[Birdnet] American Bittern at Bear River Wildlife Education Center

[Kristin Purdy]

June Ryburn and I flushed an AMERICAN BITTERN in the wetland at the Bear River Wildlife Education Center west of Brigham City, Box Elder County, this morning at about 8:45. The bird flushed from water's edge about 25 yards from the concrete path that encircles the wetland and then went down again into the reeds within a hundred yards or so. We were ebullient. When we returned to the building still high-fiving and back-slapping, Lee Shirley told us he heard a bittern calling in that wetland yesterday. 

We took the path from the center's deck and parabolic sound collector and walked south. The bird flushed 200-300 yards down the path in an area where a blue mylar balloon has become entangled at the base of some reeds. Walkers can also access the path from the main parking lot; you'll need to walk almost completely around the wetland (about 1/2 mile walk) and get on the east side to be at the site where we saw the bird.

The education center and that path is open weekdays 8 am-5 pm and Saturdays 10:00-4:00. The center is not open to the public on Sundays; June and I were attending a private Audubon meeting (that is, right after we played hookey while flushing the bittern).

The education center is located 1/4 mile west of I-15 at exit 363, Forest Street. 

Kris
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