Pitta Nature Tours

Great Salt Lake Bird Festival Utah Birds Scavenger Hunt

What to Expect on Your Tour

On the day our tour begins we will provide pickup from our set departure location (TBD) by 6:00 AM.  At the end of the tour, we will drop you off where we picked you up around 4:00pm.

Transportation

During the tour, we will travel in our comfortable 12-passenger Transit Van (aptly named Otus), as well as a 2nd 12-passenger transit van. Lots of room to stretch out with your gear and not feel like a sardine in a tin.

We provide a step stool for easy access in and out of the van and ice-cold water is available whenever you need from the back of the van with a custom tour water bottle provided for you to keep at the beginning of the tour.

Meals

No meals are provided on this tour. Please plan on eating breakfast before you arrive, and pack a sack lunch. We will provide a cooler to keep meals chilled during the morning.

Pace

The pace of the tour is fast--we cover around 200 miles during the day. 

Difficulty

This tour is not physically demanding. We will do numerous short outings, under 1-mile (usually much shorter), on even terrain.

Weather and Temperature

This tour provides for interesting mix of temperatures as we move between high elevation sites in the mountains and low elevations sites in the Great Basin.  It is not uncommon for daytime temperatures at lower elevations to reach into the high 80’s.  While in the mountains daytime temps range from the 40’s to 60’s.  I recommend bring a variety of clothing, that is easily layered.  

Insects, Snakes, and Predators

Oh my!  Mosquitoes can be found at most places we will be visiting, so protective clothing or repellent is highly recommended. Biting gnats are generally an issue at Antelope Island as well.  While there are other biting bugs, most are not very active this time of year.  There is one species of rattlesnake in the Great Basin, but we have not encountered them on any tours.  With that being said, please be aware it is possible to encounter them.  And lastly, there are both Black Bear and Cougar in the Mountain West, but in 19 years of guiding I have never encountered either during a tour!

Non-bird Highlights

• The Great Salt Lake
• Antelope Island State Park
• Pronghorn, Bison, Mule Deer & Coyote

What's Included

• Professional Guide Service
• Transportation
• Spotting Scope while Birding
• Water for Refreshment
• Birds—we’ll find some birds
• Some Flammtastic Tour Swag
• Delightful Conversation about Birds
• A Thoroughly Enjoyable Time!

We also include SFW dad jokes, witty bird puns, and the occasional commentary on things non-bird related!

What's Not Included

• Alcoholic Drinks
• Binoculars
• Cameras and Lenses
• Bug Spray
• Jackets or Sweaters
• Shoes and Socks
• Flights or Transportation to Utah

We highly recommend all of the above ;)