- President Teddy Roosevelt
- The National Refuge System, which includes Utah's Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, was begun by President Teddy Roosevelt in 1903 in an effort to halt the legal, wholesale slaughter of pelicans on Pelican Island, Florida.
- Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge
- The Refuge was created in 1928 by congress to preserve the delta of the Bear River for migrating waterfowl and other wildlife. The Bear River head waters are actually less than one hundred miles away, as the crow flies, but meanders more than five hundred miles before it empties into the Great Salt Lake at the current Refuge delta.
Surrounded by arid desertlands, the Bear River delta has long served as an oasis for migrating birds. Utah is the second driest state, with only 1% of its current land considered wetlands. Early settlers moved into the area with ambitious projects to divert water for irrigation. By the 1920s, only two or three thousand acres of the original forty-five thousand acres of marshland remained. This loss of habitat posed a serious problem to migrating birds. This process, however, was slow and attracted little attention, but the wholesale death of millions of birds to boulism drew gruesome and immediate attention. In 1910, alone, over two million birds died of botulism. This spurred the effort to preserve these precious wetlands.
- Research
- Research is an important part of the Refuge mission. There is an ongoing partnership with Utah State University studying the botulism problems among Refuge birds. In addition, there are constant studies into wetland habitats, bird migration patterns, water quality, and management of the Bear River waters for use on the Refuge.
- Dikes and impoudnments
- The Refuge currently consists of 74,000 acres. There have been over 50 miles of dikes and 47 water control structures and bridges constructed. To date over a million and a half cubic yards of dirt have been moved. This allows the Refuge personel to manage the water levels and flow throughout the Refuge.
- Botulism
- Botulism has been an ongoing problem at the Refuge. 500,000 birds died of botulism in 1997 alone. Thanks to ongoing research by USU and Refuge scientist, plans are now underway to use state-of-the-art water management capabilities to control water levels and drain areas where botulism outbreaks occur.
- Hunting
- Bear River Refuge is known throughout the country as a premier waterfowl hunting destination. The 1997 season brought a total of 12,230 hunters to the Refuge.
- Bird watching
- The Refuge is noted as one of the "top dozen birding hotspots in North America" by Roger Tory Peterson. Over thirty-six thousand wildlife watchers visited the Refuge in 1997. The Refuge hosts 221 bird species, 88 of which are commonly sighted.
- Education
- The Refuge has tried to fill a very important need to educate people and especially children on the importance of wetlands. A 1995 study showed that there was a significant gap between the level of awareness people have about wetlands and the opportunities available to satisfy those needs. The Refuge currently offers on site field trip opportunities for school age children and also some in-class demonstrations.
- Wetlands role in nature
- People today are becoming more aware of the value of wetlands. Beyond the obvious role of providing habitat for waterfowl and shore birds, the deeper role of wetlands is also becoming more and more appearant and understood. During high water and runoff seasons, wetlands act as a natural flood control. Wetlands also act as a natural filtration system. They remove sediments and even toxic chemicals from our water supplies. Some areas of the United States are even using wetlands as a natural sewage treament system.
- Marshes
- The Bear River Bird Refuge consists of a variety of wetlands including traditional marshes.
- Open Water
- Large expanses of open water are also an important part of the Refuge wetland offerings.
- Mud Flats
- Mud flats and other shallow and even dry areas are an important Refuge habitat and transition zone for many shore birds and other wildlife.
- Alkaline Bulrushes
- Alkaline Bulrushes are a very important habitat plant for the Refuge ecosystem. Bulrushes provide food,cover, nesting, and shelter for ducks and other waterfowl
- Alkaline grasses
- Alkaline grasses are an important soucre of both food and habitat for many Refuge animals.
- Bullthistle
- Bullthistle is an important food source for many animals and also provides shelter for some small birds.
- Cattail
- Cattail is propably the most recognizable of the wetland plants. It is the plant that most people expect to see when they visit a wetland. Cattails provide food, nesting, shelter and cover for many wetland residents. You will commonly find Red-winged Blackbirds perching precariously to the tufted end of a cattail.
- Duckweed
- Duckweed, as its name implies, is a significant food source for ducks as well as other waterfowl. Duckweed floats on the surface of the water and is not rooted to the bottom.
- Salt Grass
- Salt Grass is one more of the varied but significant food supplies offered on the Refuge.
- Fieldmint
- Fieldmint is one of the more pleasanltly aromatic plants of the wetland. It is not only a popular food source for refuge wildlife, but also a tempting nibble for the Refuge's human visitors as well.
- Floating Lady's Thumb
- The Floating Lady's Thumb is one of the more beautiful wetland plants. It is also a very important food source for wetalnd birds.
- Foxtail Barley
- Foxtail Barley is a very common sight at the Refuge. It is a common food source and a spcetacular sight when it is fully headed and swaying on a gentle breeze.
- Hardstem Bulrushes
- Hardstem Bulrushes are another variety of the important and widespread wetland bulrushes.
- Muskrat Lodge
- Wetland plants such as cattails and bulrushes provide a variety of uses including beaver-like lodge for wetland muskrats.
- Marsh Wren Nest
- Cattails also provide nesting for Marsh Wrens. The Marsh Wren will actuallly weave the cattails into the nesting material. Thye also make a series of "false" nests in addition to their "real" nest. This is appearantly a decoy method used to discourage predators from raiding their eggs.
- Milkweed
- Milkweed is also one of the Refuge's numerous and varied plants species. Most students are familiar with Milkweed's role as a food source for Monarch caterpillars, but it provides food and shelter for many other of the Refuge's residents as well.
- Olney's Bulrush
- Olney's Bulrush is one more variety of the bulrush family. A mainstay of the wetland ecosystem.
- Prairie Cordgrass
- Prairie Cordgrass is another grass variety which plays a significant food and shelter role in the Refuge's ecosystem
- Puncture Weed
- Puncture Weed is probably a familiar plant but may not be too popular, especially among bike riders. Despite its popularity, though, it still fills an important role in the Refuge's ecosystem.
- Stinging Nettle
- Stinging Nettle may also not be a very popular plant, especially with the innocent intruder into a patchy of this common plant, but it also plays a significant food role in the Refuge ecosystem.
- Wild Flowers
- Various varieties of wild flowers are in bloom throughout the spring and into the summer months at the Refuge. They provide not only food for wildlife but also offer the Refuge visitors a visual feast to contrast to the beauty of the birds and wetlands.
- Wirelettuce
- Wirelettuce is one more of the beautiful,abundant and diverse plant varieties which compose the Refuge's plant tapestry.
- Great Blue Heron
- Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) is the largest of the permanent residents. It is mainly grayish with a pale or yellowish bill. Unlike the Sandhill Crane, the Great Blue Heron flies with its neck folded, rather than extended. Because of its size, the Great Blue Heron feeds on a variety of prey including large fish, frogs, mice, small birds, and insects. This variety of food sources allows the Great Blue Heron to stay at the Refuge throughout the year.
- Canada Goose
- Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) is an easily recognizable permanent resident of the Refuge. It has a brownish body with black head, long black neck, and a large white cheek patch. When flying in their famous "V" formation they make a very distinctive, rich and musical honking sound. Their habitat includes lakes, bays, rivers, and marshes throughout North America. They often feed in open grasslands and stubble fields. Their are actually 11 geographical races, ranging in size from the "Giant Canada Goose" of the northern prairies to the much smaller "Cackling Goose" which is about the size of a Mallard.
- Mallard
- Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) is very recognizable because of its green head, white neck ring, chestnut breast, and grayish body. The inner feathers of the wing are a beautiful metallic purplish blue. They are found in ponds, lakes, marshes, bays, and even river bends, ditches and city ponds. The Mallard is the most abundant duck in the world. Nearly 10 million live in North America alone. The Mallard is a strong flyer and has been known to migrate great distances.
- Red-tailed Hawk
- Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) is a common large stocky hawk. It is best noted for its namesake rust-colored tail. They are distinguished from the similar Swainson's Hawk by their stockier build, broader, more rounded wings, and white chest. The Red-tailed hawk can frequently be seen soaring or perching in trees or power lines looking for any slight movement. The distinctive high-pitched scream is often thought to be the cry of raptors in general but is the sole characteristic of the Red-tailed Hawk.
- American Coot
- American Coot (Fulica americana) is a gray, duck-like bird with white bill and frontal shield. It is found in open ponds and marshes throughout North America and is a permanent resident of the Refuge. Coots feed by diving to the bottom, dabbling at the surface, grazing on shore, and stealing food from other diving birds. They are excellent swimmers, but because they are a heavy bird they sometimes look awkward when they try to take off and fly.
- California Gull
- California Gull (Larus californicus) is not only our Utah state bird but a permanent resident of the Refuge. It is among the most common of the inland gulls. The California Gull achieved fame when it arrived in great numbers and devoured a swarm of locust that threatened the first crops of the early Mormon settlers in Utah. A statue in Salt Lake City commemorates the event. The California Gull has darker gray mantle, dark eye, reddish eye ring, and greenish legs.
- Horned Lark
- Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris) is larger than a sparrow. It is brown, with a black stripe below its eye and a white or yellowish stripe above it. It has a black crescent on its breast, and black "horns" wich are not always visible. The Horned Lark walks or runs rather than hops, and feeds on seeds and ground insects. The Horned Lark is the only true lark native to North America. The Horned Lark is philopatric, which means its is loyal to its birth place.
- Common Raven
- Common Raven (Corvus corax) is similar to the American Crow but larger, with a heavier bill and a wedge-shaped tail, rather than the fan-shaped tail of the Crow. Although its commonly found in coniferous forests, it is also found in deserts and is a permanent resident of the Refuge. Ravens are primarily scavengers and compete with gulls for scraps of food. They also raid nests for eggs. They are frequently confused with hawks because they also soar on air currents and indulge in aerial acrobatics.
- Red-winged Blackbird
- Red-Winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) is a very common bird to the Refuge. Its name is the best description of this bird. It can frequently be found clinging to cattails and singing its rich and distinctive "o-ka-leeee." The Red-winged Blackbird is common to wetlands but can be found near any body of water and even in upland pastures.
- Pied-billed Grebe
- Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)is a versatile bird that is able adapt to salt water if fresh water sources are frozen. It eats small fish, crustaceans, and aquatic insects. It is especially fond of crayfish, which it easily crushes with its strong bill. When frightened this grebe slowly sinks below the water and resurfaces out of sight among the reeds. It can also dive with amazing speed which gave it the nickname "Hell-diver."
- Western Grebe
- Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) is a large slender grebe with a long slender neck. One of the most interesting features of this grebe is its mating habit. Both members of the pair will vigorously paddle and churn accross the surface of the water in an upright position. These grebes have often been victims to oil spills and pesticides which accumulate in their bodies, and reduce their breeding success.
- American White Pelican
- American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) is a very recognizable bird with its size and large fleshy bill. The syncronization of the flight of a flock of this magnificent large bird is a sight that is not soon forgotten. They rise high on air currents where they will soar in slow graceful circles. The Pelican is most noted for its large bill which takes in both water and fish. The water is drained out before swallowing the fish.
- Double-crested Cormorant
- Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) is a solidly built black cormorant with a distinctive orange throat pouch and long neck. The name cormorant is derived from a latin word meaning "sea crow." It is the only cormorant that typically nests inland.
- Snowy Egret
- Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) is a small, delicate white heron with a slender black bill, black legs, and distinctive yellow feet. During the breeding season, it has long lacy plumes on its head, neck, and back. They often feed by sprinting through shallow water chasing minnows and shrimp. At the Refuge, they are commonly found on the down stream side of spillways.
- Cattle Egret
- Cattle Egret (Budulous ibis) is a small, stocky white heron that has a yellowish crown, breast, and back during the mating season. Their legs are a pale yellowish or orange. They frequently forage alongside livestock in open fields or pastures. They wait for insects that are disturbed by grazing livestock. They have even been know to wait on the side of runways for aircraft to disturb insects during take off or landing. Unlike other egrets they seldom eat fish, but will occasionally eat frogs or toads.
- Black-crowned Night-heron
- Black-crown Night-heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) is a medium-sized, stocky, short necked heron with a black crown and back, gray wings, and white underparts. Its bill is short and balck, and legs are pinkish or orange. During the mating season it has 2 or more white plumes on the back of its head. As the name implies, this heron is nocturnal and begins feeding when most other heron roost for the night. They are a slow and patient hunter, waiting silently for a frog or fish to pass by. They are also known to plunder the nests of other herons or terns and gulls. They will also stalk grasslands looking for meadow voles.
- White-faced Ibis
- White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi) is a large, chestnut-bronze marsh bird with a long down-curved bill and a band of white feathers around its bare face. It also has red eyes and red legs. The White-faced Ibis is the only ibis found in the West. Its diet consists of insects, salamanders, crustaceans, shellfish and other small fish. It has been making a recent comeback after having been greatly depleted by pesticides.
- Northern Pintail
- Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) is a long-necked slender duck. The male has a brown head, white underparts and neck, with a white line extending onto the side of the head, grayish back and sides, and its namesake long, black, pointed central tail feathers. Although not as numerous as the Mallard, it is still a very common duck with over six million in North America. Some winter flocks can number in the thousands. Aquatic plant seeds are the Pintail's favorite food, but will also eats small aquatic animals as well.
- Cinnamon Teal
- Cinnamon Teal (Anas cyanoptera) male is a bright rufous with pale blue shoulder patches. The female is sandy brown with pale blue shoulder patches. The Cinnamon Teal is the western relative of the more widespread Blue-winged Teal. The Cinnamon Teal travels in small, fast flocks.
- Redhead
- Redhead (Aythya americana) male is predominently gray with its distinctive brick-red head. The female is duller and browner. Redheads do most of their feeding at night. They spend the daylight hours resting on the water. This duck has declined greatly in numbers because of hunting and habitat destruction. Carp have also competed with the Redhead for aquatic plants. There are currently about 600,000 Redheads left in North America.
- Ruddy Duck
- Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) is a small, chunky duck with a long tail that is often held straight up. The male in breeding season has a chestnut body, black crown, and white cheeks. It also has a blue bill during breeding season which is black at other times. The female and winter male are dusky brown. Like the grebe, the Ruddy Duck can sink slowly beneath the surface. It is a strong flier and has been known to migrate long distances. Although it is primarily a vegetarian, feeding on pondweed and seeds, it will feed on midge larvae during the mating season.
- Turkey Vulture
- Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) is a large eagle-sized blackish bird. It is usually seen over the wetlands and pastures near the Refuge. In flight, the wings are held upward in a "V" shape. The tail of the Turkey Vulture is long. and the head is bare and reddish. Sometimes called "buzzard", the Turkey Vulture will scavenge on dead carcasses. They will soar for long periods of time and depend heavily on an accute sense of smell. They depend on thermal currents and are rarely seen on windless days when thermals currents do not form. Although they are often seen as disgusting scavengers, they serve a very important ecological role in removing garbage and disease-causing carrion from the environment.
- Virgina Rail
- Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola) is a small rail with a long reddish bill, rusty underparts, barred flanks, and gray cheeks. The Virginia Rail is a common but elusive marsh bird. It is ofeten detected by its distinctive call which sounds like: "ticket, ticket, ticket, ticket." The Virginia Rail, like other rails prefers to run through thick marsh vegetation rather than fly. When it does fly, it usually flies only short distances before disappearing into the thick under growth. Despite its hesitancy to fly, they have been known to migrate great distances.
- Killdeer
- Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) is the largest "ringed" plover. Its call of "kill-dee, fill-dee" or "killdeer, killdeer" is where this noisy and well known shorebird gets its name. The Killdeer is not only a common wetland shorebird but is frequently found on golf courses and vacant lots. The male has a unique display to distract predators. It will pretend to be mortally wounded and draw the predator away from the female and the nesting site. It hops on one foot and drags a wing as if injured. Once the act has proven effective in drawing away the enemy, the male will suddenly recover and fly away calling loudly.
- Black-necked Stilt
- Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) is a slender, long-legged shorebird with white underparts and black top. Its head is patterned in black and white, with a long thin bill and long, slender, red legs. It makes a sharp "kip-kip-kip-kip" sound. The Black-necked Stilt is a noisy and easily spotted shorebird at the Refuge. The Black--necked Stilt has declined in numbers lately due to hunting and destruction of habitat.
- American Avocet
- American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana) is a common shorebird at the Refuge. Avocets sweep their bills through shallow water picking up crustaceans, aquatic insects, and floating seeds. They often feed in flocks advancing abreast, sometimes submerging their heads as they sweep the water for food.
- Willet
- Willet (Catoptrophorus semipalmatus) is a large, gray-brwon shorebird, with a long straight bill. It is best identified in flight by its flashy black and white wing pattern. Its call of "pill-will-willett" gives this bird its name. The Willet is rather nondescript on the ground, but their wing pattern in flight makes them easily distinguished. They feed independently but will all join in flight when disturbed.
- Long-billed Curlew
- Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus) is a large curlew with warm brown and buff below, and cinnamon wing linings. The very long sickle-shaped bill is its most distincitve feature. The Long-billed Curlew is the largest shorebird and is also a frequent visitor across the Great Plains. On grasslands they feed on insects but in wetlands they feed on crustaceans, mollusks, and seeds.
- Wilson's Phalarope
- Wilson's Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor) is a strikingly patterned shorebird with a needle-like bill. Unlike other phalaropes the Wilson's Phalarope is a poor swimmer and therefore spends most of its time inland and no time at sea. When feeding, they spin in circles rapidly.
- Forester's Tern
- Forester's Tern (Stema forsteri) is white with pale gray back and wings, a black cap, and a deeply forked tail. It has an orange bill with a black tip. This is an exclusively North American tern. It is very similar to the Common Tern but prefers inland marshes over sandy or pebbly beaches.
- Cliff Swallow
- Cliff Swallow (Hirundo pyrrhonota) is a small sparrow-sized swallow. It is a stocky bird with a square tail and pale buff rump. The upperparts are a dull steel blue, the underparts are buff-white, and the throat is dark chestnut. At the Refuge they can be found at virtually every bridge. As their name implies, they commonly nest on clffs. The introduction of House Sparrows was nearly disastrous for these birds, since the sparrows will take over their nests forcing the swallows to abandon their colonies.
- Barn Swallow
- Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) is the most familiar swallow. It is the only swallow with a deeply forked tail. Its dark steel-blue upperparts, buff underparts and rusty throat and forehead make this a beautiful and distinctive swallow. Originally they nested on rocky ledges but have now adapted to nesting on or in buildings. They are great fliers and can migrate as far as 600 miles in a single day.
- Marsh Wren
- Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustis) is a common but elusive summer resident of the refuge. It's size, smaller than a sparrow, and brownish coloring camouflage it nicely among the cattails and bulrushes. It weaves its nest right in among the cattails. It feeds on insects it takes from the plants as well as the surface of the water. They are noted for building partially completed "dummy" nests. Finding a true nest with eggs is a very difficult task.
- Yellow-headed Blackbird
- Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) is a common and distincive Refuge summer resident. The male has a brighter yellow head than the female. Their nesting habits usually limit them to a small area and therefore make for spotting numerous Yellow-headed Blackbirds at one time. Approaching predators are frequently mobbed by clouds of Yellow-headed Blackbirds.
- Eared Grebe
- Eared Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis) is a small slender-necked, slender-billed grebe. In breeding plummage, black head and back; golden ear tufts; black crest. In winter plummage, dark gray above, white below, neck dusky. The Eared Grebe feeds almost exclusively on aquatic insects and small crustaceans. They are most often seen in very large, noisy colonies.
- Tundra Swan
- Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus) is the most common swan in the West. Because they breed in remote areas, the Tundra Swan has so far escaped the fate of the closely related Trumpeter Swan which was reduced to near extinction by hunting and habitat destruction. They are arctic breeders but frequent both the wets and east coast as well as our own Refuge.
- Sandhill Crane
- Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) is very tall, with long neck and legs. It is mainly gray, with red forehead. The plumage may appear rusty due to iron stains from the water of tundra ponds. Similar to their larger relative, the Whooping Crane, the Sandhill Crane avoided many of the problems of its relative because it breeds in remote regions. It is however, sensitive to human disturbances and has been impacted by the drainage of marshes and swamps. The mating dance of the sandhill crane is a spectacular sight to behold. The mating pair will face each other and leap into the air. They will then bow and repeat the performance.
- Marbled Godwit
- Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa) is a crow-sized shorebird, with a long upturned bill.The spring aerial displays of males chasing each other in figure eights is a spectacle to see. Their dark, mottled, cinnamon-buff color make them easily camoulfaged.
- Black Tern
- Black Tern (Childonias niger) is a medium sized tern with black head and underparts. It has gray wings with a slightly forked tail. They usually nest in small groups and in shallow water. They eat insects as well as small fish and crustaceans which they snatch right from the water.
- Bald Eagle
- Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is our national symbol and a regular winter visitor to the Refuge. The Bald Eagle is making a slow but steady comeback from a disastrous decline due to pesticide use. They will feed at the Refuge until mid March and suddenly disperse until the following winter.
- White-crowned Sparrow
- White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) is easily recognizable with its black head and distinctive white stripes. Most of their feeding is done on the ground, but their curiosity makes them easy to entice in for a clsoer look by experienced bird watchers.
- Dark-eyed Junco
- Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) is a precocious ground feeder which is recognizable by its gray hood which completely covers its head and goes partially down its back. They are very lively winter visitors to the Refuge, feeding mainly on seed and fruit.
- Carp
- Carp were first introduced into Utah in 1881 as a possible new sport fishing source. They proved to not be popular for fishing and because they have few enemies they have flourished. The warm waters of the Refuge have proven to be an ideal habitat for the carp, but the carp have had a detrimental effect on the water quality and the environment. Because the carp stir up the silt, they have a detrimental effect on both plants and insect larvae, which ultimately affects the birds food source.
- Badger
- Badgers (Taxidea taxus) are occasionally found in the area of the Refuge. They will feed on eggs of nesting birds as well as young chicks. This presents a problem for the Refuge managers.
- Bat box
- Bats are voracious insect eaters. For this reason the Refuge encourages the bat on the Refuge by building bat boxes. They have been known to inhabit the nearby restroom facilities as well. Therefore, the bat box also offers a more socially acceptable alternative.
- Big Brown Bat
- The Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus) is an erratic flying bat that catches insects while on the fly. Bats are sometimes thought by some people to be flying mice, but they are actually a unique and very specialized species of mammals.
- Dragonfly
- The dragonfly is a very beautiful and common resident of the Refuge. Dragonfly larvae hatch in water and are frequently used as food sources for many Refuge birds. The adult dragonfly is a voracious insect eater. The larvae are also predacious, feeding on mosquito as well as other larvae.
- Frogs
- Frogs are a very common and often noisy Refuge resident. Especially in the spring, frog choruses are a sure sign that the Refuge wildlife is returning from a long winter. Frogs are hibernators, burying themselves in the Refuge mud to wait out the cold winter months.
- Kitfox
- The kit fox (Vulpes macrotis) is a night predator at the Refuge. It will frequently attack nests and eat eggs or small chicks. The Refuge has an ongoing dilemna about what to do with such natural predators.
- Midges
- One of the features that any visitor to the Refuge is sure to see are the clouds of midges. Midges are a very common insect and are frequently found in large numbers. The larvae of midges are aquatic and frequently live in tubes made from debris. Midges and their larvae are a very important food source for Refuge birds.
- Mule Deer
- The Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus) is an unexpected, but very common resident of the Refuge. Many deer have found safety in living in wetlands and along river banks.
- Muskrat
- Muskrats (Ondatra zibethica) are very common residents, building beaver-like lodges in and around the cattails. They will also burrow into the banks. Muskrats will eat mainly aquatic vegetation and frogs and fish.
- Skunk
- Skunks (Mephitis mephitis) are another predator of the Refuge which presents problems for the management of the bird populations. Skunks will maraud nests for eggs and also feed on young chicks.
- Weasle
- Weasles (mustela erminea) are a cunning and effective predator. They are chiefly nocturnal, but will also hunt during the day. The weasle will eat mice, and birds, which presents a similar problem for Refuge personel as the skunk, badger, and kitfox.
- Kids Corner
- One of the most popular displays at the Bird Festival is the Kids Corner. Volunteers man this booth which is a great hands-on learning opportunity for kids of all ages. The kids will use cattails and bulrushes to build nest. They also have materials to experience how a birds beak or bill works in gathering food. The kids, and their parents, are offered a chance to establish a lifetime interest in nature.
- Brigham City Schools Banners
- Prior to the openeing of the official Bird Festival, local school children participate in a banner creation art project. The banners which are created by students from elementary through high school are prepared and hung from the light posts on main street Brigham City. Any visit to the Bird Festival should include a walking tour up and down main street to see the variety and creativity of the local students art work.
- Retriever Demonstration
- Another one of the popular demosnstrations at the Bird Festival involves the skills of retrievers and their trainers. These well trained dogs put on a delightful show of the role dogs play in the hunters success.
- Decoy Display
- Look carefully. These are not real geese but just decoys. You may not have been fooled, but it does work for migrating geese. Visitors at the Bird Festival enjoy being able to see the decoys up close and also in use.
- Friends of the Refuge
- A very important part of the success of not only the Bird Festival, but of the expansion and restoration of the Refuge is a local (and sometimes not so local) volnuteer group known as the Friends of the Bear River Bird Refuge. This tireless group conducts various fundraising efforts to enhance the Refuge's educational and recreational use.
- Hunting Display
- Another of the popular displays is the hunting display. This booth has various types of shot guns and ammo on display, as well as decoys. They also have information about hunting regulations, benefits, and successful hints and techniques.
- Air Boat
- Certainly one of the most attractive displays was this air boat. The air boat is a very unique and essential water craft built for skimming over the shallow waters of the Refuge wetlands.
- Nature Photography Display
- The Nature Photography Display was a great place for amateurs and professionals to get a few pointers on capturing those successful pictures. As part of the display they had cameras set up with a variety of zoom lenses, all focused at the same object. This gave visitors the opportunity to see first hand the differnece that zoom lenses can make.
- Refuge Activities Highlights
- The Friends of the Refuge had also put together a very nice display board highlighting the variety of opportunities, actvitives and contributions made by the Refuge.
- Lectures and Demonstrations
- Under the main pavillion of the Refuge, various lectures and demonstrations were offered througout the day. Lectures included this one on Wetlands. There were also lectures and demonstrations on the Archeology of the Refuge, Botulism, and Bird Banding.
- Proposed site for the new Visitor/Education Center
- The new facilty will be built on property that is currently owned by the Refuge. It is locate just west of the Interstate 15, Forest Street exit.
- Visitor/Education Center
- The new Visitor/Education center will feature a boardwalk from the parking lot through the wetlands to the center. There will also be a viewing platform and tower. The facility will house a 250 seat auditorium/theatre. There will also be an interactive exhibit hall and labs set up for reasearch and teaching. In addition there will be a multipurpose room and volunteer offices. It will also include an information/reception area as well as a gift shop and bookstore.
- Information Center
- At the main Refuge site, you will find an information center bulletin board. The center includes various pamphlets including Refuge information and adult and children birding list guides.
- Pavilion
- At the main facility is a large covered pavilion for school groups or individuals to use. There are also some observation platfroms and plans to build a new observation deck.
- Twelve Mile Loop Tour
- From the main Refuge parking lot, the visitor can then take a twelve mile loop around one of the Refuge's dikes. The drive is a one way loop with numerous turnouts for bird watching and photography. Along the loop there are numerous interpretive signs to enhance the visitors trip. Signs include topics such as this one on the historic Lake Bonneville. They also include wildlife information such as a sign on Grebe's, another on Carp and still another on Bats. Other signs include information on plants, habitats and even seasonal changes at the Refuge. If you plan on taking the loop, you will want to bring along your binoculars, a camera, maybe a bird field guide and take lots of time to enjoy the incredible experience.
- Refuge Entrance
- During your 15 mile drive from Brigham City, you will have many opportunities for bird sightings, but you will know you have arrived at the refuge when you see this sign. Prior to the flooding of the 1980's the main headquarters for the refuge was housed at this location. The flooding destroyed all of the buildings, but hard work and determination restored not only the habitat, but also the visitors opportunities to visit and learn at this unique and incredible sight.