Take On The Birding Slam Challenges This Fall Across Utah

With fall migrations in full swing, bird-watchers across Utah are in for a treat — and a challenge. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) has launched the Utah Birding Slam, a self-guided bird-watching competition designed to inspire people to explore new places, discover different species, and deepen their appreciation for Utah’s diverse bird populations.

Six Unique Challenges Available

The Utah Birding Slam offers six unique challenges, or “slams,” each with different levels of difficulty. Participants can choose from the Beginner Slam, which requires submitting a single checklist to eBird with at least one bird sighting, to the High-Elevation Slam, which involves identifying 30 species found at elevations above 7,000 feet. Other categories include the Backyard Slam, County Slam, Wetland Slam, and the Ultimate Slam, each encouraging birders to broaden their skills and knowledge.

“Utah has a very active bird-watching community, and birders thrive on competitions and seeking out new species and places to go,” DWR Northeastern Region Outreach Manager Tonya Kieffer-Selby said in a press release. She added that the initiative was originally envisioned by Billy Fenimore, a well-known figure in Utah’s birding community and former DWR employee. “I have been a birder since I was 9 years old and am hopeful this new initiative will get more people engaged in bird-watching and help them gain a new appreciation for these remarkable species.”

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Registration for each slam is available on the DWR website. The cost is $20 per slam for adults and $10 for youth, with funds supporting conservation efforts like habitat restoration and migration tracking projects. Participants will need to create a free eBird account to log sightings and submit checklists, then confirm completion of their chosen slam online. Successful participants receive a collectible bird pin for each slam completed.

Kieffer-Selby noted that the program also benefits wildlife research and management. “This data is crucial for conservation and management efforts,” she said in the press release. “Some of the slams include identifying birds listed in the Utah Wildlife Action Plan as species of greatest conservation and information need.”

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The Utah Birding Slam joins other popular challenges like the Utah Cutthroat Slam and Waterfowl Slams. Visitors can learn more about the new birding slam at the DWR exhibit during the Utah State Fair, running Sept. 4-14.