Bear River National Wildlife Refuge—Utah

 

Surrounded by arid desert-lands, it is little wonder the Bear River marshes have been an historical waterfowl oasis and a birders haven for years! The Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge is part of the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWR). It lies east of the Promontory Mountains, at the northern tip of the Great Salt Lake, of Utah. The refuge consists thousands of acres of marsh, open water and mudflats, as well as thousands of acres of uplands, wet meadows and ponds. It has long been a major oasis for shorebirds and waterfowl and upland birds. The millions of feathered visitors that congregate at the refuge during migration ultimately spread out over our hemisphere. Some birds banded at this refuge have shown up as far away as Russia, Central America and the islands of the Pacific.
 

Spring is a time when Bear River Refuge is very active with bird life as they fly back from the south. There is a continuous flow of different species in and out of the refuge.  Each day offers something new. Birds are in their bright and colorful breeding plumage and the observant visitor can witness courtship rituals that are eons-old. Geese and ducks begin to arrive in late March.  Spring shorebird migration lasts from early April through mid-May.
 

Summer is a great time to bird this wonderful hot spot. While some birds head further north to breed, over 50 species stay at Bear River through the summer to breed and raise their young.  Hatchlings can be seen as early as May when the goslings of the Canada Goose make their debut. Later in June and July, visitors can view ducklings and young shorebirds such as American avocets and Black-necked stilts.  In July, the sight of young Western Grebes riding atop their parents’ backs is a great sight. August brings spectacular numbers of waterfowl and shorebirds. Over 200 species of birds have been identified here on this refuge, and over 60 species have nested here. Also the Cache Valley near Logan and the nearby forest are amazing. You may find Williamson’s Sapsucker, Three-toed Woodpecker, Pine Grosbeak the Red Crossbill, Virginia’s Warbler and Calliope Hummingbirds.
 

Fall, in many ways begins in July, at least according to a waterfowl calendar. Shorebirds come back through the refuge on their way south and numbers peak in mid-August. Up to a half million ducks and geese concentrate on the refuge. Over 30,000 tundra swans begin to arrive in mid-October and stay through December.