The Binocular Site
Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge, Utah
The Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge rests as the southern end of Great Salt Lake Desert.
Originally established in 1959, the refuge's name refers to the native chub found throughout its springs and other water bodies. Unfortunately the last chub population is now threatened, with ongoing programs to re-establish the fish started a decade ago. However, the waters are rich and teeming with life, attracting many waterfowl and shorebirds as well as songbirds during migration.
Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge sees bitterns, egrets, herons, pelicans, teals, shovelers, wigeons, American kestrel, northern harrier, prarie falcons, pheasants, cranes, plovers, stilts, avocets, flickers, kingbirds, larks, and many more.
This lush oasis in the desert is also home to striped and spotted skunk, weasels and muskrats, kangaroo rats and wood rats. It is believed that the marshes were host to human settlers over 11000 years ago. Here the Fremont and Shoshonean cultures would have found a rich source of food and other resources in the otherwise difficult environment.
Historically, however, occupation here is officially recognized to have begun in the mid 1800’s when a Pony Express station was built here. Later a telegraph line followed, and the original poles can still be seen across the refuge. See the Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge website for more information.
The state bird of Utah is the California Gull and you can find a birding checklist for Utah here.
Photo credit to DB's travels, used with permission under the creative commons license.
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