A+. Very knowledgeable about the local hotspots. I had a very limited time available to bird but picked up dozens of Utah birds and several US and lifers including owls and other raptors. Would definitely use again!
Doug F. Custom Private Tour, 2025
2025 Association of Field Ornithologists’ Annual Meeting Up to +150 bird species possible this time of year!
After hosting successful meetings in the eastern US and in South America, the AFO is thrilled to bring their meeting back to the western US for the first time in 15 years. They are planning an exciting and diverse scientific program, highlighting research from professional and avocational ornithologists from across the Americas. This year the Western Bird Banding Society will join our meeting to highlight the importance of bird banding across broader ornithological research. Now in our 103rd year as a society, we hope you will join us in celebrating the valuable natural history and conservation work of our attendees.
Pitta's AFO Meeting Tour Offerings
Fort Buenaventura:
6-8am & 6:30-8:30 am
Thu, July 31, 2025
17 of 22 Spaces Available
$10/person
Join us on one of our two early morning bird walks through Fort Buenaventura Park. On this relaxed walk through the park we may see Black-chinned Hummingbird, Black-billed Magpie, Western Kingbird, and Lazuli Bunting.
Guide: Quinn Diaz & Tim Avery
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Rainbow Trailhead:
6-8am & 6:30-8:30 am
Thu, July 31, 2025
19 of 22 Spaces Available
$10/person
Join us for one of two early morning hikes on the Birdsong Trail. Here at the mouth of Ogden Canyon, we might encounter Broad-tailed & Black-chinned Hummingbird, Western Tanager, and Yellow-breasted Chat.
Guide: Mike Hearell & Taylor Abbott
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Flammulated Owling:
4 Tours
Thu, July 31, 2025
17 of 20 Spaces Available
$89/person
Join us for this discounted Owling tour focused on Flammulated Owl. Our guides will take groups of 5 birders each and head out to nearby owling sites right before sunset for a chance to see these elusive and tiny owls!
Guides: Tim, Mike, Taylor, & Quinn
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Ogden River Parkway:
6-8am & 6:30-8:30 am
Fri, Aug 1, 2025
18 of 22 Spaces Available
$10/person
Join us on one of our two early morning bird walks along the Ogden River Parkway. On this relaxed walk we might encounter Yellow Warbler, Bullock's Oriole, Western Kingbird, Lazuli Bunting, and Black-chinned Hummingbird.
Guide: Quinn Diaz & Tim Avery
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21st Street Pond:
6-8am & 6:30-8:30 am
Fri, Aug 1, 2025
19 of 22 Spaces Available
$10/person
Join us on one of our two early morning trips to the 21st Street Pond to see what waterbirds might be around. Possibilities include Western Grebe, Belted Kingfisher, Great Blue Heron, California Gull, and Bullock's Oriole
Guide: Mike Hearell & Taylor Abbott
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Utah Mountains
Highlights Tour
Sat, Aug 2, 2025
5 of 7 Spaces Available
$149/person
Rising from 4,200’ in Salt Lake City to more than 13,500’ at their highest peaks, the mountains in northern Utah provide an incredible wealth of habitats, scenery, and of course no shortage of great montane birds.
Guide: Quinn Diaz
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Great Salt Lake
Highlights Tour
Sat, Aug 2, 2025
6 of 7 Spaces Available
$149/person
The Great Salt Lake is home to millions of breeding waterbirds, and hosts even more during migration offering a unique look at birdlife unlike anywhere else in states. This trip will visit a number of hotspots on the lake.
Guide: Tim Avery
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Bear River MBR:
Morning or Afternoon
Sat, Aug 2, 2025
14 of 14 Spaces Available
$79/person
Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge is an iconic hotspot and at the end of breeding season and start of fall migration there are no shortage of birds to see here. Clark’s Grebe, Rails, Terns, Ducks and More!
Guide: Mike Hearell or Taylor Abbott
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Antelope Island & Farmington Bay: Morning or Afternoon Sat, Aug 2, 2025
12 of 14 Spaces Available
$79/person
Antelope Island & Farmington Bay are most visited birding hotspots in Utah. This tour will focus on shorebirds as we visit the causeway and north part of the island and the nearby freshwater wetland.
Guide: Mike Hearell or Taylor Abbott
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Flammulated Owling +:
3 Tours
Sat, Aug 2, 2025
14 of 15 Spaces Available
$129/person
Join us for this discounted Owling + tour focused on Flammulated Owl with 3 small groups of 5. But we'll get started a few hours before dark, and bird a riparian corridor looking for warblers, tanagers, sparrows, bluebirds, and more!
Guides: Mike, Taylor, & Quinn
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Cassia Crossbills & Flammulated Owls: Overnight in Idaho Aug 3-4, 2025
7 of 7 Spaces Available
$699/person
Just a quick 3-hr drive from the Great Salt Lake you can find America's newest endemic bird--the Cassia Crossbill. Join us for this overnight to see the crossbill, and try for Flammulated Owl, Calliope Hummingbird, and more!
Guide: Mike Hearell or Quinn Diaz
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Himalayan Snowcock, Cassia Crossbill, & More! Aug 3-5, 2025
7 of 7 Spaces Available
$999/person
This mini version of our popular Most Wanted Tour, will give us a chance to see Himalayan Snowcock, Cassia Crossbill, Flammulated Owl, Gray Partridge, Lewis's Woodpecker, & More!
Guide: Tim Avery
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Looking for something else? Want to go somewhere not listed? Besides our set tours, we have experience birding all over the world and know numerous talented and local guides. We can help put you in touch with the right guides in the right places. Just Ask!
100 5-Star Reviews
2020, '22, & '23 Trip Advisor Travelers' Choice Award Consistently earning great reviews from birders!
Top Rated Wildlife Tour
in Salt Lake City
Himalayan Snowcock and Cassia Crossbill! Another trip with Tim, another success! These were the “big two” for this trip and Tim delivered in spades.
Paul K Most Wanted , 2018
Recent Tours & Updates
August 24-26, 2024
2024 Himalayan Snowcock Expedition
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July 25-30, 2024
2024 Most Wanted
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June 20-22, 2024
2024 Cassia Crossbills & More
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May 19, 2024
2024 Marathon Birding
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May 13-16, 2024
2024 Utah Highlights
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August 27-29, 2023
2023 Himalayan Snowcock Expedition
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July 27-31, 2023
2023 Most Wanted
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July 25-30, 2023
2023 Georgia Audubon Custom
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June 15-17, 2023
2023 Cassia Crossbills & More
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April 18-24, 2023
2023 Texas - LRGV, Aransas, & Hill Country Custom
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January 12-23, 2023
2023 Chiapas
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August 28-30, 2022
2022 Himalayan Snowcock Expedition
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July 19-23, 2022
2022 Most Wanted #2
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July 15-19, 2022
2022 Most Wanted #1
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Mountain West Birding Company?
When we started guiding in 2007, we never imagined taking our tours beyond the confines of Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, and Nevada—thus Mountain West Birding Company was born. Mountain West specialized in Flammulated Owl, Himalayan Snowcock, and Cassia Crossbill Tours.
Why did you change your name to Pitta?
After a decade leading tours in the western United States we expanded our offering with new tours in Southeast Asia and Central America. As we work on expanding further and offering more International options,, we decided we needed a name that reflected that change!