Every fall, thousands of tundra swans fly down from Alaska to Utah to spend the winter. They spend just a couple months at the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge before heading to bask in the warmth of central California for the rest of the season. The swans will be arriving soon, so plan your visit!
You’ll find the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge just west of I-15, near Brigham City. The 74,000-acre refuge is home to more than 250 bird species throughout the year, as they stop here for a rest during their migrations.
Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge/Facebook
Every year in late October and early November, the refuge becomes a temporary home for thousands of tundra swans. The swans leave their homes in Alaska and head south, with an eventual destination of central California.
DennyMont/flickr
Along their journey, they need to rest and recuperate before continuing on. The Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge is the perfect place for them to fuel up on the sago pondweed that grows in the shallow marshes.
Bryant Olsen/flickr
To see these beautiful birds up close, take the 12-mile-long auto tour that circles around the refuge. You can also walk the 1.5-mile long trail around the Wildlife Education Center. Bring your binoculars and a camera.
Bryant Olsen/flickr
You might even get lucky and see a trumpeter swan! Though they don’t migrate through Utah in the same large numbers as the tundra swans, you can often spot a few who have hitched a ride with a large flock of the tundras.
Bryant Olsen/flickr Listen closely to their calls, and you can tell the difference between the tundra swans and the trumpeters.
During the months of October and November, as many as 60,000 tundra swans hang out here. You’ll definitely want to get a look at these gorgeous birds before they move on to the next stop on their migratory journey.
USFWS Mountain Prairie/flickr
The James V. Hansen Wildlife Education Center is open Tuesday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The 12-mile auto tour loop is open daily from dawn to dusk. Admission to the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge is free.
Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge/Facebook
Have you ever seen these beautiful swans up close? Share your experiences with us in the comments! You’ll also want to visit Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge’s website, and follow its Facebook page to see what else is new there.
Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge/Facebook
DennyMont/flickr
Bryant Olsen/flickr
Listen closely to their calls, and you can tell the difference between the tundra swans and the trumpeters.
USFWS Mountain Prairie/flickr
For more wildlife viewing this winter, set aside time to visit this unique ranch that’s home to a large herd of elk, starting in late November.
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Address: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, 2155 W Forest St, Brigham City, UT 84302, USA
