The Binocular Site
Dinosaur National Monument, Utah
Dinosaur National Monument offers hiking, geology, whitewater boating, and spectacular scenery across a diversity of landscapes, in Colorado, Utah. Hiking is a popular activity here, especially during spring migration starting in April.
Bald eagles, cranes, and Canada geese are among the 200 species of birds found here, throughout the variety of habitats. Riparian, sagebrush, and woodland areas are home to a variety of bird species, particularly near the Split Mountain Campground and River Trail, Jones Hole Trail, and Josie Morris cabin area.
Seek out canyon wrens, rufous-sided towees, hummingbirds, flycatchers, vireos, scrub-jays, larks, sage sparrows, Says phoebe’s, gnatcatchers, and yellow warblers. Golden eagles, prairie falcons, and peregrine falcons make their home here, and the park is home to several deer, sheep, and other wildlife as well.
Not surprisingly however, archaeology is an intriguing study here in Dinosaur National Monument. Currently a Temporary Visitor Center is offered near the original Quarry Visitor Center, containing fossils and exhibits. Although the Quarry Visitor Center offered a fascinating array of displays including a man-made cliff face with 1500 dinosaur bones embedded within it, structural problems have closed the center down in 2006.
The Fossil Discovery Trail leads off from the Temporary Visitor Center as well, with rock formations with dinosaur bones embedded within. See the Dinosaur National Monument website for more information.
The state bird of Utah is the California Gull and you can find a birding checklist for Utah here.
Photo credit to armykat1014, used with permission under the creative commons license.
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