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Show Volume XXVIII Issue VI The Ogden Valley News Page 11 February 1, 2021 Places to See Bald Eagles in Utah February is the best time of the year to see one of America’s most iconic birds. Bald eagles fly to Utah in the winter to find food and escape colder conditions farther north. By the time February arrives, hundreds of eagles are typically in the state. In the past, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources has held viewing events in February where you can see the eagles and learn more about them. However, to try to lessen the spread of COVID-19, the DWR won’t hold bald eagle viewing events this winter. There are plenty of places where you can see eagles on your own, though. And, you can pick up a free, collectible Bald Eagle Month pin at several locations. A word of caution: if you’re driving and looking for eagles, please do so safely. Don’t stop in the middle of the road if you see an eagle. Photo by Jim Huddle Instead, pull completely off the road before viewing. And, don’t allow yourself to get distracted while looking for the birds. Your safety and the safety of other motorists comes first. Southern Utah - Cedar City is the place to go to see bald eagles in southwestern Utah. Bald eagles are often visible at two roosts in and near the city: • Rush Lake Ranch at 9600 N. Minersville Highway (state Route 130), approximately 12 miles north of Cedar City. • A group of cottonwood trees west of 3900 W. and 2700 N. in Cedar City. By mid-February, Bald Eagle Month pins should be available for pickup at the front desks at both the DWR Cedar City office and the Washington County Field Office. Central Utah - Because of COVID-19, a bald eagle viewing event held in Fountain Green for the past 20 years won’t be held this year. Bald eagle displays will not be available at the Fountain Green State Fish Hatchery, and tours of the hatchery will not be offered. However, there are still lots of places in Sanpete County to see eagles. DWR Regional Conservation Outreach Manager Scott Root encourages you to grab some binoculars or a spotting scope, and drive from Fountain Green to the small town of Wales, and then from Wales to Moroni. “This short drive will often produce an eagle or two to view,” Root says. “Eagles can be found in some of the large, leafless trees, on fence posts or even on the ground.” Occasionally, you might find an eagle roosting on a tree or utility pole next to a road. “Eagles usually fly off once a car door is opened,” he says, “so it’s best to stay in your vehicle and view from a distance.” Root reminds you not to trespass on private property. Northern Utah - If you bring binoculars or a spotting scope, you can typically get great views of bald eagles at several spots in northern Utah. Here are some of the best: • In the big cottonwood trees at Rendezvous Beach on the south end of Bear Lake. • In trees along the Blacksmith Fork River east of Hyrum. • In trees along the Weber River near Croydon and just below Echo Reservoir. • Along the road leading to Lost Creek Reservoir. The reservoir is north of Croydon. • Willard Bay Reservoir west of Willard. You can often see eagles in trees near the reservoir and on the iced-capped reservoir itself. • Compton’s Knoll at the Salt Creek Waterfowl Management Area west of Corinne. You can view bald eagles and other wildlife from the Compton’s Knoll viewing area on the northeast side of the WMA. The rest of the WMA is closed to visitors. • The Eccles Wildlife Education Center at the Farmington Bay WMA west of Farmington. You can often see eagles on the portion of the WMA near the center. If you spot an eagle on the WMA, please remember not to stop your vehicle in the middle of the road. Instead, pull off to the side of the road so other vehicles can pass. Also, while you’re at the center, consider stepping inside and checking out the displays. A display featuring both a bald eagle and a golden eagle are among the displays you’ll see. Two additional displays focus on wetland habitats and upland habitats and the birds and other wildlife that use them. Admission to the center at 1157 S. Waterfowl Way is free. It’s open Tuesdays through Fridays, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. While you’re at the center, you can also pick up a free Bald Eagle Month pin. The pins should be available by mid-February at the center, the DWR’s Ogden office at 515 E. 5300 S. in South Ogden and the Cache Valley Public Shooting Range at 2851 W. 200 N. in Logan. Northeastern Utah - Eagles are often visible along the Green River near the Ouray National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge’s auto tour loop begins just before you reach the refuge headquarters at 19001 E. Wildlife Refuge Road in Randlett. You can often see bald eagles near open areas of water, high in the trees above the river. You may also observe golden eagles along the cliffs that run next to the main refuge road. Prepare for this trip by bringing your binoculars or a good spotting scope. Also, wear warm clothes. If you’d like, you can take a short hike through the river hardwood trees where you might see porcupines that live in the area. The bathrooms at the refuge will be open. Bald Eagle Month pins should be available for pickup at the DWR’s Vernal office after February 15. Weber-Morgan Health Vaccine Plan The Weber Morgan Health appointment system. That’s the number of vacDepartment (WMHD) is now accepting reservations for those who are 70 years and older. Each Thursday at 3:00 p.m. the link goes live to make new appointments for a new weekly schedule of clinics. Please visit www.webermorganhealth.org to schedule an appointment. Those needing assistance making the appointment, or who do not have internet access, please ask a family member, neighbor or friend to help you. Even if they live in another state, they can access the website and make an appointment for you. Those needing assistance to enter the appointment and receive a vaccine can bring one caregiver with them. If the caregiver is not in an eligible group, then the caregiver cannot receive the vaccine. Those who receive their first dose from WMHD will receive an email notification when the second dose clinics are scheduled. For more information, visit <http://www.webermorganhealth.org/covid-vaccine-registration/> WMHD Mass Immunization Clinics - The Weber-Morgan Health Department accommodated 1,750 people with the debut of their first cine doses they received and had on hand for the initial mass vaccination clinic they held January 20. Appointments filled up quickly, as expected. According to representatives from the Health Dept., “The individuals who were able to sign up for an appointment were extremely lucky as the demand was overwhelming. Nearly 15,000 Weber-Morgan residents let us know they intended to get the COVID-19 vaccine since January 8, 2021 when Gov. Cox opened it up to individuals age 70 and older. “Obviously, we were not able to accommodate everyone. We assisted 181 individuals who could not make their own appointment because of a physical limitation, language barrier, or lack of access to the Internet. The remaining appointments were snapped up by those who signed up for a notification email and those who got through when the link went live at 3:00 p.m. on January 8.” The Health Dept. encourages qualifying recipients to continue to check back for future clinical immunization rounds at <http://www.webermorganhealth.org/covid-vaccine-registration/> Interested in Deciding How Wildlife is Managed in Utah? Apply for one of two openings on the Utah Wildlife Board The group that makes the final decisions about hunting, fishing, and how wildlife is managed in Utah has two positions to fill, and members of the public who have an interest in wildlife are encouraged to apply. In August 2021, two members of the Utah Wildlife Board—Donnie Hunter and Byron Bateman—will leave the board after completing their six years of service. The governor appoints members to the seven-person board, but any resident of Utah can submit an application for consideration. The application period for the two wildlife board positions runs from Feb. 1 to March 31. Applicants are not required to have a college degree, but they do need to list any associations they have been a member of for the previous five years. You can apply for one of the positions at <board.utah.gov> To help manage wildlife in the state, DWR has divided Utah into five regions. State law requires that every region have at least one representative on the board. Because the remaining five board members represent all the regions, the two open positions can be filled by anyone living anywhere in Utah. The members the governor appoints will serve for one six-year term. These individuals are encouraged to attend the public Wildlife Regional Advisory Council meetings in their respective regions and will also attend roughly six public wildlife board meetings in Salt Lake City each year. Due to COVID-19, the public meetings have been held virtually via livestream since March. The positions are unpaid, and members of the board do not become employees of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. “To serve on the board, you need to have a strong interest in wildlife and wildlife management in Utah,” DWR Wildlife Board Coordinator Staci Coons said. “You also need to be committed to serving and representing the people of Utah.” The Utah Wildlife Board Nominating Committee—an 11-member committee appointed by the governor—will review the applications and select candidates to interview. Then, the committee will forward its recommendations to the governor, who will make the final decision about who fills the vacancies. To learn more about the Utah Wildlife Board and the Wildlife Regional Advisory Council, visit the DWR website at <https:// wildlife.utah.gov/getting-involved.html> Subscriptions available for out-of-area residents at $18 annually. Send payment with mailing address to: The Ogden Valley News, PO BOX 130, EDEN UT 84310 |