The Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge is one of the over 550 refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System. The sanctuary is open all year for visitors to witness migrating birds throughout the seasons.
“People will visit the refuge year round. There is always some kind of bird life, even in the dead of winter" said Howard Browers, a wildlife biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "But there is not a lot of open water so you might have some ducks here, some gulls maybe, some swans if there is enough open water. But there is still hunting going on and there is still bird watching going on."
While the winter seasons bring a new look to the bird refuge, Howard said the end of winter is the best time to see new birds and watch the landscape change.
“It’s just getting to see that population change throughout the course of the year," he said. "Especially in the spring [when] the water opens up and the ice starts coming off. Then just about every week, you’ve got new species showing up - either just passing through or coming to the refuge to nest.”
Howard also said as summer comes to an end, the shore birds will beginning to migrate out of the refuge for winter, so August maybe the last chance bird watchers will have to see shore birds until next year.
