Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Utah

“Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge lies in northern Utah, where the Bear River flows into the northeast arm of the Great Salt Lake. The Refuge protects the marshes found at the mouth of the Bear River; these marshes are the largest freshwater component of the Great Salt Lake ecosystem. Since these marshes are in turn surrounded by arid desert lands, it is little wonder that they have always been an oasis for waterbirds and wildlife.” ~~ fws.gov

Only a few miles from our campsite in Brigham City, UT, lies the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. We took advantage of the beautiful weather we’ve had since arriving to do the 12 mile auto tour of the Refuge.  The Refuge contains approximately 80,000 acres of marsh, open water, uplands, and alkali mudflats. Over 250 species of migrating birds move through this area by the millions annually to rest and feed. The marshes and open water are managed using a complex system of dikes and water control structures to provide a variety of water depths suitable for the needs of different waterbird species.

We didn’t see any large flocks of birds during our visit but we did run into large clouds of newly hatched midges. The billions of midges which hatch in the refuge are a food source for the migrating birds. The Bear River midges we encountered looked a lot like mosquitoes. However, from what we’ve read they do not bite. But today I’d tell you some of them do.

It was a beautiful day and an enjoyable drive.