Bear River
Migratory Bird Refuge,
Grand marsh of
the Great Salt Lake
by
Bobby R. Harrison
For a bird photographer, there is not much that compares
to the excitement and anticipation of a day in the field at one of the top bird
photography locations in the country.
Last spring, my days at the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge were very
exciting, and filled with great anticipation.
I had made two previous attempts to shoot at the Refuge near Brigham,
Utah; but each attempt was thwarted by refuge road construction. Though disappointed, I was not disheartened,
because even the drive itself to the refuge entrance provided exceptional bird
photography.
Bear River Water Impoundment with Wasatch Mountains in the background.
I arrived at the refuge in the early morning twilight
while the air was brisk, and filled with cacophonous melodies of the pre dawn
chorus. In the dim morning light I
could see an abundance of avocets and stilts wading the shallow lagoons
sweeping their bills to and fro as they gobbled-up larva of the brine fly that breeds in the saline water. While ducks
lingered in the cattails, songbirds perched on the highest stalks in the marsh
and sang territorial songs. If I could
somehow erase the power lines and cell phone towers in the distance, it would
be easy to believe I was in the distant past witnessing a scene from the days
of creation.
It
was not long after my arrival that the morning twilight surrendered, and
without warning, the sun burst over the Wasatch Mountains with intensity, and
fury that filled the delta landscape with a rich, warm glow. The warmth of the landscape was the perfect
complement to the azure blue waters of the delta, the perfect light in which to
take photographs. The colors were rich
and saturated as each blade of grass, feather, and dewdrop were emblazoned with
vivid brilliance. Within minutes the
chill that had permeated the predawn air dissipated, and the birds that had
been perched, singing their dawn chorus became even more active as they
intruded on their neighbor’s territories and chased one another.
American Avocet, Recurvirostra americana eating brine flies.
In
1843 explorer John C. Fremont wrote of the delta; “The waterfowl made a noise
like distant thunder . . . as the whole scene animated with waterfowl.” Though the number of birds has greatly
diminished from those early days, the refuge is still a phenomenal place for
birds, and birders. The refuge’s 74,000
acres of marsh are filled with an abundance of avocets, stilts, grebes,
pelicans, cinnamon teal and two-hundred and five other bird species.
Before
me stood a plethora of birds to photograph, and I wasted no time. As I drove along the twenty-five miles of
refuge roads I constantly stopped to shoot.
Sometimes I simply used my vehicle as a blind, while often I was afforded
the opportunity to set-up a tripod and shoot from a wading bird’s eye
view. As the sun broke over the
mountains it seemed that the feeding activity increased. I was largely ignored by the birds as I shot
frame after frame of the feeding frenzy.
Avocets and stilts walked so close, that they came within the minimum
focus distance of the lens. I sat
motionless and waited for them to move further away before I could resume
shooting.
Black-necked Stilt, Himantopus mexicanus
Not
all the birds were busy feeding. Some
were on nest keeping their precious eggs, and future generation alive. This was the first time I had the opportunity
take photos of these amazing birds in their breeding plumage, it was like heaven
from me. It was the reason I was
there. I am constantly amazed by the
satisfaction and fulfillment I receive with this simple communion with nature.
Satisfied
with my images of the avocets and stilts I continued on my path of discovery,
and indeed there were discoveries. As I
drove around a bend in the road I saw a bird I had never seen before. We birders call them “lifers,” I could barley
contain myself. Within minutes I had
images in camera. The bird was a Clark’s
grebe, it is akin to the western grebe, another bird I had not seen or photographed,
yet. That too was going change. Within minutes a western grebe appeared on
the scene and I found myself taking photos of two “lifers.” It is not always like this; I was in a very
special place.
Clark's Grebe, Aechmophorus clarkii
Western Grebe, Aechmophorus occidentals on nest.
The
day was young and I continued my prowl for more birds set against perfect
backgrounds, and I was not
disappointed. Yellow-head blackbirds and
marsh wrens are on my list, and they were ever present. I finally found a marsh wren perched on a
high reed blurting out its territorial call.
Watching the bird I found its favorite perch and parked near by to use
my van as a blind. It only took a few
minutes for the marsh wren to make its rounds and perch on the reed I had
chosen. Soon I was rewarded with an
image I had held in my mind for decades.
I used the same technique for the yellow-head blackbird with great
success.
Marsh Wren, Cistothorus palustris
Though I shot in the
marsh for three days, a good image of the beautiful cinnamon teal eluded
me. I shot many images of the bird, but
I was not happy with any of them.
However, this is not a bad thing, for it gives me the opportunity to
return to the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge and commune among the thundering
wings in the marshes of the Great Salt Lake.
SIDE BAR:
HABITAT TYPE: Marsh, open
water and mudflats, fresh and brackish water marsh habitat types. Bring insect
repellant during the warm summer months.
FEATURED BIRDS: American
Avocet, Black-necked Stilt, Cinnonmon Teal, Western and Clark’s Grebe, Black-crowned
Night Heron, Short-eared Owl, Marsh Wren, Yellow-headed Blackbird
SEASON: All year, spring
and fall migration especially good.
DIRECTIONS: Take Exit 363 and go west on Forest St. for 2.5 miles. Follow curve to the left onto Bird Refuge
Rd. Go 9.8 miles to the refuge entrance.
NOTES: Accessible
restroom
NEAREST CITY: Brigham
City, UT
HOTELS:
• Days In Brigham City, 1033 South 1600 West, Brigham City, UT
84302 : (435) 723-3500
• Hampton Inn Brigham City, 40 N Main St, Brigham City, UT 84302 :
(435) 538-7080
• Brigham Historic Inn & Suites, 64 S, 100 W, Brigham City, UT 84302 :
(435) 695-3363
• Galazie Motel, 740 S Main St., Brigham City, UT 84302 : (435) 723-3439
Find more at:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g60835-Brigham_City_Utah.html
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