Bird Watchers, Don’t Count On Farmington Bay To Be The Bald Eagle Hot Spot Again This Winter

It’s now the middle of January and what should be the beginning of the peak bald eagle viewing season along the Wasatch Front.

Numerous locations have been producing a few daily bald eagles for this bird watcher as I travel from nature preserve to nature preserve in search of birds.

So far, the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge has been the most consistent with regards to bald eagle sightings, at least for me that is, for the winter season.

One location, Farmington Bay WMA has been a hot spot in recent years, but, unfortunately, it is looking like it won’t be one this year.

Last year, I personally spotted over 50 bald eagles at Farmington Bay, and another very experienced birder I know counted around 100 on the same day.

But so far Farmington Bay has only been producing a couple of bald eagles out on the ice this winter.

So what is the difference between this year and last winter?

Carp, a most unwanted non-native fish species that uproot aquatic plants and muddies up the water, reducing photosynthesis in the process, but also is a major food source for many birds, especially the wintering bald eagles is the difference between last year and this season.

In an effort to help control the unwanted carp population, Farmington Bay chemically treated the water and drained the units nearly dry, leaving a large supply of dead fish that attracted dozens and dozens of bald eagles for a quick and easy meal.

This year, however, there were no carp eradication efforts, and the wetlands weren’t drained so no exposed carp to feed upon, causing the bald eagles to search elsewhere for a meal.

Being a wetland, there are ducks that sit out on the frozen marsh that attracts a few bald eagles but nowhere like it was last winter with a large supply of dead carp ready for the taking.

So, all in all, last winter was an anomaly with regards to the high number of bald eagles with a most unnatural supply of fish, meaning that won’t be happening this year, unfortunately.

But there are bald eagles to be seen, both on Farmington Bay and all up and down the Wasatch Front so don’t let that be a discouragement in the least.

It just means you won’t be seeing any unusual large numbers like last season had at Farmington Bay.

lately, I’ve been seeing a few bald eagles out by the marina on Antelope Island, Farmington Bay, The Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, and in the small town of Corinne along the Bear River heading into town.

I hope that helps anyone interested in finding the bald eagles that were wondering why the large congregating of eagles at Farmington Bay last year isn’t there this winter.

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