Lake Powell--Birds & Wildlife

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BIRDS AT GLEN CANYON

Golden Eagles occupy the park year round. They prey on small rodents and other small wildlife.

This is a shot of a Muscovy duck seen at Wahweap Marina.

Glen Canyon is located on the Colorado Plateau, a vast area of land covering roughly 150,000 square miles of northern Arizona, Northwestern New Mexico, Western Colorado, and most of souther and eastern Utah. Elevation can vary from 1,200 feet to over 12,000 feet. The climate is arid and humidity is low. Glen Canyon has been classified as a "cold" desert. Arid climate, low humidity, and high desert dictate a unique combination of life forms that has evolved over millions of years. Temperatures can vary from sub-freezing during the winter months to about 100 F in July and August. The water sufaces rise to a comfortable 82 F in the summer which makes it perfect for all water sports.

The great horned owl(largest owl in North America) is posing in his defensive stanse.

These are burrowing owls with long legs. They can often be seen standing by their burrows during daylight hours. When full-grown, an adult reaches 9-10 inches long.

This sage thrasher is a great mimicker of other birds. It's songs are loud and sometimes repeated two or three times. His long beak is ideal for capturing insects.

Killdeer are shoreline birds that have been adapted to deserts and prairies. They easily blend into their surroundings with their camoflaged colors. They are famous for their "broken wing" act.

DESERT WILDLIFE

The canyon tree frog is one of only two frogs that's a native in the Glen Canyon region. It's usually nocturnal living in moist canyons or small pools. It can come out in the daylight ofter summer rains.

Tarantulas are mildly poisonous, their mouth parts are small and they pose little threat to humans. Their primary prey are insects.

In nature there are no "good guys" or "bad guys." All creatures occupy a unique spot in the web of life. Coyotes are one of the most adaptable carnivores in the West. Rodents would soon overrun the country if if weren't for predators like the coyote.

The collared lizard is one of the most common reptiles of the canyons. He can grow up to 14 inches long and easily detected from other lizards by his black collars encircling his neck.

Glen Canyon is home to 13 different species of snakes. Rattlesnakes (below) are the only poisonous snakes in the park. The gopher snake (above) as well as all the other snakes are shy and avoid all possible confrontations with non-prey animals.

All scorpions are poisonous, but not all are deadly to humans. They use their tail-stinger to immobilize their prey - usually insects. They are found under rocks, rotting wood, or desert litter and generally are very shy. However, their sting can be very painful, so be careful.

Porqupines have highly specialized hair which takes the form of quills. This is an excellent defense against most predators. They live almost totally by eating tender twigs or bark of trees and shrubs. They rarely eat all the way around the vegetation they are feeding on, which helps the plants survival as well.

Desert Bighorn are often seen climbing the canyon slopes. Only mature rams develop full-curl horns. These animals are frequently depicted in prehistoric rock art.

Commonly called a horney toad, this creature is actually a short- horned lizard. His horns or spines are his protection against predators. Because of their slow pace, these lizards have been easy prey for collectors and are now protected under the laws of most western states.
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BIRDS AT GLEN CANYON
Golden Eagles occupy the park year round. They prey on small rodents and other small wildlife. This is a shot of a Muscovy duck seen at Wahweap Marina.	Glen Canyon is located on the Colorado Plateau, a vast area of land covering roughly 150,000 square miles of northern Arizona, Northwestern New Mexico, Western Colorado, and most of souther and eastern Utah. Elevation can vary from 1,200 feet to over 12,000 feet. The climate is arid and humidity is low. Glen Canyon has been classified as a "cold" desert. Arid climate, low humidity, and high desert dictate a unique combination of life forms that has evolved over millions of years. Temperatures can vary from sub-freezing during the winter months to about 100 F in July and August. The water sufaces rise to a comfortable 82 F in the summer which makes it perfect for all water sports.	The great horned owl(largest owl in North America) is posing in his defensive stanse. These are burrowing owls with long legs. They can often be seen standing by their burrows during daylight hours. When full-grown, an adult reaches 9-10 inches long.

DESERT WILDLIFE
The canyon tree frog is one of only two frogs that's a native in the Glen Canyon region. It's usually nocturnal living in moist canyons or small pools. It can come out in the daylight ofter summer rains. Tarantulas are mildly poisonous, their mouth parts are small and they pose little threat to humans. Their primary prey are insects.	In nature there are no "good guys" or "bad guys." All creatures occupy a unique spot in the web of life. Coyotes are one of the most adaptable carnivores in the West. Rodents would soon overrun the country if if weren't for predators like the coyote. The collared lizard is one of the most common reptiles of the canyons. He can grow up to 14 inches long and easily detected from other lizards by his black collars encircling his neck.	Glen Canyon is home to 13 different species of snakes. Rattlesnakes (below) are the only poisonous snakes in the park. The gopher snake (above) as well as all the other snakes are shy and avoid all possible confrontations with non-prey animals.