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Show Page 8 The Ogden Valley News Volume XXX Issue V October 15, 2023 The Celestial Spectacle: Hunters Help Endangered California Understanding the 2023 Annular Eclipse Condors in Utah with Ongoing Program By Dakota Hyde The Utah Division of Wildlife profit partners—have joined together to help the Resources and The Peregrine Fund are once again asking hunters in the Zion hunting unit to stop at check stations where they can demonstrate their efforts to help California condors and enter to win a prize. During October, the DWR operates check stations where hunters who take actions to help condors can enter to win one of five $800 gift cards donated by The Peregrine Fund for outdoor equipment. After stopping at a check station, big game hunters must either show the nonlead ammunition they used during their hunts or provide proof they removed all the remains of their harvested animals from the field. The Hunters Helping Condors program was launched in Utah in 2011 to help recover these enormous birds. California condors were listed in 1967 under the precursor to the Endangered Species Act, and by 1982, only 23 were left in the world (one of which was in captivity). Due to the steep decline of the population, the remaining wild condors were captured and held in captivity for safekeeping, which gave rise to a tremendously successful captive breeding program that has allowed for reintroduction of the endangered birds back to the wild. The population now numbers more than 500 birds, with over half of those flying free in the wild. There are currently 95 condors in the wild Arizona/Utah population. This collaborative effort demonstrates one of the ways that hunters are leading the way in wildlife conservation. The highly pathogenic avian flu outbreak also impacted condors earlier this year, and 21 died in the Arizona/Utah population. However, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and multiple state agencies—along with federal and non- birds and are currently conducting vaccine trials. “Lead poisoning is the leading cause of death for free-flying condors in Utah and Arizona,” DWR Avian Conservation Program Coordinator Russell Norvell said. “The primary source of that lead is the remains of shot animals, a common meal for condors and other scavenging wildlife. The Hunters Helping Condors program is helping to reduce lead exposure, which is helping in the recovery of these unique birds that play an important role in the ecosystem.” Prior to each hunting season, the DWR issues a coupon to hunters who draw an anylegal-weapon big game permit for the Zion Unit in southern Utah, where California condors can be found. That coupon allows the hunters to obtain free, or heavily discounted, non-lead ammunition. Check stations are in place at the following locations and will be open from 11:00 a.m. to dusk on the following dates: • The intersection of Yellowjacket Road and Hancock Road. (This site is approximately 3.25 miles north of the entrance to Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park.) This checkpoint will be open Oct. 14-15, 21-24 and 28-29. • On State Route 14 in Cedar Canyon (east of Cedar City, approximately half a mile east of Canyon Park and ¾ mile west of Rusty’s Ranch House). This checkpoint will be open Oct. 14-15, 21-24 and 28-29. “We greatly appreciate all our partners in this program and all the hunters who make an effort to assist in the conservation of this incredible species,” Norvell said. A public open house was held October 5 at the Eden Park community center to discuss the future development and expansion of Liberty Park. Ogden Valley Park Service Area (OVPSA) board members stated they felt that the open house was very successful. Chair Mark Ferrin of Eden stated, “Lots of people attended, commented, and learned about the Ogden Valley Park Service Area’s mission and future proposals for the park. Thank you very much for your enthusiasm, feedback, and support.” The sky above has always been a source of fascination and wonder, captivating humans with its celestial displays. One such mesmerizing event is the annular eclipse, often referred to as the “Ring of Fire” eclipse. On October 14, the U.S. saw its first Annular Solar Eclipse since 2012. What is an Annular Eclipse? An annular eclipse occurs when the moon passes in front of the sun, creating a stunning spectacle where the Sun’s outer rim remains visible, forming a luminous ring-like shape. This mesmerizing event takes place when the moon is at its farthest point from earth during its elliptical (egg-shaped) orbit, known as apogee. Since the moon appears smaller in the sky during apogee, it doesn’t entirely cover the Sun, leaving the fiery ring effect that gives this eclipse its poetic name, “Ring of Fire.” The Annular Eclipse in Utah - Utah skywatchers in central and southern Utah were fortunate to experience the fullness of the annular eclipse. The eclipse was its best from areas such as Richfield, Fillmore, Capitol Reef National Park, Escalante, and Bryce Canyon National Park. (See the accompanying map for an idea of where the fullness of the eclipse will be visible). Partial Eclipse from Huntsville, Utah on October 14, 2023 While Ogden Valley didn’t experience a full “Ring of Fire” eclipse, it was a nice location to observe the partial annular eclipse. During this event, a portion of the sun’s disk was obscured by the passing moon, casting a unique and ethereal shadow over the landscape. Here’s what it appeared like from the area: Start Time: According to heavens-above.com first moon contact with the sun occurred at 9:09 a.m. MDT. Maximum Eclipse: The maximum eclipse, with the largest part of the Sun covered, occurred at approximately 10:28 a.m. MDT. End Time: The eclipse ended at around 11:55 a.m. MDT. Visibility: Clouds permitting, people in Huntsville and Northern Utah witnessed over 2½ hours of the sun being partially covered by the moon, creating a striking crescent shape. Ogden Valley Viewing - Observing a solar eclipse, even a partial one, requires special precautions to protect your eyes. Never look at the sun directly without certified solar eclipse glasses or the use of a solar viewer. It’s essential to safeguard your eyesight during such celestial events. An affordable viewing option for viewing during the event is solar eclipse glasses. These are specially designed glasses with solar filters that block out the majority of the sun’s harmful radiation. Compass Rose Lodge, a Huntsville Astronomic and Lunar Observatory (HALO), had solar eclipse glasses available for purchase prior to the eclipse. The Observatory also had a telescope equipped with a special solar filter to view the sun through the telescope eyepiece during the event. This was the first time viewing a solar eclipse for many viewers. If you missed the eclipse, there are many other celestial objects to view this time of year. HALO offers nightly public observatory tours by reservation. Many beautiful astronomy targets are visible this time of year, including Saturn, Jupiter, Andromeda Galaxy, and Pleiades. For reservations, or to schedule a tour, please call Compass Rose Lodge at 385-279-4460. |