Basin & Range Seminar 2021

Accommodations

Allow for tents or RV’s with a full service restroom, showers, flush toilets and potable water, a covered pavilion, and stand up grill. Bring everything you will need.

Meals

Participants should plan to provide their own meals and provide a contribution to the Saturday evening potluck. Bring an appetizer, side or main dish, or dessert to share. Great Salt Lake Audubon will provide soft drinks. In an effort to be green and reduce trash, please bring your own reusable plates and utensils.

Tuition

Tuition for the seminar is $30; $25 for seniors 65 and older.

Kathy Donnell

Kathy Donnell has been a Park Ranger/Naturalist for Utah State Parks for 22 years. Kathy works for Wasatch Mountain State Park and oversees park interpretive programs and non-motorized trails. Kathy's motto is "There is no such thing as bad weather just bad clothing choices".  So Get Outside!

Session description: Learn how to identify trees on this 2 mile easy hike. Discover the importance of forest habitat in supporting a diversity of bird species and recognize factors that influence or change bird populations.

Cooper Farr

Cooper Farr has been interested in animals-and curious about why they do what they do-since she was young. She is currently the Director of Conservation at Tracy Aviary, where she leads community science bird monitoring projects throughout Salt Lake County. These projects gather information about birds and their habitats, informing local land management and conservation.

Session description: This session focuses on the fascinating world of bird behavior. As we find, identify, and observe different bird species, we will discuss where, how, and why birds exhibit different behaviors. Participants will learn how birds interact with their environment, and how their behaviors can be altered by changes in the landscape.

Chris Frauenhofer

Chris Frauenhofer is the wildlife biologist for the Utah National Guard, conducting wildlife management and research across the state on a variety of DOD owned lands. Chris is particularly passionate & versed with reptiles and amphibians. His current research focuses on move-ment patterns and habitat selection of the Great Basin rattlesnake.

Session description: Session focuses on native reptiles and amphibians of Northern Utah. From the relatively wet mountains of the Wasatch to the dry deserts of the Great Basin, herps have developed unique ways to thrive in dynamically harsh conditions. We explore nearby habitat and learn about the ecology, physiology, and life histories of various herp species that call the Wasatch home. Come learn what makes reptiles & amphibians so unique—warts and all!

Hunter Klingensmith

Hunter Klingensmith, Nell Larson, & Rhea Cone, from the Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter have had a passion for the natural world from an early age. That passion led them to the Preserve where each spends countless hours studying, restoring, and teaching about the ecology of the area.

Session description: From flood control, to essential habitat, to water quality, this session focuses on the important ecosystem functions of wetlands in Utah. Through hands-on interactions & experiments with the Preserve's wetlands, participants get an intimate peek into their functions.

John Moellmer

John Moellmer is a retired pharmaceutical research scientist.  He was interested in geology from an early age & studies geological formations & their chemistry.  John currently presents geology hikes & lectures at Wasatch Mountain and Antelope Island State Parks.

Session description: Wasatch Mountain State Park reveals an amazing geologic story. The rocks include 750 million year old glacier deposits, hundreds of million year old oceans, thirty million year old volcanic eruptions, and twenty thousand year old glaciers.  Rock formations from these and other times will be examined and we’ll discuss the earth’s environment then and how it changed over the ages.

Terri Pope

Terri Pope has worked as a biologist for Utah DWR since 2012.  She is currently the Wildlife Conservation Biologist in the Central Region, working with birds & mammals of conservation concern.  Terri earned her Master's degree from Northern Arizona University & Ph.D. from Texas A&M Univ. Her research focused on habitat & avian behavior.

Session description: Individual bird species can usually be found in certain vegetation types or landscapes (i.e. their habitat).  Birds have special adaptations to be successful in their habitats, each taking a unique role (i.e. their niche) to reduce competition and provide ecosystem services. Species that co-occur in certain habitats are sometimes referred to as assemblages. We will explore some of the bird assemblages that occur in habitats found within the Park.

Amanda Sharette-Kay

Amanda Sharette-Kay has been interested in birds and art her entire life, but only recently merged the two. She began painting birds roughly 4 years ago & quickly discovered that studying birds for the sake of art taught her so much more about these creatures. Amanda teaches private art lessons to children & conducts public & private painting events. 

Session description: Improve your observation & recording skills in this Nature Journaling workshop! Learn how to recognize and sketch significant field marks of the plants and animals around you. This class is great for those of any age, with any level of birding or drawing experience.