With the high price of gasoline how many of us are reducing the frequency and/or distance of our birding activities? Our goal is to observe 200 species in 2008, within 25 miles(one way) of our home in Salt Lake. Is it possible?  Hot spots within the scope of this “yard” include the canyons of Salt Lake and South Davis counties, Little Dell, Lee Kaye Ponds, the International Center and Farmington Bay, which is the northern most point in our “yard.” I think we have a good variety of habitat available to us, but we won’t be able to count the easy pickins at Antelope Island(45 miles), Bear River MBR(70 miles) and Cutler Marsh(99 miles), or the unique for Utah environment of Washington county(300+ miles). Both Salt Lake and Davis county check-lists number over 300 species, but many of these are dupicates and rarities, so achieving our goal will prove to be a real challenge. Our current year yard-list stands at 124 species–we’re half-way there. Bring on the tanagers, hummers and warblers!