white. This time it looks more comfortable with his surroundings. Two small distant relatives (tree swallows if I am not mistaken) mock my friend the eagle though the bird pays little to no attention to their mockeries. I cannot quite make-out what these little birdies are.
*Note to self: binoculars
My thoughts after spending another riveting moment with my friend the eagle is why my friend needs to be here? Surrounded by construction, cars, trafficked footsteps, loud music, and hazing skies. I have never seen such behavior from one of the animal kingdom’s greatest warriors. Are you lost my friend?
02/20/2023
A calming restlessness tore the waves apart this afternoon on the sands of Vineyard. Through the cooled gusts that blew across Utah Lake I made out what I believed to be California Gulls fighting their natural air-born enemy, the wind (must talk with Tanner). There are no signs of my friend. I saw the monarch perched down the shoreline in a wilted dying tree this afternoon. Perhaps my friend has made a new home for itself. Perhaps my winged companion has always had its home there (not likely—Tanner)
Tanner would no longer be of assistance for today.
02/22/2023
A short yet beloved glance at the lake from my living room window. No sign of any birds today.
*Walk down shoreline
03/01/2023
A jam session the other night with my dear Ornithology-obsessed friend Tanner quickly turned into a discussion between us and my friend the eagle (though the eagle was unaware of this conversation). I told Tanner that I missed my cloaked and feathered friend. The rulers (the eagle) gaze spoke a million words and its balance with each talon on the thinnest branch riddled peace within a world of the birds that is progressively fading.
Tanner and I talked much about why the eagle chose to share his wisdom with all of the buffoons who stamper around the Vineyard shoreline. My peer explained that he could be here for a number of reasons. Perhaps the creature’s home was lost within the mountains. His lakes and rivers frozen from the winter storms. I then told him of my disagreement because my friend began to join me in my morning tea and guitar rituals while the lake was still frozen over.
Is there a simple answer?
03/14/2023
I arrived late last night. Landing in Salt Lake City at twilight. I missed my friend, the royal leader of aerial predators, the symbol of freedom, of hope and of liberty. The next morning (today) I noticed an alarming amount of folks outside my window. Typically, this would not bother me, however, with knowing the reclusiveness of my bird friend, I knew this could only mean one thing.
After this day, I have had not a sign of the eagle. Not a whisper in the wind of his presence. I can only hope that the ruling monarch, the eagle, my friend, has found a new home. A safe home. One that is not flooded with the impolite, privacy-invading tendencies of humans.
In my time observing my friend the eagle and its other winged relatives I have come to a conclusion about the shores of Vineyard. They serve a purpose. As the days pass I reminisce on the dozens of heron, pelicans, gulls and cormorants that have kept me company in my moments of solitude.
I must talk with my ornithology companion, Tanner.
After my studies and observations of the great birds of Utah Lake’s Vineyard shoreline I am ready to research the possibilities of what I have observed. As Spring approaches,
Conducted Research
Why by the water?
There are many bird species that thrive within the shorelines of the several great lakes in Utah. The Great Salt Lake in Northern Utah attracts the largest sums of wildlife as a body of water. As dry of a state as Utah is, its many great lakes offer a tremendous amount of wetland sanctuaries for the birds to thrive in. Over 10 million birds and nearly 400 species call the Great Salt Lake home (“The Great Salt Lake's Importance for Birds.”). If the Great Salt Lake is the mecca of Utah in terms of birding ecosystems, then Utah Lake is the promised land.
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Utah lake is the third largest lake in the state in terms of acreage (approximately 95,000 acres). The shorelines of Utah Lake along the Eastern front offer a safe haven for birds and a plethora of other species. The lake is a primary station for birds migrating along the Pacific Flyway. Nearly 300 species of birds are known and recognized by the ornithological research to use Utah Lake (“Birds.” Utah Division of Wildlife Resources). A number of other species including fish, amphibians and other mammals use the lake to their advantage and thrive within its ecosystem.
Protected Areas:
A primary contribution to the thriving wildlife within Utah Lake are the protected areas that border the Lake and are looked after and tended to by the state. The Utah Lake Wetland Preserve (ULWP) aims to protect and preserve the natural habitats formed along the lake. There are two primary preservation sites, the Goshen Bay, and the Benjamin Slough. Combined, these two protected areas cover 21,750 acres of preserved area. Another 15,000+ acres are underway to be protected under the ULWP (Utah Lake Wetland Preserve Home Page). The beautiful birds of Utah Lake could not thrive as well as they do without the preservation of their homeland. In 1992 the Central Utah Completion Act was authorized and the development of the ULWP began development (Utah Lake Wetland Preserve Home Page). Since then, an astonishing number of bird species have returned to the lake and have been welcomed with open arms. The Goshen Bay and the Benjamin Slough cover the Southern quarter of Utah Lake from Santaquin to South Provo, where there is less foot traffic and lesser-known lake access.
What makes the lake so great?
For many species of birds, Utah Lake offers a beloved sanctuary. Let’s talk about food. Utah Lake offers the perfect home for migratory birds due to its surplus of food.
Bugs:
The rich soil that lies along the lakefront allows worms to thrive and build interconnecting systems below the ground just off of the shorefront. As you may know, the early bird gets the worm. For the feathered friends that seek their meals below the ground, the lake offers a wonderful habitat for them to have plenty of options. Birds such as the magpie thrive along the lakefront. The tall grasses hold a number of tasty treats for the magpie including spiders, caterpillars, worms and flies.
Summertime on the shorefront of Vineyard-Provo can be quite a nuisance for residences and visitors. The constant swarm of insects and invertebrates that carry in droves often drive visitors away from the protected wildlife areas and public beaches. However, for our winged friends it is like hunting for fish in an aquarium. Swarms of midge flies, mosquitos and brine flies offer a tasty meal for birds as well as the fish and game that call Utah Lake their home. Insects and other invertebrates supply birds with nutrients and vitamins necessary to develop.
A primary contribution to the thriving wildlife within Utah Lake are the protected areas that border the Lake and are looked after and tended to by the state. The Utah Lake Wetland Preserve (ULWP) aims to protect and preserve the natural habitats formed along the lake. There are two primary preservation sites, the Goshen Bay, and the Benjamin Slough. Combined, these two protected areas cover 21,750 acres of preserved area. Another 15,000+ acres are underway to be protected under the ULWP (Utah Lake Wetland Preserve Home Page). The beautiful birds of Utah Lake could not thrive as well as they do without the preservation of their homeland. In 1992 the Central Utah Completion Act was authorized and the development of the ULWP began development (Utah Lake Wetland Preserve Home Page). Since then, an astonishing number of bird species have returned to the lake and have been welcomed with open arms. The Goshen Bay and the Benjamin Slough cover the Southern quarter of Utah Lake from Santaquin to South Provo, where there is less foot traffic and lesser-known lake access.
What makes the lake so great?
For many species of birds, Utah Lake offers a beloved sanctuary. Let’s talk about food. Utah Lake offers the perfect home for migratory birds due to its surplus of food.
Bugs:
The rich soil that lies along the lakefront allows worms to thrive and build interconnecting systems below the ground just off of the shorefront. As you may know, the early bird gets the worm. For the feathered friends that seek their meals below the ground, the lake offers a wonderful habitat for them to have plenty of options. Birds such as the magpie thrive along the lakefront. The tall grasses hold a number of tasty treats for the magpie including spiders, caterpillars, worms and flies.
Summertime on the shorefront of Vineyard-Provo can be quite a nuisance for residences and visitors. The constant swarm of insects and invertebrates that carry in droves often drive visitors away from the protected wildlife areas and public beaches. However, for our winged friends it is like hunting for fish in an aquarium. Swarms of midge flies, mosquitos and brine flies offer a tasty meal for birds as well as the fish and game that call Utah Lake their home. Insects and other invertebrates supply birds with nutrients and vitamins necessary to develop.
Fish:
Utah Lake consists of the remnants of the prehistoric Lake Bonneville that was present approximately 8,000 years ago. Along with it a number of fish and other aquatic species that have thrived in it since then. The surplus of insects and the marshy environment makes the lake a perfect location for feeding fish and other game. Species of fish that live within Utah Lake include but are not limited to: Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, June Sucker, Carp, and Black crappie (“10 Fish You Can Find in Utah Lake”). |
Many of these smaller surface-going fish create the perfect target for birds such as the Western Grebe, Double-crested Cormorants, and the Great Blue Heron. The great birds of Utah Lake often struggle in the winter time due to weather and other unpredictable conditions.
Climate and Environment:
Raging heat through the long summers, and chilled freezes throughout the darkened winters complicate many feathered lives. Utah Lake is home to dozens of species of migratory birds who rely on the lake for food, shelter and survival during the phases of migration.
Climate and Environment:
Raging heat through the long summers, and chilled freezes throughout the darkened winters complicate many feathered lives. Utah Lake is home to dozens of species of migratory birds who rely on the lake for food, shelter and survival during the phases of migration.
Winter:
Fishing birds rely on the lake for food and a place to dip their webbed feet in the water. In the Spring, Summer and Autumn seasons Utah Lake provides just that. Harsh winter storms freeze the lake and take away the essential survival tactics of these great birds. The dense swarms of six-legged annoyances disappear when the winds arise and the glass-like shards began to settle atop of the lake. The declining temperatures freeze the marshes and the Earthy soil that is depended on by many species of the shoreline. Many species must make do and hope to survive the winter while others head South to warmer temperatures.
Fishing birds rely on the lake for food and a place to dip their webbed feet in the water. In the Spring, Summer and Autumn seasons Utah Lake provides just that. Harsh winter storms freeze the lake and take away the essential survival tactics of these great birds. The dense swarms of six-legged annoyances disappear when the winds arise and the glass-like shards began to settle atop of the lake. The declining temperatures freeze the marshes and the Earthy soil that is depended on by many species of the shoreline. Many species must make do and hope to survive the winter while others head South to warmer temperatures.
Summer:
The breaking heat of Summer offers a new life to tens of thousands of birds every year. As temperatures arise from the late Springs that peak for only a few weeks, new life flutters in a 360 degree border around the lake. The bugs begin to reappear, the fish are more alive than ever and the friendly passers by offer breads and other nutrients to the beloved birds of Utah Lake.
The breaking heat of Summer offers a new life to tens of thousands of birds every year. As temperatures arise from the late Springs that peak for only a few weeks, new life flutters in a 360 degree border around the lake. The bugs begin to reappear, the fish are more alive than ever and the friendly passers by offer breads and other nutrients to the beloved birds of Utah Lake.
Sources:
Utah Lake Wetland Preserve Home Page,
https://www.mitigationcommission.gov/wetlands/wetlands_ulwp.html.
“Birds.” Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, https://wildlife.utah.gov/gslep/wildlife/birds.html.
Greene, Jack. “The Great Salt Lake's Importance for Birds.” My CMS, 27 Mar. 2023,
https://wildaboututah.org/the-great-salt-lakes-importance/.
(Abi), Pond Informer. “10 Fish You Can Find in Utah Lake.” Pond Informer, 31 Dec. 2022,
https://pondinformer.com/utah-lake-fish-species/.
Birding Around Utah Lake: A Guide to First Time Birders and Natural Enthusiasts
-Photo by Angel Balashev
Utah Lake Wetland Preserve Home Page,
https://www.mitigationcommission.gov/wetlands/wetlands_ulwp.html.
“Birds.” Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, https://wildlife.utah.gov/gslep/wildlife/birds.html.
Greene, Jack. “The Great Salt Lake's Importance for Birds.” My CMS, 27 Mar. 2023,
https://wildaboututah.org/the-great-salt-lakes-importance/.
(Abi), Pond Informer. “10 Fish You Can Find in Utah Lake.” Pond Informer, 31 Dec. 2022,
https://pondinformer.com/utah-lake-fish-species/.
Birding Around Utah Lake: A Guide to First Time Birders and Natural Enthusiasts
-Photo by Angel Balashev