Colorado vs. Utah Snow

Utah snow in author's backyard: relatively light and dry--and definitely deep, Photo Copyright 2010 Holly Strand
Utah snow in author’s backyard:
relatively light and dry
–and definitely deep.
Copyright © 2010 Holly Strand

Hi I’m Holly Strand.

Growing up in Colorado, it never crossed my mind that the snow might be better somewhere else. I believed that my state was the center of the universe– at least as far as snow and skiing were concerned. A couple of decades passed and now I am a Utah resident. I couldn’t help but notice that snow quality here is well beyond satisfactory. And many Utah license plates claim the Greatest Snow on Earth. So, I wondered… Who has better snow? Colorado or Utah?

People usually assume that “great snow” means voluminous and powdery. So let’s compare the 2 states using measures of snow depth for volume and measures of water content for powder.

As far as snow depth, Alta takes the cake and wins mega points for Utah. According to data collected by ski area avalanche professionals, Alta’s average annual snowfall from Nov 1-Apr 30 is 530 inches. That’s 44 feet of snow ! A few other Utah resorts,–plus Colorado’s Wolf Creek Pass–come next with 400 + inches. After that, you get several 300+ inches resorts in both states. More in Colorado, but that’s just because there are more resorts in general. Colorado also has a bunch of areas with 200+ inches. But the point is that a handful of super-snowy resorts lead the pack and most of them are in Utah.

Next I located National Weather Service data for the average water content of freshly fallen snow. The lower the value, the drier the snow. It turns out that the mean water content of new snow decreases as you move eastward from the Pacific Coast to the Rockies. You get values around 12 % water content for the Sierras. This is the infamous Sierra Cement. Intermountain (including the Wasatch Mountains) values hover around 8.5%. The mean water content value for Central Rocky Mountain stations was close to 7%. So in general, Colorado has less watery snow. Of course there are localized anomalies in each state. But overall, Colorado appears to edge out Utah for light, dry, and fluffy snow.

So who has the best snow overall? Well, I guess I still haven’t solved that issue. Best to discuss it further after an exhilarating day on the slopes. Let us know what you think: Send us an email at wildaboututah@gmail.org

For data sources and archives of past Wild About Utah episodes visit www.wildaboututah.org

For Wild About Utah, I’m Holly Strand.

Credits:

Photos: Courtesy and Copyright 2010 Holly Strand

Text: Holly Strand

Sources & Additional Reading:

Armstrong, R.L. and B.R. Armstrong. 1987. Snow and avalancheclimates of the western United States: a comparison of maritime, intermountain and continental conditions. IAHS Publ. 162
(Symposium at Davos 1986 – Avalanche Formation, Movement and Effects), 281–294

Baxter, M.A., C.E. Graves, and J.T. Moore, 2005: A Climatology of Snow to Liquid Ratio for the Contiguous United States, Weather and Forecasting, 20, 729-744.

Crocker, Tony. BESTSNOW.NET – an independent statistical analysis of snow characteristics (based on data collected by ski area avalanche professionals) at major North American ski resorts. https://webpages.charter.net/tcrocker818/ [accessed December 14, 2010]

Steenburgh, W. J., and T. I. Alcott, 2008. Secrets of the “Greatest Snow on Earth.” Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 89, 1285-1293.

 

Christmas Bird Count

National Audubon
Christmas Bird Count page
Image courtesy National Audubon,
https://audubon.org

The Christmas holidays bring us a bevy of welcome annual traditions. We listen to the melodies of the Nutcracker and traditional carols.

[Black-capped Chickadee recording by Kevin Colver: Songbirds of the Rocky Mountain Foothills]

Many also listen for bird melodies as we join in the annual Christmas Bird Count. These are exhaustive, one-day surveys of all the individuals of every species of bird found in a locality. Christmas Bird Counts began 111 years ago in New York City as a holiday alternative to the excesses of a hunt that targeted all birds. Provo’s count followed soon after in 1903.

From that first inspiration, the Christmas Bird Count has spread to all 50 states and throughout the Americas. Last year, there were 2,600 counts, totaling 56 million individual birds representing over 2,300 species. Last holiday season, hundreds of Utahns participated in 24 local counts, reporting 184 bird species from Saint George north to Bear Lake.

I always join Logan’s Bridgerland Audubon count, which has been running for 54 years. Last year, with 62 participants we found 99 bird species in our standard count circle of 150 square miles. That’s remarkable for a chilly winter’s day, considering that many of our feathered friends have hightailed it south for the winter. But note that some northerly species, such as Rough-legged Hawks, view Utah as the balmy endpoint of their fall migration.

Christmas Bird Counts offer something for everyone, from novices to seasoned birders. Some choose simple feeder counts; others undertake vigorous back country walkabouts. Some will be up in the predawn, listening for owls.

[Great Horned Owl recording by Kevin Colver: Songbirds of the Southwest Canyon Country]

Every count’s data contributes to long-term research about winter dispersal patterns of birds and their population trends. If you like birds, join in the fun and make the Christmas Bird Count one of your holiday traditions.

All counts are scheduled between December 14 and January 5. Utah’s Christmas Bird counts are listed on our website: just search for Wild About Utah or go to the UtahBirds website directly. Our Logan count is on Saturday, December 18. That evening, we’ll all flock together for a big potluck party where we tally up our bird count totals.

This is Linda Kervin for Bridgerland Audubon Society.
Credits:

Photos: Courtesy National Audubon,
https://www.audubon.org/
Sounds: Courtesy & Copyright Kevin Colver, https://wildstore.wildsanctuary.com/collections/special-collections
https://wildstore.wildsanctuary.com/collections/special-collections
Text: Linda Kervin & Jim Cane, Bridgerland Audubon Society

Additional Reading:

Christmas Bird Counts in Utah, Utahbirds.org, Milt Moody, Webmaster, https://www.utahbirds.org/cbc/cbc.html

The 109th Christmas Bird Count: Citizen Science in Action, National Audubon Society, Inc. https://www.audubon.org/bird/cbc/index.html
Idaho Circles: https://app.audubon.org/cbcapp/findCircles.jsp?state=US-ID&start=1
Utah Circles: https://app.audubon.org/cbcapp/findCircles.jsp?state=US-UT&start=1

Cutler Marsh-Amalga Barrens Important Bird Areas

Cutler Marsh
Copyright © 2010 Mike Fish

Hi, I’m Holly Strand

Earlier this year, Cutler Marsh and nearby Amalga Barrens in Cache Valley were recognized as one of the world’s most important bird habitats. This recognition came from Birdlife International and its US partner — the National Audubon Society. In an earlier episode I talk about the criteria for becoming an Important Bird Area –or IBA for short. The Cutler Marsh-Amalga Barrens IBA was recognized because of its large population of nesting white-faced ibis.

Important Bird Area Sign
Courtesy Bridgerland Audubon Society

The strange thing is—that 30 years ago—there were relatively few ibis in the area. But when the Great Salt Lake flooded in the mid 1980s, many of its rookeries went under water. So some ibises moved to higher ground in Cache Valley. And apparently found it to their liking.

Local birders were amazed at the influx. Wayne Martinson, head of Utah’s IBA program advised the local Audubon Society to start formal counts. The worldwide total of white-faced ibis estimated to be 150,000. So to become a globally important IBA, the Marsh and Amalga Barrens would have to hold at least 1,500 birds.

Bryan Dixon of Bridgerland Audubon Society organized the censuses. Observations were made during the breeding season from 2005 to 2010. Observers defined an imaginary vertical plane to the north and south of the rookery. They would count the birds as they crossed the plane into the rookery and subtract the birds that flew out. Birds on the ground could not be counted for they were hidden in the bulrushes and cattails. Observers kept a respectable distance; if approached the adult birds might abandon its eggs or chicks.

Cutler marsh near the Ibis rookery
Copyright © 2006 Stephen Peterson

The results took the census takers by surprise. The first years count was well over 6000. The second year’s count was 8094 birds. The site had 5 times as many birds as was needed to be designated as a globally important IBA. Then in 2007, the birds mysteriously vanished. Not a single ibis was counted in the rookery. Perhaps a severe weather discouraged nesting? The reason is still unclear. But the following year the ibis returned and by 2009, the count exceeded 7000.

Hats off to Bridgerland Audubon Society’s Bryan Dixon for organizing the counts! For some photos of the new IBA and the white-faced ibis, go to www.wildaboututah.org

White-faced Ibis
Copyright © 2010 Mike Fish

For Wild About Utah, I’m Holly Strand

Ibis flying over Cutler marsh
Copyright © 2006 Stephen Peterson

Credits:

Photos: Courtesy Bridgerland Audubon Society
Ibis: Courtesy US FWS, Dave Menke Photographer
Courtesy and Copyright 2006 Stephen Peterson
Courtesy and Copyright 2010 Bryan Dixon
Text: Holly Strand

Sources & Additional Reading:

Cutler Marsh-Amalga Barrens IBA site description https://www.audubon.org/important-bird-areas/cutler-reservoir-and-marsh-ut08

Ryder, Ronald A. and David E. Manry. 1994. White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online: https://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/130
[Accessed December 2, 2010] Note: Moved by Cornell Labs to a subscription service, Birds of the World: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/whfibi/cur/introduction [Accessed September 19, 2021]

Important Bird Areas, Audubon Society, www.audubon.org/bird/IBA/ Note: Website changed to https://www.audubon.org/important-bird-areas
See also
https://www.audubon.org/important-bird-areas/state/utah
https://www.audubon.org/important-bird-areas/cutler-reservoir-and-marsh-ut08 [Accessed September 19, 2021]

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs), BirdLife International, https://www.birdlife.org/worldwide/programme-additional-info/important-bird-and-biodiversity-areas-ibas [Accessed September 19, 2021]

Dan Zamecnik, Bryan Dixon, & Chris Cokinos setting up to count ibis
Copyright © 2006 Stephen Peterson

Jean Lown, John Stewart, & Frank Howe counting ibis on the marsh
Copyright © 2010 Bryan Dixon