2025 Fall Birding Report

On Saturday, September 27th, 2025, 24 pairs of eyes scoured the skies along the Provo River Delta as the Bean Museum Birding Nature Experienceship attendees embarked on their journey. Our group recorded a total of 34 bird species encountered as they traversed the path, listening to birdsong and spotting species with the assistance of binoculars and spotting scopes. We extend our thanks to the more reclusive birds for making an appearance and to Keeli Marvel from the Utah County Birders for joining us and being our expert guide.

Here is the full list of the 34 bird species spotted or heard:

• Mallard (7)

• California quail (2) (Heard only)

• Eurasian collared-dove (1)

• Mourning dove (6)

• Common nighthawk (3) 

• American coot (13)

• Sandhill crane (2)

• American avocet (3)

• Killdeer (23)

• Franklin’s gull (4)

• Caspian tern (2)

• Western grebe (2)

• Clark’s grebe (4)

• Double-crested cormorant (3) 

• Snowy egret (1)

• American white pelican (1) 

• Northern flicker (3)

• American kestrel (1)

• Black phoebe (1) 

• Black-capped chickadee (4) 

• Tree swallow (5) 

• Barn swallow (20) 

• Ruby-crowned kinglet (1) 

• Bewick’s wren (1)

• European starling (100) 

• American robin (2)

• House sparrow (3) 

• American goldfinch (20)

• White-crowned sparrow (7) 

• Song sparrow (3) 

• Red-winged blackbird (8) 

• Brewer’s blackbird (5) 

• Orange-crowned warbler (1) 

• Yellow-rumped warbler (9)

Common nighthawk

Birder using a spotting scope to get a closer look.

Northern flicker

All of the Birding Experienceship attendees on River Lane.

Picture credit: Katy Knight, Tasia Smith

Tasia Smith, museum educator