Spring is here, which means wildlife migrations are in full swing in Utah. Bird-watching is a great opportunity to get outdoors and see a wide variety of birds during their annual migrations — and enjoy the fun challenge of trying to identify them!
World Migratory Bird Day is Saturday, May 9 and celebrates the migration of over 300 species of migratory birds between nesting habitats in North America and nonbreeding grounds in Latin America, Mexico and the Caribbean. Whether you are a bird-watching enthusiast or just like being outside in nature, here are some events to check out and several other great places to see migrating birds in Utah this spring:
EVENTS
World Migratory Bird Day at Eccles Wildlife Education Center
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources will be hosting an event on Saturday, May 9 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the DWR's George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Wildlife Education Center at 1157 S. Waterfowl Way in Farmington. The education center is located next to Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area — home to a wide variety of birds, with over 300 species migrating through the area each spring and fall.
Participants can join mini-workshops on how to use the popular birding app, eBird, as well as learn about the Utah Birding Slam, a fun bird-watching challenge that also raises funding to support a variety of habitat improvement and bird research projects. Binoculars will be available for use by those who want to bird-watch on the education center's nature trails.
While the event is free, participants are asked to register in advance on Eventbrite.
Great Salt Lake Bird Festival
The 28th annual Great Salt Lake Bird Festival is an exciting opportunity to see and learn more about birds in Utah. Sponsored by Davis County, this event will take place May 14-17 at locations around the Wasatch Front. The festival offers a variety of birding field trips, some of which will be led by DWR biologists and take place at DWR waterfowl management areas. The 3-day event will also offer other activities, including workshops, family events and a vendor fair. Visit the website and register in advance.
BIRD-WATCHING LOCATIONS
If you want to do some bird-watching on your own this year, early mornings (between 6-9 a.m.) are great times to locate birds, since they tend to be very vocal and active during those hours.
It's also helpful to use binoculars and to have a bird identification book — or an online resource like eBird or Merlin — during your birding trip. Both can be very useful in identifying the different bird species you may see. Visit the DWR website for more bird-watching resources.
Northern Utah
- Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge: Visitors can enjoy a self-guided 12-mile automobile tour at this national wildlife refuge and see a variety of birds that use the refuge as a migratory stopover. The tour route is open every day from sunrise to sunset. Find more details on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website.
- Antelope Island State Park: This is a great spot to see a variety of shorebirds that use the Great Salt Lake and is also home to burrowing owls.
- The Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve — along the eastern shore of the Great Salt Lake between Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area and the Antelope Island State Park Causeway — is a unique system of salt and fresh water marshes, ponds, sloughs and mudflats. It is a rich feeding ground for tens of thousands of migrating birds.
- Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area and the trails around the DWR's George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Wildlife Education Center: Over 300 species migrate through the area each spring and fall. However, visitors should note that there are seasonal closures each year on parts of the WMA to protect nesting birds.
- Mountain reservoirs: East Canyon, Hyrum, Echo and Pineview reservoirs are all great places to view common loons on their migration north to their breeding territories.
Central Utah
- Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge: This is arguably one of the best places to see birds in Utah.
- Utah Lake State Park and the Provo River Delta: The park and the airport dike road, as well as the delta, are great places to see migrating birds. Young ducklings and goslings can often be seen in the Provo River and Utah Lake during late April and May.
- River corridors and other wetland areas: The Provo River Trail, Spanish Fork River, Hobble Creek Trail and Jordan River Trails are also great bird-watching locations.
Northeastern Utah
- Ouray National Wildlife Refuge: This location also offers a self-guided 9-mile automobile tour that provides a great opportunity to view several different habitats and birds, especially from the observation tower. Find more details on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website.
- Pelican Lake: This waterbody has a large diversity of waterfowl and migratory songbirds.
- Red Canyon Overlook near Flaming Gorge: This area offers an opportunity to see some high-elevation birds.
- Stewart Lake Waterfowl Management Area
- Mountain reservoirs: Big Sandwash, Matt Warner, Red Fleet and Steinaker reservoirs are great places to view migrating common loons. You can also often see pelicans at Matt Warner Reservoir this time of year. All of these reservoirs are ideal places to see small songbirds, as well, due to the variety of habitats they offer.
Southeastern Utah
- Mill Creek: This area near Moab is a great spot for viewing migrating birds.
- Desert Lake Waterfowl Management Area
- Scott and Norma Matheson Wetlands Preserve: This is a great area to see migrating birds. The main entrance is currently closed due to flooding, but visitors can still get in through the open back entrance. Parking details can be found on the website.
Southern Utah
- Lytle Nature Preserve
- Tonaquint Nature Center in St. George
- Quail Creek State Park
- Sand Hollow State Park
- Jackson Flat Reservoir in Kanab
If you are interested in bird-watching from the comfort of your own home, you can find a few tips on the DWR website.