Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Bear Lake Refuge was established in 1968 to protect and mange habitat for waterfowl and other migratory birds. Surrounded by mountains, it lies in Bear Lake Valley seven miles from south of Montpelier. Spring at Bear Lake comes late, with some ice still on the refuge marsh through late April. The early migrants such as Canada geese, mallards and northern pintails arrive early March. From mid-March to early April Spring migration peaks as the ice slowly recedes and open water begins to show in the pods.
Ducks including canvasbacks redheads and lesser scaup are abundant at this time. Sandhill cranes can easily be seen, usually as pairs preparing to nest. April and May see the arrival of thousands of Franklin’s gulls and white-faced ibis. Large numbers of herons, egrets, bitterns, terns and grebes establish nesting sites in the marsh. Shorebirds such as the American avocet and black-necked stilt are some of the last to arrive.

Canadian Goose Family at the Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Canadian Geese and Goslings

During June the early duck broods of mallards and canvasbacks are already hatching out, quickly followed by redheads, ruddy ducks, cinnamon teal, shovelers and gadwalls. As June progresses into July, marsh vegetation increases in height, making it more difficult to see the various bird species. White-faced ibis nest on the refuge in large numbers; watch for their numerous small feeding flocks flying low over the marsh to flooded fields around the valley.

White Faced Ibis at the Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge
White Faced Ibis

Sandhill cranes nest near the marsh edges, and crane chicks can be seen if you look carefully. Black and Forster’s terns, as well as Franklin’s gulls are frequently seen overhead feeding on insects and diving for small fish. Grebes (western, Clark’s, pied-billed and eared) are commonly seen in the canals and ponds. Double-crested cormorants, California gulls and white pelicans are also frequently observed within the refuge marsh.


Idaho Bird Watching at Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Fall Ducks & Geese

Fall comes early in the high-elevation Bear Lake Valley. September brings hundreds of sandhill cranes which gather on the refuge to feed in the refuge grain fields. Young ducks learn to fly by late September. Waterfowl, mostly from Canada, pass through the valley on fall migration from mid-November. Most birds leave the valley after freeze-up to avoid the snowy, cold winters- notable exceptions are rough-legged hawks and bald eagles which winter in the area. See a full list of birds on the eBird website.
More information at Bear Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau
 at 1-800-448-2327

View the Idaho Birding Trail Interactive Map

View the Idaho Birding Trail PDF

View our Birdwatching Guide to Southeast Idaho brochure.

Address

322 N 4th St, Montpelier, ID 83254

GPS

42.188924486846, -111.33034396917

Telephone

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