Generally, life is good.
Seeing a Sandhill Crane and following it into the marsh felt like a dream come true.
As I followed a temporary route along the Bear River MBR, I found myself on D-line that led me to an unexpected marvel: an entire island teeming with many Double-crested Cormorants, Great Blue Herons, and California gulls. It was quit a revelation to realize how little I knew about the scale of life right here on the Bear river.
My initial reaction was a selfish disappointment being so far from the island, but this wide, watery moat is precisely what makes the sanctuary safe for all these birds. Next time, I will bring binoculars with me.
The new temporary auto tour on Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge turned out to be not so bad after all—though I still need to get to know it better.
It’s encouraging to see some birds settling into this new territory, especially the American Avocets. The pelicans will likely never visit—but who knows? Perhaps, out of curiosity, they might stop by.
Generally, life is good.
Lately, life has been delivering one surprise after another—and most of them, I must admit, have been far from welcome.
Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge will be closed until mid-September. In just a few weeks, construction will begin on the small bridge that has long served as our entry into the bird sanctuary.
A new temporary route for photographers and birdwatchers is expected to open, though I find little reason for enthusiasm just yet. We simply don’t know how the birds will respond to the river being diverted along this new route.
***
I keep telling myself that whatever is happening is happening for the best. Some days I believe it more than others.
This sudden change at Bear River MBR feels like a loss—but perhaps it is also a quiet invitation to see differently, to slow down, to step away from what I know. Maybe the birds will surprise me. Maybe I will surprise myself. For now, I am learning to wait, and to trust that something meaningful is still unfolding, even if I cannot yet see it.
Generally, life is good.
Tundra swans have already arrived at the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.
Breeding in western Alaska, they stop in northern Utah each year to rest and refuel before continuing their long journey home. We are fortunate to witness their beauty, even if only for a short time.
