Henne Queisser and I traveled the last two weeks of May, by car, from
Seattle to southern Utah. We visited several state parks, several birding
hot spots, and these national parks, in order - Zion, Grand Canyon N. Rim,
Bryce, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, and Arches.



Antelope Island State Park near Salt Lake City, in Salt Lake, is well worth
a visit for birds (including a great horned owl) and miscellaneous wildlife.
Kodachrome State Park, Utah, is interesting, but once you have seen the
national parks on this route, its draw is diminished.



We thank the folks who provided pre-trip advice off line. In addition, the
Wasatch Audubon's two birding maps of Western and Central/South Utah were
most helpful. We also used the National Geographic Guide to the National
Parks - Southwest, the National Audubon Society Field Guide to the
Southwestern States and, of course, Sibley



We classify ourselves as budding intermediate birders, so acknowledge we
missed many species (the Zion bird list alone counts 290 species over the
course of a year).



However, we did accurately identify 82 species, including a Painted Redstart
in Zion and several other "lifers". We have trip photos, including the
Painted Redstart, and the complete bird list if you contact us off line.



Temperatures were in the 90's and reached 100 in Zion. The weather was
clear and dry - humidity about 12%. Until, of course, we crossed into
Oregon. A caution; 3 days after we left Bryce it snowed there.



We encountered very few tourists and kids as school was still in session.
Gas and food prices were much lower than in the NW.



Incredibly fascinating, beautiful and geologically interesting trip.



Edward Freedman
Consultant to Nonprofit Organizations
<mailto:edwardfreedman at comcast.net> edwardfreedman at comcast.net
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