Spring. Birding.
Greater Zion.
Where the beauty of the birds
is matched only by the beauty of the scenery.
April 25 - 27, 2024
2024 Keynote Speakers
Ted Floyd
Ted Floyd, editor of Birding Magazine of the American Birding Association, will give his presentation:
“Viva la Revolucion! Birding and Nature Study in the Digital Era“
Elaine York and Chris Brown
Join The Nature Conservancy’s Utah staff, Elaine York (West Desert Regional Director) and Chris Brown (TNC Utah’s Director of Stewardship), to learn about their current innovative conservation projects in the area.
Mojave Desert
Colorado Plateau
High Elevation
City Parks
Water
Riparian
Lytle Ranch is the northernmost stretch of the Mojave Desert and a bird oasis. Many of the lower elevation tours also contain species unique to the Mojave Desert. The Big Day will take a dip into the Mojave too!
Zion National Park is the crown jewel of the Colorado Plateau, but Snow Canyon rivals it in beauty. Grafton puts you right at the base of the Plateau and provides a bounty of birds along with the history.of a preserved ghost town.
While just short drives away from town, Pine Valley (6,800′) and Zion High Elevation (8,000′) are a world away in habitat. Ponderosa pines and aspens bring cooler temperatures and completely different birds.
The City Parks tour will bring in a mix of many habitats and the birds that come with them. Many parks are along the Virgin River where the Southwest Willow Flycatchers breed. Surprises can be around any corner.
Water is life in the desert and wherever there is water, there are birds. One of the most unique ways to get up close to waterfowl is on kayak with our Birds and Boats tour. Grebes, gulls, ducks, and even loons are common.
The La Verkin Confluence Park is a prime example of riparian habitat featured in our Cliffs and Creeks tour. Or you can also see signs of past cultures on our Birds and Petroglyphs tour in the Santa Clara Gorge.
Featured Festival Tour:
Condors of the Vermillion Cliffs
This tour is always a highlight of the festival as we travel via bus to the Vermillion Cliffs viewing area and Navajo Bridge where California Condors roost. We meet with and learn from biologists from the Peregrine Fund who are leading the important restoration efforts of these critically threatened birds. Plan now to attend the 2024 festival so you have the chance to see these birds in the wild. Check out this video below of the most recent condor release, the 2nd chick hatched in Zion National Park:
2024 Bird of the Year
Congratulations to those who were the first to correctly identified the Lazuli Bunting as our Bird of the Year:
D. Pope, M. Crawford, K. Franson, C. Carlile, and L. Anderson.
We had a lot of responses but they were the first five to correctly identify this bunting from the clues given. This “Beautiful Sparrow” can show up on any one of the tours offered during our festival, from the Mojave Desert of Lytle Ranch, to Kolob Terrace on the Zion High Elevation trip.
Host Hotel - Hilton Garden Inn
We are excited, once again, to have the Hilton Garden Inn as our host hotel for the 2024 festival. Locating conveniently in St. George, Utah, the Hilton Garden Inn will host our registration, workshops, evening programs, and be the meeting point for the all tours requiring shuttles / buses.
As participants in the festival you can receive a discount on the hotel room by using the link below. We encourage you to book your rooms early as Spring is a very popular time in Greater Zion. Please note that you are able to edit the dates of your stay once you select the link.
Click on the link to the right to take advantage of the Red Cliffs Bird Fest rates during the festival. These reduced rates are available from Wednesday through Saturday nights. You can edit the nights of your stay by clicking the “Edit Stay” link at the top of the reservation page. And note that each room reserved through this exclusive rate receives two (2) free breakfasts.