Zion: The American Dipper

Nothing, no description, photos, or even video, can give you a real sense of what it is like to hike the Narrows in Zion National Park. Even the memory of hiking the Narrows pales in comparison to the real moments spent in the canyon. Situated at the top of the National Park, at the end of the road, the Virgin River flows between towering sandstone walls and becomes a popular trail. It's a wonderful blend of beautiful, challenging, and utterly peaceful. People who plan to only "check it out" are compelled to go further and further; goals to stay dry are happily abandoned. Humans aren't the only ones drawn to this tranquil hideaway, though; our Zion National Park ambassador, the American dipper, spends a great deal of time here too.

Zion, carved and sustained by the Virgin River, is a great example of a desert riparian habitat. American dippers can be found in this and nearly every other riparian habitat from Southwest deserts to Alaskan rainforests year-round, as long as there is running water. They are North America's only aquatic songbird, and they are a marvel to watch as they dive into the water, negotiate currents, and flit along the bottom looking for larvae. They have an extra thick coating of feathers for warmth, including feathered eyelids.

In the spring, American dippers whizz back and forth up and down the Narrows. Each pair has its own stretch of canyon, and they seem to patrol it regularly, whipping up and down the canyon, flying low, and tilting between oblivious tourists like little fighter jets with chirpy calls. Spend any time on the Virgin River, and you'll see why they make a great ambassador for Zion National Park.