Birding

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.

A snowy mountain is reflected in a lake.

Click on one of our featured artists below, or navigate directly from the top menu to see their work.

Nathan West

West Haven, Utah

My name is Nathan. I’m from West Haven, Utah. My love for photography started back in high school, however, life got crazy and up until a few years ago I hadn’t picked up a camera. My daughter’s softball is what brought me back. Prior to that my main focus was cars.

There is something so unique about sports photography that I’ve really enjoyed. I now photography my sons team as well. My father loved photography and after he passed is when I truly found my love and joy for wildlife. I am self taught and always learning. I hope you can enjoy the moments I’ve captured of this beautiful world we get to be a part of.

Instagram Feed

Wade Owen

North Ogden, UT

Wade Owen lives in North Ogden. He worked in Information Technology for the State of Utah and First Security Bank for 36 years and is now enjoying retirement.

Wade is married and has two adult children, a daughter-in-law and a Bernese grand-dog named Daisy.

Wade has taken up photography as a retirement hobby. He has enjoyed dozens of trips to the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge at all seasons and loves to see the subtle changes in the weather, the residents and their behaviors.

In addition to photography, Wade is a volunteer usher for Salt Lake County Arts and is co-chair for the Volunteer Experience Committee with that organization. Wade loves Broadway, musical theater, plays, operas and all the other artistic mediums to which this experience provides access.

Wade is a volunteer at the Ogden Nature Center, working at various events and, until recently, assisting the bird banding team.

Wade is passionate about skiing, traveling and eating fine food. Wade loves reading about history, science and art, and is learning and teaching Spanish.

Shauna Hart

Logan, UT

Shauna Hart is a national award winning conservation/wildlife photographer residing in northern Utah. She enjoys photographing all over the western United States, but particularly creating photos highlighting important conservation issues. Her photos educate others about the importance of connecting with wildlife so individuals can tap into the affinity of human nature to love and protect. Her passion for the importance of wildlife crossings and connectivity can be felt in her photos showcasing various species crossing roads and interstates.

She has become a bird aficionado and loves to photograph cranes, herons, raptors, and her favorite backyard visitors. One of her favorite places to photograph is Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. It’s there she learned to photograph birds in flight and deepen her understanding of the importance of protecting wetlands habitat.

When off the trail and in from the fields she can be found leading the Utah Wildlife Federation or spending time in her flower garden

Cindy McConkie

Brigham City, UT

I am a photographer, an artist, a runner, a gardener, an outdoor enthusiast, an educator, and a caregiver. I’m a mother of four, a grandmother of five, and a wife to Wayne. I’ve hiked the Grand Canyon from Rim to Rim to Rim, run the Boston Marathon, grown 40-pound watermelons in my backyard, seen the ocean freeze in Helsinki Finland, cared for children with special needs, and watched a loved one pass away. I’m a USU graduate and a student of life.

Cindy is also one of our favorite volunteers!!

Megan Kast

Logan, UT

Born and raised in Utah, I am a passionate wildlife photographer with a deep appreciation for the natural world. What began with a simple point-and-shoot camera and a love for nature has evolved into a dedicated pursuit of capturing the beauty and diversity of wildlife through photography. While I enjoy photographing all forms of wildlife, my primary focus and greatest fascination lie with birds.

Website: https://megswildlife.myportfolio.com/

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Bear River Bird Refuge
Visitor Information

The Wildlife Education Center is open Tuesday through Saturday, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm and closed on Sundays, Mondays and all Federal holidays.

The Auto Tour Route is open daily, sunrise to sunset throughout the year, and is a gravel road. Rain and snow may affect the road conditions. Please use caution and drive slowly. If conditions become unsafe, the Auto Tour Route will be closed.

Please call (435) 723-5887 for official visiting information.

12

MILE LONG
AUTO-TOUR ROUTE

10,000+

BIRDS

80,000

ACRES

67

BIRD SPECIES
ON THE REFUGE

ABOUT THE REFUGE

VOLUNTEERS

Volunteers play an instrumental role in a wide range positions at the refuge, from welcoming/orienting visitors to the Refuge at the front desk, hosting interpretive/education events, to assisting in biological surveys. Volunteers work together to meet every challenge to increase environmental awareness. Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge is a great place to share talents, learn about the Refuge, and connect to an extraordinary conservation community!

HISTORY

In the 1920s, due to the loss of marshes and huge bird die-offs from botulism, local individuals and organizations urged Congress to protect this valuable resource in Northern Utah, and in 1928, the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge was created. The purpose of the refuge is to serve as a "suitable refuge and feeding and breeding grounds for migratory waterfowl" (Presidential Proclamation, Public Law 302).

PRESERVATION & WILDLIFE

Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge is one of the over 550 refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System—a network of lands set aside and managed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service specifically for wildlife. The Refuge and other wetlands associated with the Great Salt Lake provide critical habitat for migrating birds, over 250 species moving through this area annually by the millions to rest and feed. As part of the Bear River Bay, the Refuge is designated as a Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network site, a globally important shorebird area.

Today, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge contains nearly 80,000 acres of marsh, open water, uplands, and alkali mudflats. 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. The Refuge is an excellent place to observe wildlife along a 12-mile auto tour route, as well as enjoying hunting, fishing and wildlife photography.