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.
Attention Bird Photographers!
We're looking for talented bird photographers to showcase their work on this website AND to be featured in this year's Art on Main festival!
• Your photography displayed to thousands of website visitors for the next 12 months
• Recognition for your outstanding work
• A featured spot at one of the area's most celebrated art events
• Potential sales and commissions from art collectors and nature enthusiasts
Whether you specialize in majestic birds of prey, colorful songbirds, or rare migratory species, we want to see your best work!
Limited space available - serious inquiries only. Apply here.
Bear River Bird Refuge Visitor Information
The Wildlife Education Center is open Tuesday through Friday, from 8:00a to 5:00p. and second and fourth Saturdays, 10:00a to 4:00p, except 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 Tour Route will be closed.
Please call (435) 723-5887 for official visiting information.
12
MILE LONG
AUTO-TOUR ROUTE
AUTO-TOUR ROUTE
10,000+
BIRDS
80,000
ACRES
67
BIRD SPECIES
ON THE REFUGE
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.
