Eagles, Eagles, Everywhere
There are no comments for this page [ Add Comment ]Sunday, February 10, 2008
By MARSHALL THOMPSON
Standard-Examiner staff
The governor and Gracie join the fun for Bald Eagle Day at the Great Salt Lake Nature Center
FARMINGTON -- Gov. Jon Huntsman joined hundreds of avid birders andelementary schoolchildren Saturday morning to celebrate Utah's Bald Eagle Day at the Great Salt Lake Nature Center at Farmington Bay.
Before taking a tour of the conservation area that serves as a favorite stop for thousands of migrating bald eagles, Huntsman awarded art contest prizes to students from kindergarten through seventh grade from Eagle Bay Elementary School.
"We have the next generation of Utahns here that are taking an interest in eagles," said Huntsman, who was accompanied by his daughter, Gracie.
He said Gracie went to the Internet and researched bald eagles before their excursion Saturday and found that more than a thousand of the large raptors make their way to the Great Salt Lake every year.
According to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, an estimated 25 percent to 30 percent of the entire wintering population of bald eagles west of the Rocky Mountains comes to Utah for the abundant carp and relatively mild air temperatures.
Mikhaila Rosanova, 6, won a set of binoculars and a free pass to Tracy Aviary in Salt Lake City for her drawing of an eagle soaring through a cloud as fish jump from a lake far below. The title of the art contest was "Bald Eagles Make a Comeback."
Armed with her new binoculars, Mikhaila and her fellow students boarded a bus and took a guided tour of the conservation area.
"Isn't it exciting?" she exclaimed as she focused on a tree whose branches held no fewer than 10 bald eagles. Throughout the trip, the massive and majestic birds awed visitors by flying within 50 yards of the bus.
"It's pretty incredible to come down here and see eagles everywhere," said Shane Rosanova, Mikhaila's father. "We went up to Yellowstone and you really had to work hard to find them."
In 1967, the United States declared its national bird an endangered species. But through conservation practices, the eagle has made a comeback. In 2007, the U.S. Department of the Interior announced the bald eagle was no longer endangered or threatened.
The good news is evident in Utah, too. According to the DWR, biologists knew of only one nesting pair of bald eagles in Utah in 1983. Now, at least 11 couples are full-time Utah residents.
As Utah is one of the fastest-growing states in America, Huntsman said it's important to maintain a balance between development and natural preservation. With planning, he said, there can always be bald eagles in Utah.
Rep. Roger Barrus, R-Centerville, thanked the children for their participation and interest in the welfare of the birds.
"I would like to congratulate all the school children who did this artwork," he said. "The eagles are so important to this area and they are a great symbol of our nation as well."
Bald Eagle Day was first celebrated in Utah in 1990. The Great Salt Lake Nature Center at Farmington Bay is open during the day for driving and walking tours.
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