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Field Trip Report
June 11-13, 2004
White River Canoe Trip
Hosts: Joel Hurmence, Beth Dillon, guided by Centennial Canoe
Participants: Joel Hurmence, Beth Dillon, Diann and Tom
Johnston, Maryann Clonts, Richard Cernak, Carol Dollard, Harry Bates,
William Zelt, Ken Carpenter, Alex Carpenter, Peggy Carpenter, Steven
Carpenter, Sally Lewis, Jane Mills, Ned Mills
Centennial Canoe Guides: Rick Grubin, Cindy Fornstrom and Becky
Mock
| Trip Highlights:
This marked the third year that Fort Collins Audubon Society
sponsored a canoe trip with Centennial Canoe Outfitters. Three
guides and 19 participants in 11 canoes enjoyed a 3-day paddle down
the White River in Utah. We put in at Bonanza and took out at an
obscure spot on the river, 33 miles downstream. This stretch of
river is rugged, remote, and picturesque. We camped two nights in
one of the many cottonwood groves that line the river. On our
layover day, we hiked up a winding side canyon and found interesting
plants, reptiles, tracks, and scats to identify, including probable
mountain lion scat. |
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| We heard many more birds than we saw with
the exception of Spotted Sandpipers. Spotty’s were our constant
companions along the river. Abundant yet cryptic songsters included
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Yellow Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, and
Spotted Towhee. Knowing bird songs and calls was a definite advantage
on this trip. |
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We lucked out with the weather. Although
the trip started on the cool side, it warmed up into comfortable
paddling and sleeping temperatures. Only two canoes joined the
Underwater Canoe Society on our journey. A trip just wouldn’t be
complete without at least one inductee.
As usual, the food was good and ably prepared by our guides. It is
quite a luxury to have your food prepared for you and the dishes taken
care of afterward.
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Below is the list of 44 species that we
heard or observed on our trip:
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Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Canada Goose
Common Merganser
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Golden Eagle
Killdeer
Spotted Sandpiper
Mourning Dove
Great Horned Owl
Common Nighthawk
Common Poorwill
White-throated Swift
Northern Flicker
Western Wood-Pewee
Say’s Phoebe
Ash-throated Flycatcher
Western Kingbird
Violet-green Swallow
Cliff Swallow |
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Black-billed Magpie
Common Raven
Scrub Jay
Black-capped Chickadee
Rock Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Mountain Bluebird
American Robin
Warbling Vireo
Plumbeous Vireo
Yellow Warbler
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Yellow-breasted Chat
Black-headed Grosbeak
Blue Grosbeak
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Lark Sparrow
Brown-headed Cowbird
Lesser Goldfinch
House Finch |
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