[Birdtalk] Bear River Refuge Education Center birds

[birderbetsy at comcast.net]

Hi All -

Colby and Tim are right, we don't post anywhere near enough.  In my case, the sad fact is that I DON'T get out to bird anywhere near as much as I'd like.  Maybe I have to re-think my priorities???

At the wildlife education center at Bear River Refuge, Box Elder County, we've had an OSPREY fishing off and on the last week, just on the south side of the center, easily viewed from the main entrance boardwalk, the observation deck or the adjacent 1/2 mile walking trail.  It was first observed on Sunday, May 20, when the group touring the refuge during the Great Salt Lake Bird Festival stopped there.  I'm assuming it's one of the birds from Willard Bay, but despite their close proximity, I've never seen an osprey on the refuge before!  The group was able to watch it hover, dive into the water with a huge splash, and come up with a decent sized fish - probably a carp.  Go osprey!!!  I hope it/they return to the new fishing spot frequently.

The AMERICAN BITTERN is still being heard and seen (only occasionally) in this same area - south of the education center.  I can't believe it wasn't encouraged to move on by the hundreds of noisy school children and visitors (most visitors walk quietly) who use the walking trail daily, but I heard it early in the morning mid week, so I'm assuming it's sticking around.  Is it alone???

Daily, visitors are able to view the chicks of AMERICAN COOT and PIED-BILLED GREBE at the education center as well.  I watched grebe parents feeding 3 tiny chicks from the boardwalk on Saturday morning.  It's pretty cool.  These birds don't seem disturbed by the multitudes of people who use the boardwalks, and are the subject of many, many photographs, as they're in fairly close proximity to the boardwalk.  Both VIRGINIA RAIL and SORA can be heard and occasionally seen from the boardwalk as well.  Cliff swallow, snowy egret, white-faced ibis, marsh wren, red-winged and yellow-headed blackbirds, western meadowlark, assorted ducks and a few other species are seen daily here as well.  At the back/bottom of the walking trail, a pair of SANDHILL CRANES have at least one young colt.  They're very wary, which is good, so binoculars are needed for viewing. Long-billed curlews also nest south of the trail.

Forest Street (or the main refuge road) - between 5 and 7 miles west of the wildlife education center, primarily just west of the Canadian Goose Club, is an area that is good for viewing LONG-BILLED CURLEWS.  Lately, we've taken to calling this area "Curlew Flats."  I don't know if that's an old name, or a new one, but it's certainly appropriate!  On Saturday, May 26, Dr. Ardean Watts and a couple of his colleagues from the University of Utah, invited me to come along on a little jaunt toward the refuge.  We were able to see a pair of curlews with three young ones, right along the south side of the road.  What fun!  I didn't have my camera with me...dang...would have been an excellent opportunity, as they were fairly close.

The wildlife education center (visitor center) at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge is open Monday - Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm; Saturday 10:00am - 4:00pm.  It is closed on Sundays and all federal holidays.  Currently, the "Tim Avery Photo Show" is hanging in Classrooms A & B for all visitors to view and enjoy.  Be sure to stop in and check out Tim's incredible photos!

ALSO, if you haven't already seen them, please be sure to drive down Main Street in Brigham City to view the children's bird banners, hanging from the lamp posts.  They are wonderful!  They likely will be coming down shortly.

Betsy Beneke
>From the "Bird Refuge"
Brigham City, Utah
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