BIRDS
A Day at the Marsh
On an overcast winter day, a group of blue herons is joined by some canada geese to give us an inside look at what a daily occurrence may be at the wetlands of the Bear River Refuge. Truly a beautiful look into the magic of nature and her surroundings.
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Avocet Display
An American Avocet in its striking spring plumage displays looking for a mate to nest with. In the summer American Avocets can be found in wetlands across western North America where they will raise their young and fatten up for their journey south where they winter in parts of Southern California and Mexico.
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Blackbird and Grasses
This striking Yellow-Headed Blackbird stands out in a field of late summer grasses along the Great Salt Lake in Utah. Yellow-Headed Blackbirds can be found throughout the wetlands in western North America where the males stake out their territories as this one has. They are famous for their rasping song that ends in a rich croak.
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Blue Heron
While herons typically nest in large groups, known as rookeries, they tend to hunt alone during the breeding season and spend much of the year by themselves. Fish make up most of the heron’s diet, but they will also prey on frogs, salamanders, insects and even other birds. While great blue herons are most commonly found in marshes, they can be seen along rivers, lakes and small ponds.
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Burrowing Owl
This long-legged owl lives underground in modified abandoned burrows of badgers, gophers and foxes. Unlike most owls, Burrowing Owls can be seen in the morning and evening when they are hunting rodents and insects that make up the majority of their diet. They stand 9” to 10” tall and weigh 5 to 6 ounces with a wingspan of 21”.
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Cinnamon Girl
A pair of Barn Swallows use a barbed wire fence to take a break while searching for insects that they feed on. You may see these birds just a few inches above the ground or water as they pursue their quarry.
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Circle of Cranes
In their annual spring migration along the Platte River these elegant birds lift off in unison at first light to spend the day feeding in nearby fields and ponds to refuel for their journey to the Northlands.
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Cruisin
With a wingspan of almost seven feet in adults and weighing up to 14 pounds, the bald eagle is truly impressive. Found typically around water, they prefer habitat that has little or no human presence. Being at the top of the food chain, eagles are highly susceptible to contaminants in the environment, which make them an indicator of our environment’s health.
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Eagle Crest
The bald eagle has long been a symbol of pride and strength. For years, this proud raptor could be found on the list of endangered species, a victim of pollution and habitat loss. As of late, the bald eagle has staged a moderate comeback and was placed on the list of threatened species. Although its future looks somewhat promising, it is still uncertain.
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Eagle in Flight
The bald eagle is one of the most majestic birds to see in flight. With a wingspan of almost seven feet in adults and weighing up to 14 pounds, the bald eagle is truly impressive. Found typically around water, they prefer habitat that has little or no human presence. Being at the top of the food chain, eagles are highly susceptible to contaminants in the environment, which make them an indicator of our environment’s health.
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First Steps
Sandhill Cranes mate for life and stay with their mates year round. Chicks can leave the nest within 8 hours of hatching and will stick close by their parents for the first 9 to 10 months of their life. They will stay in family units throughout their first year first and will travel together which will teach them their migration routes and winter feeding areas.
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Fisher King
While herons typically nest in large groups, known as rookeries, they tend to hunt alone during the breeding season and spend much of the year by themselves. When startled or alarmed, herons utter a loud kraak, kraak.
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Flower Children
Sandhill Cranes usually nest in isolated wetlands, preferring areas with vegetation growing in standing water for protection against predators. Nests may be 30 to 40 inches across and 4 to 6 inches deep. Clutch sizes may be 1 to 3 eggs, incubation period is 29 to 31 days. Sandhill Cranes are known as fierce protectors of their young and standing 3 to 4 feet in height with a 7 foot wingspan and are quite the match for most predators.
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Good To Be King
A Western Scrub Jay perches on a shed moose antler. Western Scrub Jays are members of the Corvid family considered the most intelligent of the birds and among the smartest in the animal kingdom. These birds have been known to stash away 10,000 peanuts and know the location of each one.
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Great Gray in Flight
A great gray owl glides silently in search of prey. Tiny hooks, called barbules, lock feathers together so they will support a bird in flight. On the leading edge of owl wing feathers, barbules are fringed so owls may fly through the air silently. The Dakota Indians called the owl “hinhan”, which translates to “bird who hunts on hushed wings”.
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Hangin Out
A white-breasted nuthatch, distinguishable by its black cap, white face and breast, and rust colored rump, hangs upside down from an aspen tree. These short-tailed acrobats climb up, down, and around trees in search of insects. During winter, the nuthatch’s diet will change and consist mainly of acorns, nuts, seeds, and pine cones which it will store in the soil under loose ground cover as well as in elevated niches.
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Heron Study #3
Herons typically nest in large groups, known as rookeries, they tend to hunt alone during the breeding season and spend much of the year by themselves. Fish make up most of the heron’s diet, but they will also prey on frogs, salamanders, insects and even other birds. While great blue herons are most commonly found in marshes, they can be seen along rivers, lakes and small ponds.
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Hummingbird and Columbine
A female broad-tailed hummingbird looks for nectar from a columbine. Found throughout the mountainous west, broad-tails are 4” in length, with the female being larger than her more colorful counterpart. Hummingbirds are probably the most acrobatic of birds, with the ability to fly forwards, backwards, sideways, and even upside down. They can average 55 wing beats a second, a heart rate of 1,260 times a minute and a resting breath of 250 times a minute. But...
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Iceman
A great blue heron endures a cold morning along the Great Salt Lake. The Lake provides habitat for the great blue heron, but this one might be rethinking his stay on the lake on this cold morning.
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Little Hawk
The American Kestrel is the smallest Falcon found in North America. The Kestrel usually hunts conserving its energy by perching and scanning the ground for prey to ambush. The Kestrel will also hunt by air hovering in the air with rapid wing beats. The Kestrels diet consists of insects, lizards,mice and small birds.
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Magpie Salute
Magpies are revered by ancient and indigenous cultures throughout the world, being symbols of happiness, good luck, and bringers of good news. It is said that magpies are the bridge between dark and light, and some cultures salute magpies when seen to ward of bad spirits and to say that they come in peace.
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Magpie Study #1
Black-billed magpies are an elegant and graceful bird — members of the corvid family, and are one of the most intelligent birds found in North America. They mate for life and raise one brood a year. Being omnivorous their diet is quite varied changing with the seasons, insects, nuts, fruits, grains, eggs and even small mammals. In most light, magpies appear black and white but when the sun hits them at the right angle, they have a beautiful blue hue on som...
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Marsh Wren
The 5” tall marsh wren is typically found in fresh-water marshes among cattails, where they can be seen bouncing among the reeds, occasionally moving to the top of a stem for a quick look around. There, the males sing their reedy song, which ends in a rasping chatter, in defense of their nesting territory. Sometimes marsh wrens will build up to 20 dummy nests, helping to ensure the raising of their young. While most nests are never used, adult birds have b...
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Medicine Bird
Ravens have long been a symbol in many literary stories and have a deep symbolic meaning in many cultures including Native American lore. That culture describes the raven as a symbol of change and transformation.
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Morning Cranes
A group of sandhill cranes start to stir with the first warming rays of sunlight. After spending the evening in a shallow pond safe from predators, they will fly off to feed in fields and marshes. Cranes are the oldest known living bird species and have inhabited the Earth for 60 million years. Cranes take their name from the Anglo-Saxon word “cran” meaning to “cry out” which is fitting for these 3 to 4 foot tall birds with their rattling and siren-like cr...
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Mountain Jewel
A broad-tailed hummingbird searches for nectar in a skyrocket plant, one of the many plants that these hummingbirds help to pollinate in the mountainous west. The male broad-tailed can be distinguished from other male hummingbirds by its emerald green back and ruby red gorget, or throat patch. It is also the only hummingbird to have a wing “whistle”, which can be heard up to 100 yards away. This whistle is used to help defend its territory from other birds...
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Pelican Sunrise
Sunrise at the Bear River Bird Refuge in northern Utah can offer spectacular views as well as allowing one to see many different species of birds such as these American White Pelicans. The Bear River Bird Refuge which is part of the Great Salt Lake offers millions of birds a place of refuge to refuel on migrations or to raise their young and some even spend the winter.
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Pelican Sunset
A group of American White Pelicans takes refuge on a sandbar at last light for protection against predators where they will spent the evening in the Bear River Bird Refuge in Northern Utah.
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Pelicans
American White Pelicans spend most of the spring and summer months in wetlands found throughout western North America and then return along the Pacific Ocean in California and Mexico. Pelicans are large birds and can weigh up to 20 lbs and have wingspans as wide as ten feet.
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Picture Day
American White Pelicans spend most of the spring and summer months in wetlands found throughout western North America and then return along the Pacific Ocean in California and Mexico. Pelicans are large birds and can weigh up to 20 lbs and have wingspans as wide as ten feet.
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Ramblin Man
Rough-legged Hawks populations rise and fall in direct result of the rodent populations of the Arctic. Overall numbers of Rough-legged Hawks seem to be healthy, they are often seen in the lower-48 during winter, hunting over open areas.
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Raven Study #4
Common ravens are members of the corvid family, the smartest in the bird world. Ravens are at the top of that class. Some say ravens have the same intelligence as most monkeys. They are omnivorous and seem especially fond of carrion. Ravens are known for their aerial acrobatics, like soaring, tumbling, rolling, and chasing other birds. Ravens are found throughout the west and range high into the arctic.
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Ravens
Common ravens are members of the corvid family, the smartest in the bird world. Ravens are at the top of that class. Some say ravens have the same intelligence as most monkeys. They are omnivorous and seem especially fond of carrion. Ravens are known for their aerial acrobatics, like soaring, tumbling, rolling, and chasing other birds. Ravens are found throughout the west and range high into the arctic.
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Snow Angels
A pair of Trumpeter Swans lifts off a frozen river freshly dusted in snow. Trumpeter Swans are the largest waterfowl found in North America. Growing 6 feet in length and weighing up to 25lbs. In order to get airborne these birds need 100 yards of runway for successful take-offs.
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Spirit Eagle
The bald eagle is one the most majestic birds to see in flight. With a wingspan of almost seven feet (adults) and weighing up to 14 pounds, the bald eagle is truly impressive. Being at the top to the food chain, eagles are highly susceptible to contaminants in their environment. As a result, eagles are an early warning indicator of our environment’s health. For years, the bald eagle was a victim of pollution and habitat loss. Recently eagles have made a mo...
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Spring Sparrow
Song sparrows are found in brushland and marshes, including salt marshes, across most of Canada and the United States. Song sparrows also thrive in human dominated areas such as in suburbs, agricultural fields, and along roadsides. The species is native to North America where they can be found in abundant numbers. This sparrow perches here enjoying the spring bloom while adding to the color of the landscape.
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Stellers Jay
The Stellers Jay lives among the conifers and pine oak forests found though out the West. This Bird is an excellent mimic with a large repertoire, they can imitate many other birds as well squirrels, cats and dogs. They have even been known to mimic some mechanical objects.
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Stilts in Flight
A group of Black-Necked Stilts lifts off in flight. These striking black & white birds with very long red legs can be found from coastal California through much of the interior western United States, where they can be found in salt marshes and freshwater wetlands.
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Swan Song
A group of Tundra Swans arrive at the Bear River Bird Refuge in late March only to find it still frozen over. They will use the refuge to rest and refuel in the spring for their long migration to the Tundra of northern Canada and Alaska where they will raise their young.
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Teton Red
Perched atop a pine sprig, this Red Tailed Hawk is ultra aware of its surroundings. They are found in North America, from the interior of Alaska and northern Canada to as far south as Panama and the West Indies. They are birds of prey and most often are a predator of small mammals such as rodents.
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Trickster
Known in mythology as a trickster, the symbol of the raven has been viewed by many cultures as an integral part of the creation of the world. Ravens have been a symbol in many literary stories and have a deep meaning in many cultures including Native American lore. That culture describes the raven as a symbol of change and transformation.
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Winter Blush
House Finches once only found in Mexico and the American Southwest are found coast to coast now in the United States. The House Finch finds itself at home in rural and urban habitats and our familiar visitors to backyard feeders.
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Winter Drifters
A pair of bald eagles wait out a winter snowstorm. It is thought that bald eagles mate for life and that both parents build the nest and rear their young. They will usually nest in very tall trees or cliff walls. The young birds will attempt their first flight at 10 to 12 weeks but it will take 5 years for the immature birds to attain the white head and tail feathers of a mature adult bird.
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Winter Junco
A dark-eyed junco fluffs up its feathers to help protect itself from a winter’s storm. Juncos are members of the sparrow family and in the winter travel in flocks of 10 to 30 birds. Primarily seed eaters, they will spend most of their time along woodland edges and bushy areas foraging the ground in search of food. Juncos are also frequent and familiar visitors to feeding stations throughout most of North America.
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Winter Rations
Greater Sage Grouse are found in sagebrush country of the American west. This very large Grouse nests on the ground among the Sage and relies on sagebrush for much of its winter diet.
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Yellow-headed Blackbird Display
A male Yellow-Headed Blackbird uses a cattail to display to rivals that this is his territory. Found throughout wetlands in Western North America where you can here their familiar raspy song that ends in a rich croak.
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