The Binocular Site
Camas National Wildlife Refuge, Idaho
Camas National Wildlife Refuge is located in southeastern Idaho, about 36 miles north of Idaho Falls. It covers approximately 10,500 acres. The refuge was established in 1937, and is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It is part of the National Wildlife Refuge System, and is an important stop along the Pacific Flyway.
The refuge includes a wide range of land types, including wetlands, sagebrush uplands, meadows, and planted fields. Crops such as wheat, barley and alfalfa have been planted specifically for the benefit of the wildlife. Also located within the refuge are lakes, ponds, and surrounding marshlands.
Camas Creek flows from one end of the refuge to the other, crossing about eight miles. Because the creek's water levels have dropped in recent years, and the refuge has experienced drought, an extensive network of wells, canals, dikes, bridges, ponds, and water-control structures has been built throughout Camas Refuge.
Maintaining the water in the refuge is important, as it's home to many types of waterfowl, such as the American white pelican, blue-winged teal, bufflehead, and hooded merganser. Other birds living in or migrating through the refuge include the osprey, Virginia rail, spotted sandpiper, Caspian tern, and the great gray owl.
The state bird of Idaho is the Mountain Bluebird and you can find a birding checklist for Idaho here.
You can learn more about the important breeding grounds of Camas National Wildlife Refuge here.
If you've visited Camas National Wildlife Refuge, please take the time to share your experience and any tips or insight you have about this Idaho birding location below.
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