…of one of the world’s best birding destinations

• Who: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge

• What: Is one of the world’s best birding destinations

• Where: 2155 W. Forest St., Brigham City (visitor’s center)

• When: Established 1928

• Why: It’s on the edge of two major flyways

Birds are everywhere. Even concrete jungles have tweeters of various sizes who will eat garbage and poop on cars. They’re pretty clever to not only survive, but actually thrive in what should be a hostile environment. But the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge is at the intersection of Pacific and Central (two of the country’s four bird superhighways), bringing millions of migratory birds every year to a cushier situation.

You don’t become one of the best birding destinations in the entire world without some serious bird numbers:

• Over 200 species of birds have been identified

• Nearly 70 species use it to nest regularly

• The Refuge itself is 74,000 acres of pristine wetlands

Regardless of season, you’ll see birds year-round. Spring and fall have massive migrations, summer has breeding and nesting time, and winter has birds of prey looking for food.

And it’s not just for the birds. Folks have spotted a variety of creatures like coyote, beaver, dragonflies, butterflies, fish and more. Depending on the season and time of day, it wouldn’t hurt to bring some personal mosquito spray.

The Refuge has also seen some stuff of its own. It’s a plucky survivor type. It was almost destroyed by upstream irrigation diversions in the 1920s and again by Great Salt Lake flooding in the 1980s. Too dry the first time, too wet the second. As anyone familiar with Utah knows, it can be all or nothing, baby. It’s now one of the most important wetlands of the interior west.

How do you see this birdtopia, you ask? You can learn neat stuff and see neat things at the visitor’s center, which also has about 1.5 miles of trails and an interactive playground. If you’re into something a little more laid-back, you can also hit the 12-mile auto tour and see the variety of habitats and wildlife in style. (Your car playlist should probably include some Rockin’ Robin, Three Little Birds, Hot Wings… just sayin’.) At 25 MPH on a one-way gravel road, the auto tour is a bit of a commitment. But if you came to see birds (that would make sense), it is well worth it. You’ll see birds at and around the visitor center and on your drive. But the auto tour is where it’s at. I may or may not now hold the world record for most footage of pelicans eating. Not to mention the ibis and swallows and blackbirds, oh my.

While you’re visiting, there may be some special events, but even if there aren’t, this is a place for photography, hiking, cycling, running, hunting, fishing, and painting. And, you know, birding. In general, people recommend visiting at sunrise or sunset.