Birding

Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge lies in northern Utah, where the Bear River flows into the northeast arm of the Great Salt Lake.  The Refuge protects the marshes found at the mouth of the Bear River; these marshes are the largest freshwater component of the Great Salt Lake ecosystem.  Since these marshes are in turn surrounded by arid desert lands, it is little wonder that they have always been an oasis for waterbirds and wildlife. 
A snowy mountain is reflected in a lake.

Click on one of our featured artists below, or navigate directly from the top menu to see their work.

Emily Stevens

Emily Stephens

Brigham City, Utah


I love the outdoors and nature.  I am always roaming with my camera looking for beautiful sights to capture and share with others.    I tend my grandkids, have two German Wirehair pointers and 6 chickens, I love to deer hunt and I am a busy lady.   

Love camping and down time with my husband of 29 years and much prefer sitting on my porch watching many birds at my bird feeders than inside doing anything else.  
Samuel Garner

Kyle Sills

Brigham City, Utah


Despite being an engineer by profession, photography is my true passion! I can capture brief moments in nature that no one else will ever get to capture or experience! Having spent much of my life in Northern Utah, I have come to appreciate the unique beauty found here. If you are interested in prints or have any questions, feel free to contact me through my Instagram page or email (email will be more reliable).

Also, if you ever see me out in the wild, please feel free to strike up a conversation! Just please don’t be scared if you hear me talking to the birds…


Instagram: Kyle Sills @kylewsills

Email: kylewsills@gmail.com
Olivia Pulsipher

Olivia "Livi" Pulsipher


Hello, my name is Livi. I have been hobby photographing nature and wildlife for the past several years. I often use legacy lenses for my photos and I love trying to show nature the way I see it. You can see more of my work on my Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bananashotsphotography?igsh=MW9icGZqYmhsaDY3YQ==
Nathan West

Nathan West

West Haven, Utah


My name is Nathan. I’m from West Haven, Utah. My love for photography started back in high school, however, life got crazy and up until a few years ago I hadn’t picked up a camera.   My daughter’s softball is what brought me back.  Prior to that my main focus was cars. 

There is something so unique about sports photography that I’ve really enjoyed. I now photography my sons team as well.  My father loved photography and after he passed is when I truly found my love and joy for wildlife. I am self taught and always learning.  I hope you can enjoy the moments I’ve captured of this beautiful world we get to be a part of.


Instagram Feed
Jon Zanone

Jon Zanone

Northern Utah



Photography has been a central thread throughout my life, shaping my perspective and fueling my creativity. Starting from my early years behind the lens, capturing school events and sports, to decades spent producing video programs in the Air Force, my journey has been defined by an enduring passion for visual storytelling. Whether it's seizing spontaneous moments or thoughtfully planning a shot, I embrace each opportunity to document the beauty of the world as I see it.  


If you’d like to see more from around the area, please go to https://videopelli.myportfolio.com/ .
Cameron Holker

Cameron Holker

Maple Grove, MN


Growing up, I always loved being out in nature. Hiking, camping, kayaking, and any other excuse I can make to get out into the world. My grandfather taught me to document my adventures through photography, and I never looked back. I've been all over the country photographing wildlife and landscapes in an attempt to share my love for nature with everyone I can. I hope my work can inspire people to get out and explore the wonderful world we live in. 


Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cam.b.photography/
Cameron Holker

Cindy McConkie

Brigham City, UT


I am a photographer, an artist, a runner, a gardener, an outdoor enthusiast, an educator, and a caregiver. I’m a mother of four, a grandmother of five, and a wife to Wayne. I’ve hiked the Grand Canyon from Rim to Rim to Rim, run the Boston Marathon, grown 40-pound watermelons in my backyard, seen the ocean freeze in Helsinki Finland, cared for children with special needs, and watched a loved one pass away. I’m a USU graduate and a student of life.


Instagram 


Website - https://www.cindymcconkiephoto.com/portfolio/
Megan Kast

Megan Kast

Logan, UT


Born and raised in Utah, I am a passionate wildlife photographer with a deep appreciation for the natural world. What began with a simple point-and-shoot camera and a love for nature has evolved into a dedicated pursuit of capturing the beauty and diversity of wildlife through photography. While I enjoy photographing all forms of wildlife, my primary focus and greatest fascination lie with birds.


Website: https://megswildlife.myportfolio.com/

Facebook: 

Instagram: 
Megan Kast

Wendy Rice

Ogden, UT


I'm Wendy Rice. Based in Ogden, UT, I’ve spent more than 30 years using photography to capture the beauty often overlooked in everyday moments. These images were all photographed at the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, where wildlife, light, and landscape continually inspire my work.


Website: https://www.curiouslifebywendy.com/


Instagram

Bear River Bird Refuge 
Visitor Information

The Wildlife Education Center is open Tuesday through Saturday, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm and closed on Sundays, Mondays and all Federal holidays.  
The Auto Tour Route is open daily, sunrise to sunset throughout the year, and is a gravel road.  Rain and snow may affect the road conditions.  Please use caution and drive slowly.  If conditions become unsafe, the Auto Tour Route will be closed.  

Please call (435) 723-5887 for official visiting information.

12

MILE LONG
AUTO-TOUR ROUTE

10,000+

BIRDS 

80,000

ACRES

67

BIRD SPECIES
ON THE REFUGE

ABOUT THE REFUGE

VOLUNTEERS
Volunteers play an instrumental role in a wide range positions at the refuge, from welcoming/orienting visitors to the Refuge at the front desk, hosting interpretive/education events, to assisting in biological surveys. Volunteers work together to meet every challenge to increase environmental awareness. Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge is a great place to share talents, learn about the Refuge, and connect to an extraordinary conservation community!
HISTORY
In the 1920s, due to the loss of marshes and huge bird die-offs from botulism, local individuals and organizations urged Congress to protect this valuable resource in Northern Utah, and in 1928, the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge was created.  The purpose of the refuge is to serve as a "suitable refuge and feeding and breeding grounds for migratory waterfowl" (Presidential Proclamation, Public Law 302). 
PRESERVATION & WILDLIFE
Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge is one of the over 550 refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System—a network of lands set aside and managed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service specifically for wildlife.  The Refuge and other wetlands associated with the Great Salt Lake provide critical habitat for migrating birds, over 250 species moving through this area annually by the millions to rest and feed.  As part of the Bear River Bay, the Refuge is designated as a Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network site, a globally important shorebird area.

Today, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge contains nearly 80,000 acres of marsh, open water, uplands, and alkali mudflats.   The marshes and open water are managed using a complex system of dikes and water control structures to provide a variety of water depths suitable for the needs of different waterbird species.  The Refuge is an excellent place to observe wildlife along a 12-mile auto tour route, as well as enjoying hunting, fishing and wildlife photography.