According to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service there are approximately 96 million birders in the US representing 37% of the population aged 16 and older (3 out of 10 Americans). This metric might be a bit inflated if you are strictly thinking of folks with binoculars quietly observing birds while firing up their eBird app to track their discoveries as it includes any Americans who engage in activities like observing, feeding, or photographing birds. With that said, birding is bigger than you may think and Alta Ski Resort in Utah has that a program caters to the cross section of the demographic that enjoys a day on the slopes:
“Birding on Skis—a partnership between Tracy Aviary and Alta Environmental Center. Grab your skis and join Tracy Aviary’s expert birders in search of our feathered friends who call Alta home. Held on the second and fourth Thursday of each month.”
The bi-weekly birding ski trips hosted by Tracy Aviary and Alta Environmental Center are free for guests to join and involve skiing around the resort with their experts to get to “optimal birding locations” where you can pull out your binocs and observe local bird population while gaining an appreciation of their roles in the mountain ecosystem.
“While skiing and birding may seem like an unlikely pair, Alta’s unique mountainous ecosystem—famous for harboring some of the best snow on earth—is also home to some of the toughest birds in North America. From tiny Chickadees to powerful raptors, these high-altitude birds endure frigid temperatures, deep snow and harsh winds—thriving where few creatures can.
Since the 1970s, bird enthusiasts and researchers from around the world have flocked to Alta year-round to observe and study its avian inhabitants. Scientists have spent decades monitoring the hundreds of species that frequent Little Cottonwood Canyon, and their work continues today. These ongoing research efforts provide valuable insights into the health of Alta’s ecosystem and support the implementation of bird-friendly practices within the ski area.”
Mountain Chickadee, Brown Creeper, Clark’s Nutcracker, Pine Siskin, Red-breasted Nuthatch…these are just a few bird you might catch a glimpse of while skiing at Alta. Find more information on the program below and get an idea of what you might see with this Winter Birding Field Guide.
Exploring Alta’s avian world on skis.
Join the Tracy Aviary conservation team for our bi-weekly non-breeding bird surveys at Alta—on skis! Explore the mountain alongside expert birders and learn how to identify Alta’s avian residents by sight and sound. Whether you are new to birding or an experienced observer, these tours provide a fantastic opportunity to connect with others while discovering more about Alta’s diverse ecosystem.
These tours take place on the first and third Thursdays of each month, from December to April. We will be skiing on intermediate groomed runs and some off-piste terrain to reach optimal birding locations. All participants must be at least 12 years old and able to ski intermediate terrain. Registration required >
*Tours are weather conditions permitting
When can you bird at Alta
First and third Thursdays of the month | 9am–noon
- December 18th
- January 8th
- January 22nd
- February 5th
- February 19th
- March 5th
- March 19th
- April 2nd
- April 11th | Alta Earth Day
What are the requirements to bird at Alta
- Participants must be at least 12 years of age and able to ski intermediate groomed runs
- View the Alta Environmental Center’s findings on eBird >
Alta Bird Monitoring Program
Since 2015, the Alta Environmental Center has collaborated with Tracy Aviary and Friends of Alta to study local bird populations and their roles in the mountain ecosystem. We invite the public to join our year-round surveys—Birding Hikes in summer and Birding on Skis in winter—led by Tracy Aviary’s Conservation Biologist and volunteers. Participants of all experience levels can help document bird species and learn identification skills. All data collected will be uploaded to eBird, aiding in tracking population trends and informing conservation efforts within the Alta community.
Learn more about the Alta Bird Monitoring Program >
