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FARMINGTON — There are many things happening this time of the year is. Some call it ski season; for others, it’s cabin fever season. It’s the season for the legislative session — of interest to those keeping tabs on local politics — and the football junkies love that playoff season ends with the Super Bowl one week away.
But in Utah, it’s also bald eagle season. In fact, state wildlife officials like to call February “Bald Eagle Month” because it’s the best time of the year to see the country’s national bird.
To be honest, I had never seen a bald eagle in the wild before. I’ve seen them at the zoo and Tracy Aviary, so I decided to take advantage of this time of the year — and I wasn’t disappointed.
I visited Farmington Bay, and it didn’t take long to spot one. A bald eagle was perched quietly in a nearby tree about 100 feet from the entrance of the wildlife refuge. It didn’t flinch as a group of songbirds fluttered past it.
I carried on, closer and closer toward the bay along with a few dozen other groups. A few of us paused as an eagle landed on a barren tree limb less than 100 yards from Dike Road — brooding over the wetland like royalty.
Then, almost out of nowhere, a bald eagle took its spot. It stared blankly over the land before snapping its head in our direction. I took a few photos before it rushed off into the distance. Eventually, the two eagles came back and wrestled for a spot on the same tree.
There’s nothing quite like hearing a bald eagle screeching at another bird while jockeying for position in a tree. The sound pierced through the quietness of the land. Those who saw it stopped to watch. A few others whipped out telephoto lens cameras from their cars and joined in snapping pictures of the majestic bird.
The calmness and serenity of the area, the hundreds of waterfowl and other birds mingling in the area and the breathtaking views of the Wasatch Front, Oquirrh Mountains and Antelope Island in the distance made the trip absolutely perfect.
There are plenty of places in the state to spot bald eagles for the next few weeks. In addition to the Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area in Farmington, bird watchers or those who just want to see a beautiful animal out in the wild can visit these places:
- Fountain Green State Fish Hatchery east of Nephi
- Ouray National Wildlife Refuge about 30 miles southeast of Vernal in Uintah County
- Rush Lake Ranch about 12 miles north of Cedar City
- Salt Creek Waterfowl Management Area about 10 miles northwest of Corinne, Box Elder County
- Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge in Brigham City
Utahns may just see eagles perched in their backyard, near some of the state’s trails or rural areas, as well.
Either way, it’s a perfect time to see one of the more stunning birds in the state.
