Wildlife Log

Over the winter there were very few birds except for house finches and the flocks of gray partridges in the park. Both frequented the feeders at the residence on a daily basis. - RAW (Chief Ranger Rick Wilson)

In March we saw a lot of a winter occupant the Raven. Many were seen throughout the month. Often along the roads as they like to feed on rabbits that are hit by cars.

On March 10 Ranger Kerry Brinkerhoff hiked the ravine SW of the last cut. He saw a flock of Gray Partridges and several rabbits. The ravine has several rock basins full of water some rather large. The ravine also had a large rock arch about 1/2 to 1/3 the size of Chinaman's arch in a lip shape. There were several flocks of Oregon pink sided Juncos. They were busy little birds eating seeds, bathing in the rock ponds and always on the move. There are several small caves in the ravine in one of them flew out a Great Horned Owl. There was another in the cave, most likely a nesting pair. The one that flew out later flew back over Ranger Brinkerhoff's head in a narrow part of the ravine. There were lots of Coyote tracks. A pair of Red-tailed Hawks were also circling in the sky.

On March 17 Ranger Brinkerhoff hiked in the ravine in the Parks SW corner. Lots of Meadowlarks were out singing. Hiking along the West side of the ravine in the rocks above, he found what he thought to be faded pictographs. On the way back he crossed over to the East side of the ravine and hiked along the rock face above. Here he found a cave about 30+ feet wide and 150+ feet long with small stalactites in the back.

Just out side the door there was a large piece of chipped obsidian. Also saw a Canyon Wren in the cliffs. - KB (Seasonal Park Ranger Kerry Brinkerhoff)

February 2000:
My car (a Chevrolet Corsica) has been parked in front of the residence garage for a couple of months since I usually drive my truck. The car also needed a safety inspection and a new muffler, and I just never found the time to get it replaced. I finally made an appointment for a new muffler and safety inspection at the Master Muffler shop in Brigham City. I got off work early with just enough time to get the car in and the work performed before closing time. After getting away a little later than planned, I had to speed to Brigham. When I arrived, the car was put on the rack; the old muffler was cut off and a new one welded on. The inspection was done just a few minutes before closing and the kid was writing up the inspection paperwork. When he said he was rejecting it for a burned out bulb and the windshield wipers not working, I asked that both be fixed right then if possible so I wouldn't have to make another appointment, take off work and make the long drive back again. So I went into the shop, pulled the defective taillight bulb and gave it to him to replace and set about trying to figure out why the windshield wipers were not working. The fuse checked out okay, so then I went to check the connections on the wiper motor. When I popped the hood, there was a cottontail rabbit that had crawled up inside the engine compartment right near the wiper motor. It was cowering down afraid to move. The kid from the shop was afraid to get near it, calling it a "damn rodent" so I tried to grab it. When I did, it jumped out and took off heading into the back of the shop with me after it. It got under a large rack of tailpipes that clanged together and sounded like a huge wind-chime as I chased after the rabbit underneath. I finally cornered him, caught him and put him in my trunk. He had made a single, clean razor-sharp cut right through each of the three of the wires going to the wiper motor. Once on my way, I had a Cabinetmaking class to go to in Logan, UT; which the cottontail also went to, then finally back to Promontory. As I released him, I couldn't help but think: "If rabbits could talk, what a story this one would have to tell his buddies!" He would be the most well traveled rabbit and the one that's traveled the fastest of all his Promontory kin. - RAW

March 2000:
I am getting flocks of Oregon pink sided Juncos at the feeders. - RAW

Early April 2000:
I'm not getting the big flocks of Gray Partridge at the feeders at the house any longer. They seem to have paired up and just a few visit in pairs mostly in the late evening just before dark and early mornings. One will peck and scratch for feed while the other stands guard, stretching his neck and standing tall while watching for danger, then they will switch. I checked the old schoolhouse/granary to see if the Great Horned Owls had returned to their nest this spring - they haven't, the nest is empty and no other birds appear to be nesting in the building this spring either. Have started having small flocks of blackbirds at the feeders the last few weeks. Quite a few Robins and Meadowlarks have been visiting the pond for a drink and a bath recently. Realized I haven't seen any deer in the valley since about November. - RAW

April 6, 2000:
I spotted the first Long Billed Curlew in the park this year. Seen in the prescribed burn area below the chokecherry trees on the East Auto Tour. Usually these birds are just seen in the short grass areas along the West Auto Tour. Also saw my first marmot this year. - RAW

I spoke to Laraine Whitaker-Delbridge at the Whitaker Ranch over the weekend and we discussed the Magpies in the valley that we started seeing last fall. She said Magpies have never been seen in the valley in all the years prior to last fall. Now they appear regularly both at the residence and the Whitaker Ranch.- RAW

April 11, 2000:
Saw the first Cliff Swallows back in the park this morning - moving back into the mud nests on the front of the garage at the residence. Have also been having White Crowned Sparrows at the ground feeders at the residence, although not in the large numbers I had last year (yet). - RAW

April 13
I had a flock of 12 or more American Goldfinches visit the thistle feeder this AM. They are a welcome bit of color after the entire winter with just seeing finches. - RAW

April 18, 2000:
Had a Yellow-headed Blackbird briefly stop by the pond this morning. I also noticed the Cliff Swallows are taking over the Barn Swallows nests on the rear of the residence garage. The Barn Swallows have not yet returned to the park this year. - RAW

April 20, 2000:
First time I noticed a Mourning Dove in the park this year. Still getting 2-3 Goldfinches at the thistle feeder each day. Still have flocks of Blackbirds and White-Crowned Sparrows and the occasional Magpie coming to the ground feeders; and flocks of House Finches frequenting the hanging bird feeders. - RAW

April 6, 2000:
Arnold Whitaker and his daughter Laraine Delbridge noted that they saw Long Billed Curlews in the park today near King's Pass. - RAW

April 24, 2000:
Noticed the first Flycatcher in the park this year. It was under the overhanging roof on just outside the visitor center lobby. I didn't get a close enough look to really identify which species. Thought I had seen one at a distance a couple days ago, but again I didn't get a close enough look. - RAW

April 25, 2000:
Noticed the first Shrike in the park this year. It was on the East Side of the park. Seasonal Ranger Susan Conrad saw a Golden Eagle this AM. It was on the county road coming on the hill coming into the park. It was feeding on a road-kill rabbit and tried to pick it up and fly away with it when her car approached. The night before I had seen Seagulls feeding on the same road-kill. Keith & John both report having seen an eagle on power poles near the area that Blue Creek goes under the road on the flats between Hwy 83 and the park boundary. First mosquito bites this evening. - RAW

April 26
Had 5 American Goldfinches at the thistle feeder this AM; four males and one female. - RAW

April 27
Today several pair of Barn Swallows flying around the visitor center. Several pairs of Ash-throated Flycatchers are around the visitor center as well. In the front we have several pairs of Brewer's Blackbirds starting nests in the bushes. - KB

May 2
Saw a Red-Winged Blackbird behind the residence this morning. A rare visitor since they tend to stay close to water. Heard what I believe to be a Common Poor-Will calling after dark this evening behind the residence. - RAW

May 4
Saw the first Great Plains Toad of the season. Found him after dark between the raised bed gardens at the residence. Haven't seen any Goldfinches for the past few days, they may have moved on out of the valley by now. - RAW

May 7
Was driving out of the park at 6:25 and saw a Weasel running north across the road west of the Big Fill trailhead parking lot. It was carrying something in its mouth that was mouse-size, and very dark; possibly a vole. Also had an Orange Variety House Finch at the feeder at the house earlier today. - RAW

May 9
Driving into Golden Spike about a mile east of the park boundary saw our first Burrowing Owl of the year. - KB

May 25
While walking in the back compound Bob H. decided to look in the generator box. When he picked up the lid we all saw something furry inside. Bob let out a yell, dropped the lid quickly and backed off. When we lifted the lid again we found a juvenile Raccoon inside with the generator. The Raccoon quickly jumped out of the box went through a hole in the fence ran in the grass west to the U.P. siding then followed along north and went into a stone culvert under the visitor side walk. - KB

May 29
While driving into work two Turkey Vultures were circling in the sky near the East Auto Tour exit. - KB

June 5
Had a Carrier Pigeon walking around the entryway. It made its way into the visitor center looked around at SPMA books then was led out the back door. It stood by the door looking in as if to say, "please let me back in." It was very colorful and had bands on both legs. - KB

June 10
Laraine Whitaker reported killing a rattlesnake behind the Whitaker Ranch house this week. That ruins my claim that rattlesnakes are never found in the valley between Kings Peak and Poulson Road. This was the first report of a rattlesnake in the valley since I've been here (since 1992) and Whitakers say this is the first one they ever remember in this area. This has been said to be a very "bad" year for rattlesnakes (they're expected to be very prevalent this year). There have already been more rattlesnake bite cases in Utah this spring than most years total. - RAW

June 12
While giving my afternoon program on the patio, I had to interrupt the program for a moment and ask a woman and her two small children to move from the bench they were sitting on. A snake was crawling right towards their feet. They quickly moved and we went on with the program. After the program was over, a woman asked me if it had been a rattlesnake. She said I stayed very calm if it was! It wasn't. It was a Bull Snake, in Utah commonly called "Blow Snake" and was about 3 feet in length. [Great Basin Gopher Snake- KB] - SC

June 13
While giving a guided tour of the East Auto Tour, the visitors and I saw a Red Tailed hawk swoop down and lift off carrying a snake. Immediately another hawk, most likely a Harris hawk swooped from above and pursued the hawk carrying the snake. The snake was writhing and trying to escape its captor the whole time I observed the hawks. The snake was quite long (perhaps 30 inches) and very dark color. -JO

June 18
Caught a snake in the residence garage this evening. Mice have chewed a hole in the weather stripping on the bottom of the garage door and regularly gain entrance to the garage through this area. I usually have a trap set just inside this hole and frequently catch mice there. A couple days ago, a wide strip of molding on my pickup had begun to peel off the new door replaced after the deer accident last fall. I pulled it the rest of the way off so it wouldn't fly off on the highway and tossed it just inside the garage door. This evening I found about a 3.5' "Bull," or "Blow Snake" stuck along the entire length of this molding. It had evidently smelled the mouse in the trap just inside, crawled through the opening and tried to pull the mouse out of the trap, and in the process gotten stuck to the adhesive on the trim. The more it would try to pull itself loose, the more of its body would get stuck. I pulled him outside and scale-by-scale pulled him off the trim. I then released it in front of the house, in the network of vole holes from last year. -RAW

June 20, 21
Saw a pair of Burrowing Owls along Route 504 (soon to be called "Golden Spike Drive") near its intersection with Hwy 83. - RAW

June 24
Had a Buck Pronghorn Antelope about 300 feet off the road east of the 10-Mile Sign. He was sighted in this area both Saturday 6/24 and Sunday 6/25. Viewed Chuckers at top of hill near East Auto Tour entrance. Robert Chugg said he had viewed some there Wedensday. Found another pair of nesting Burrowing Owls along road between turn off to Promontory Point and Poulsens Rd. - KB

June 27, 2000
The Archaeological Survey Crew saw a large Porcupine about 20 meters above the East Auto Tour road near Chinaman's Arch. Also saw another rattlesnake in this area.

July 9, 2000
A Raccoon (believed to be a female) was trapped today in the back compound. Looks to be a juvenile and had defecated all over the trap and was docile. John Moeykens destroyed the raccoon because they are non-native to the area and a nuisance to the site and neighboring ranchers. - KB

July 11, 2000
A Great Basin Gopher Snake was seen coming out of the men's' bathroom today. John Moeykens relocated the snake into the bushes to the north of the visitor center. - KB

July 15, 2000
A Great Basin Gopher Snake was found in the bookstore of the visitor center and relocated by Travis Schulze. - KB

July 17, 2000
A raccoon (believed to be a male) was trapped in the back compound today. Looked to be an adult and was very aggressive. John Moeykens destroyed the raccoon because they are non-native to the area and a nuisance to the site and neighboring ranchers.

Today went out with the archeology crew. We saw many Hungarian Partridges, a rabbit, snakes, and a Great Basin Whiptail Lizard. Also when we got to the top of a hill over looking the east auto tour to the south, we found we were on a high cliff. At the base of the cliff a Mule Deer Doe was resting in the shade. The crew was excited to see the deer. It watched us for a few minutes then got up and bounded off. - KB

July 21, 2000
Today my son Jeremy 15 and myself went out in the field with the archeology team. There were lots of cottontail rabbits and one rattlesnake. After we were done with the archeologist we went down the big ravine near the last cut. We found about 2 dozen Hungarian Partridge at the bottom of the ravine. While looking in small caves we had quite a surprise in one. I poked my head into the cave and met eye to eye with a Golden Eagle. The Golden Eagle came at me. I backed out of its way and if flew right near Jeremy. It gave him quite a scare. He said "Dad did you see the claws on that eagle?" - KB

July 23, 2000
Today had a visitor come in and tell me that there was a dead bird on the back patio. When I went to investigate, I looked up because several birds were chirping in earnest and flying in circles above my head. I looked up at the nest above the bird about 15 feet high on the rock face of the visitor center. A Great Basin Gopher Snake was about nine inches out of a hole in the rock near the nest. The birds were chirping at the snake. The dead bird was a barn swallow, apparently killed by the snake. - KB

July 19, 2000
I saw a Mule Deer Buck drinking out of the residence pond this afternoon about 5:00 PM. This is the first deer I've seen in the HQ area since late last fall. He was decent size 4-point, with the forward two points on one side well developed, and the two forward points on the other side just barely splitting into two. Have also noticed that the Partridges have started to group up again. Since early spring the flocks had disbanded and broken into pairs. I'm now seeing groups of 4-6 together. - RAW

July 22
Bluebird Nest Boxes: It appears as though we were unsuccessful again this year in attracting bluebirds to the nesting boxes. A recent survey of the nest boxes by Kerry B. showed the following:
Box #1 at West point nearest the road was empty although it looked as if something had started a nest in it. No bird sign just some grass and sticks, scattered with no form.
Box #2 was the same - possibly mice?
Box #3 was Empty. was the same as 1 and 2.
Box#5 had been used by a bird. It had a nest made entirely of animal hair. It had a lot of bird droppings and was shaped like a nest. When I looked through the material we have on bluebirds it said their nests were made out of feathers and grass. The only bird they mentioned using animal hair for nest building is the Chickadee, but we have no Chickadees here - so maybe we did have one successful bluebird nesting.
Box#6 the furthest east was Empty.
When reported to Letitia, the coordinator for bluebird trails in the state of Utah (she collects the data and sends it to a national society for scientific purposes), she replied: "As for box #5, only Chickadees make that type of nest so this is a puzzle. I would suggest that next year start to check the boxes in mid-May and continue until mid- July. That way we may have a record of what is using the box. Other reports have indicated that it can take up to 5 years before boxes are used. It's worth the wait."
I replied: "As for the nest of animal hair, Laraine (Whitaker) mentioned she had always heard 'you'll find bluebirds where there are horses, because bluebirds use horsehair for building their nests' - Sometimes such ranch-lore is akin to wives-tales, but other-times it's right on the mark. Laraine also agreed she's never seen Chickadees in the valley. So I'm betting on the bluebirds. We'll keep our fingers crossed for next season and do a better job of checking them earlier in the year." - RAW

July26
I have recently had a number of hummingbirds around the residence. I put out a new feeder and have seen 4-6 at a time around the feeder. Generally, there are not a great deal of hummingbirds seen in the park since there is little natural food source for them here during the summer in this arid environment. There are Calliope, Broad-tailed and Black Chinned Hummingbirds frequenting the feeder. - RAW

July28, 2000
Visited the wood stave culvert just off Hwy 83 near Thiokol today. The culvert has been undercut by the Blue Creek and hangs out into the air about 30' above the creek. I checked inside since I have seen Great Horned Owls roosting in there before. There was one who just stared back at us as we watched him. Then as we looked over the edge of the bank another Great Horned Owl flew out from the bank side. - RAW

August
Was talking with Laraine & Craig Delbridge (Arnold Whitaker's daughter & grandson) about not hearing any coyotes in the valley for the last couple months. Craig said he had mentioned the same thing to Arnold and Arnold (now 86 years old & born & raised here) made the comment that "It's been too hot to howl." I just thought that was a classic "ranch-ism". - RAW

August 5
Have been regularly seeing 6 hummingbirds at a time around the feeder at the residence. They are draining the feeder every two days or less. This afternoon after refilling the feeder, as I was hanging the feeder I had two buzzing around my head checking me out, then "eating out of my hand" drinking from the feeder while I was still holding it. - RAW

August 6, 2000
The last few days have had a lot of hummingbirds flying around the back patio of the Visitor Center. We have not been able to get a close look. However from the size and large fan shaped tail we believe them to be the Broad-tailed Hummingbird. Susan Conrad mentioned one teenage visitor in particular was very thrilled, as this was the first time he had seen a hummingbird in his life. - KB

August 7, 2000
Today at the 1:30 Steam Demo a healthy Buck Mule Deer came bounding on the Northeast side of the Visitor Center across the spur track and then the main line into the bushes. The 60 guests could just see its ears and antlers poking out of the bushes. When the 119 headed down the main line the deer decided he should head for the hills from where he came. He bounded out across the main line then over the spur track through the parking lot and over the fence into the hills to the East. The guest found watching the deer very entertaining and it took their attention from the Steam Demo while in the area. - KB

August 8, 2000
Travis Schulze mentioned seeing three deer this morning off the maintenance area access road near the well. He said there was a nice 4-point buck plus two does. - RAW

August 8, 2000
Bruce Powell mentioned seeing three Golden Eagles this afternoon as he was driving out of the park. They were on the tops of the power poles along the main county road leading into the park ("Golden Spike Drive") just west of the "Burned Out Trestle". They appeared to be adult parents and their juvenile young. - RAW

August 9, 2000
Laraine Delbridge told me she and her father Arnold Whitaker had recently seen Porcupine and Bobcat tracks on road N-E from the Whitaker ranch house. - RAW

August 10, 2000
General Observation: After the population explosion of Voles in he park last summer, there is not one to be seen this year. We are also not seeing the quantity of Toads we saw the previous summer - possibly due to the drought conditions we are experiencing this year. We have had just three minor rains since mid-May, totaling just .10 inches, and temperatures were in the mid-90s to over 100 during July and these first days of August. - RAW

August 10
8 hummingbirds at the residence feeder this afternoon! I also saw several in and around the matrimony vine bushes around the VC parking lot. - RAW

September 11, 2000
Hummingbirds have really thinned out in the last few days even though it's still really quite warm. Only see an occasional one at the feeders now. - RAW

September 10
Coming into the park, Ranger Moeykens and myself found a dead juvenile coyote on the road just before the East Auto Tour entrance. It looked to have been hit by a car and we moved it off the road. - KB

September 11
This morning there was a Golden Eagle sitting on top of a telephone pole not far from the VC. At 12:45 p.m. visitors came into the visitor center concerned about a snake that was in the parking lot. I went out to find a two-foot Great Basin Gopher Snake. The guests asked me what type of snake it was and I told them about the snake. Many came and touched the snake and then one said, "Thanks, we just got another Ranger talk". I moved the snake into the bushes northeast of the VC. - KB

September 15
Unseasonable temperatures in the mid-90s have caused a late season hatch of mosquitoes. They really haven't been a problem this year until just recently. Now they're so bad that visitors are running back in from steam demonstrations and all interpretive programs have to be held inside. - RAW

September 20
Was in the hot tub at the residence about 11:00 PM and a Great Horned Owl flew in and landed on the TV antenna. We both watched each other with a great deal of interest until he decided I wasn't that interesting and started scanning the area for rodents. The owl did become quite interested again when my cat jumped up and was walking around the edge of the tub. He remained perched there when I got out and went in the house about 15 minutes later. - RAW

October 27
Susan heard a loud sound off the window. Later a visitor told us we had a dead bird on the back patio it was a pretty bird called a Dark-eyed Junco. - KB

December 2 & 3
A pair of birds hit back window, one flew away and one was disoriented and I was able to photograph it. The next day a pair of birds again hit the back window, one flew away the other was killed. All four were a type of Finch. - KB

Compiled by:
Kerry Brinkerhoff, Seasonal Park Ranger
Rick Wilson, Chief Ranger
Also contributing:
Susan Conrad, Seasonal Park Ranger
John Ott, Volunteer, Honorary Park Ranger