Western Rivers Conservancy has purchased a second parcel to protect habitat within the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, a vast wetland complex on the edge of the Great Salt Lake.

This past fall, Congress recognized the importance of the Refuge by appropriating $1.3 million from the Land and Water Conservation Fund for the project. This has allowed the 424 acres that Western Rivers Conservancy (WRC) has acquired to become part of the Refuge, which is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. WRC is working to protect the remainder of this 696-acre property, as well as additional nearby wetland properties totaling thousands of acres.

The Bear River is the primary source of fresh water feeding into the Great Salt Lake. At their junction, an expansive delta offers ideal habitat for birds: open water, upland nesting areas and sheltered marshes.

By adding lands to the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, we are enhancing habitat and feeding areas for millions of birds that utilize this freshwater oasis each year. The feathered visitors that congregate at the Refuge during migration will ultimately spread out over the hemisphere. Upwards of 50,000 people visit the Refuge annually to view the stunning numbers and diversity of birds, including tundra swans, black-necked stilts, white pelicans, and marbled godwits.

Above:Tundra swans on the Refuge. Photo by Kris Lander