Dave's Science Blog: Bird Watching: Farmington Bay & Bear River Refuge

This post is dedicated to two very important areas in Utah that are critical for migratory bird populations on our side of the globe; they are Bear River Refuge and Farmington Bay. Most people don’t realize that Utah is an incredibly important stopping point for birds from South America to Canada. These two areas are so important because many birds stop to feed and many others use it as a nesting ground. Disturbance, water loss and destruction of these areas has a dramatic affect on global bird populations. I’ve also added a bit about Tracy Aviary if you want to see some wicked birds up close.

If you’re a bird lover or just need something different to do on a Saturday, any of these places will fit the bill for a good old time.

Bear River Refuge

Bear River Refuge is a beautiful wetlands area just west of Brigham City Utah. The wetlands were once about 45 thousand acres around 1900. By the 20’s due to water diversion for human use, only about three thousand acres were left due to drying up. By 1928 people noticed that massive disease was taking killing off much of the bird populations because of the low water and constricted area, and Congress passed an act to protect the area making it a National Wildlife Refuge. It was during this time that scientists were trying to figure out what was killing all of the birds. They spent most of their day sloshing around the wetlands in hip waders counting dead birds (turned out to be botchulism do to low water). It was then that they came up with a way to navigate the wetlands in a more efficient way; they invented the air boat.

Yep, right here in the state of Utah. (And you thought it began in the swamps of the south and on CSI Miami) The first one wasn’t as big as the modern version, it was a canoe with a fan strapped on the back but it did the trick. The boat is on display in their new visitor center which has lots of educational stuff for adults and kids. Cool place.

I think that they do charge a fee to get in but it’s worth the cash. Visit the Bear River Refuge website

This is a May article from the Deseret News about the refuge.

Here are some links to video of birds that I've seen at B.R.R. which I particularly like:

American Avocet - the only bird that has a bill the turns upward.

Sand Hill Cranes

Farmington Bay

Farmington Bay is an amazing place. It is truly one of Utah’s great treasures that is open year round w/o any fees. Hundreds of thousands of waterfowl, songbirds and raptors come to Farmington bay during the migration and nesting seasons (fall and spring). More than 200 species have been documented and 57 species which nest here regularly.

In the later winter months, around February, ducks and geese start to show up looking for tasty things to each in the melting snow and ice. In March and April is when the shorebirds usually start showing up. When I went there for the first time I was amazed at the types of birds that I saw. They are birds that you would never see in the city or even in the country. They are large and really cool. I’ve posted some of the shorebirds that I saw out there.

September is the beginning of the fall migration for most of the waterfowl. Tundra swans which are impressive, are usually the last to leave during November and December. By the end of December most bird species have “gotten out of Dodge” except for the bald eagles which choose Farmington Bay in little ol’ Utah to spend the winter. There are tons of eagles to see in the area.

It is important for us to think about both of these places when we think about growth in the Salt Lake Valley and the use of water. It is vital that we conserve these areas in order to protect large populations of birds. They depend on us to keep these wetlands available for them to survive, mate and to have offspring.

So, you don’t have to go to the zoo, you can see them in the wild.

Farmington Bay is located west of Farmington at 1325 West Glover Lane. Take Exit 322 off I-15, drive south on frontage road to Glover, then west on Glover.

Farmington Bay Website

Tracy Aviary

The Tracy Aviary is good place to go if you want a really casual day looking at some birdies and one that’s great for little kids which can see them up close and personal. They have some really neat birds; red-tailed hawks, great horned owls, Andean condors (which are super ugly dudes), sand hill cranes, toucans and tons of exotic ones you never knew existed.

Tracy Aviary website

They are located in Salt Lake City at Liberty Park. Wow, you could even come visit us while you’re in the area!

Video of Great Horned Owls - you can see at the Tracy Aviary