Farmington Bay is perfect for studying our national bird, provided you have . . . Eagle eyes
FARMINGTON - Students squealed and gasped as a bald eagle lifted off its perch and soared low across the marshes of the Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area.
"I wish I could do that!" said Adam Bowman, a fourth-grader at Wasatch Elementary in Davis County.
Many in his class shared his enthusiasm as they rode in a school bus through the marshes, getting out to peer through binoculars and spotting scopes to get better looks at the birds as they rested.
"It's cool to see the eagles really close up and see how they really are," said fourth-grader Tiffany Wardle.
The students were one of several groups who were able to see the eagles as they feast on the carp and waterfowl of the marshes before they fly back to breed in their nests along the Rocky Mountains, mostly in Canada. Only eight bald eagle nests are known of in Utah.
To celebrate the national bird, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is hosting Bald Eagle Day on Saturday at Farmington Bay and Salt Creek Waterfowl Management Area. Staff and volunteers will be on hand to answer questions and help set up scopes.
About 900 eagles migrate to Utah between November and March. About 450 of those stay near Farmington Bay's wetlands, with populations peaking in mid-January, said Phil Douglass, DWR's northern region conservation outreach manager.
Utah is ranked in the top five states for viewing the birds, which stand at about 3 feet tall and have a 7-foot wingspan, during their migration. The morning hours are the best time to see the birds, as they often head up to the canyons to roost during the afternoons, Douglass said.
Utah is as far south as the birds will travel.
"For these birds, it's like coming to Cancun," Douglass said.
For visitors, Utah's February weather still requires a heavy coat and sturdy, waterproof shoes.
Students who came to see the eagles during late January and early February used the site's classrooms to learn about what birds live there, how they adapt and how wetlands serve as habitats.
The portable classrooms are at the entrance of the refuge, but DWR officials hope to move them to a more centralized location near Egg Island. The move would cost about $300,000.
During Bald Eagle Day, the DWR will hold a Shoshone ground blessing to celebrate a grant from the EnergySolutions Environmental Foundation that will pay for about half the cost of moving the classrooms, but Douglass and Debbie Goodman hope to get the rest of the money from the Legislature this year.
"If we get the money this year, then we can move by fall. If not, we'll have to wait for some other benefactor to come forth," said Goodman, who serves as a board member for the Great Salt Lake Interpretive Trust, which is a nonprofit organization that, along with the Davis County School District Foundation, collaborates with DWR to raise money and improve the educational services the waterfowl management area offers.
The learning component is one of the most important functions of the area.
"It's a great opportunity not only to learn about the wetlands and its wildlife, but also to experience it firsthand," he said.
Fourth-grader Uriel Castillo loved being able to see the eagles in the wild.
Although snakes top his list of favorite animals, the birds took the No. 2 spot after the field trip.
"I love nature, and I like to learn about it," he said. "I like snakes, but it was way cool to learn about eagles."
Contact Sheena McFarland at smcfarland@sltrib.com or 801-257-8619. Send comments about this story to livingeditor@sltrib.com.
Facts about bald eagles
- Scientific name: Haliaeetus leucocephalus
- Location: Only found on the North American continent
- Weight: Females weigh 12 to 13 pounds; males weigh about 9 pounds.
- Height: About 3 feet
- Wingspan: About 7 feet
- Speed: Eagles can fly about 30 mph, but can dive at nearly 100 mph.
- Life expectancy: The bald eagle's head and tail don't turn white until the bird is about five years old, when it can begin to reproduce. In the wild, the birds live between 30 and 35 years, but in captivity have been known to live 50 years. The bird is protected under the Endangered Species Act, the Bald Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
- Diet: Mainly fish, but they also eat waterfowl, small mammals and carrion when live animals are in short supply.
- American Bald Eagle Foundation
More about Utah's bald eagles
Utah's annual Bald Eagle Day is Saturday at two sites in the northern part of the state:
- Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Driving directions: Exit I-15 at Centerville and proceed north along the Frontage Road to Glover Lane. Travel west on Glover Lane to 1325 West. Turn south and drive 1/2 -mile to the main entrance.
- Salt Creek Waterfowl Management Area, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Driving directions: Take Exit 365 off I-15 and travel west on SR-83 through Corinne. Stay on SR-83 until you get to 6800 West. Travel north to 6800 North. Travel west on 6800 North until you reach the Salt Creek WMA/Compton's Knoll Watchable Wildlife site.
Admission to Bald Eagle Day is free.
Spotting scopes will be set up at each viewing site; biologists and volunteers will be available to help viewers spot eagles and to answer any questions. Dress warmly, and if there's snow on the ground, wear waterproof boots.
The best time to see the greatest number of eagles, according to experts, is usually from 2 to 4 p.m. A telephoto lens is a must, organizers say, as the eagles will be some distance from the viewing areas.
For more information about Bald Eagle Day, call 801-538-4771 or Division of Wildlife Resources offices in Ogden.
SALT LAKE TRIBUNE
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