The Barrens Sanctuary is located west of Amalga, incorporating the east and west banks of the Clay Slough between 7000 North and State Route 218, south of Trenton. Bridgerland Audubon Society purchased the 156.4-acres of mudflats, marshes and grasslands from Utah Power in 2003. The area was dedicated on May 7, 2004 and recognized as an Important Bird Area (IBA), which is a network of critical habitats for nesting and migrating birds throughout North America.

Avian Findings for April / May 2005

In the past two months I have documented 4,239 individual birds, consisting of 52 species within the area. Using GPS coordinates, I have set up a walking transect line, approximately two kilometers long, around the boundaries of the property, identifying point count areas as well.

Species observed the first weekend of April included many of the usual suspects such as Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal and Red-winged Blackbirds. Six Canada Goose nests were confirmed within the area. Spring migrants included American Avocets, Black-necked Stilts, Savannah Sparrows and a lone Long-billed Curlew that past overhead giving it's familiar, Curluoo call. A few winter visitors were still lingering, including Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, and a single, third year, Bald Eagle, scanning the waters of the Clay Slough that runs through the Barrens. Passing above the area, I was surprised to see four Snow Geese winging their way to their Arctic Tundra breeding grounds.

A single day survey in the middle of April produced newly arrived Eared Grebes, and a flock of 180 plus White-faced Ibis, returning from their wintering grounds in Central America. Ruddy Ducks were present with the usual waterfowl including Redheads and many Cinnamon Teal, giving their head bobbing display to one another. Three Swainson's Hawks were observed soaring over the grasslands to the west, as flocks of Franklin's Gulls glided through the area. Migrant Willets were seen foraging near Black-necked Stilts, which promptly chased off the less aggressive willets. A pair of Marsh Wrens chattered away in the cattails, as Yellow-headed Blackbirds squawked their greeting. Five Lesser Yellowlegs were spotted on the northern side of the sanctuary, taking advantage of the area as a stopover site, feeding for their flight to their nesting grounds in the open Boreal forest's scattered wetlands. At the end of the day, five Marbled Godwits flew overhead, their cinnamon tinged wing linings gleaming in the afternoon sun.

Two weeks later, my three-day survey found the Barrens Sanctuary property flooded out, with all found nests washed away. The southeast corner of the property was still above the water line, where I usually park. Numbers of American Coots topped 230, with three pairs of Blue-winged Teal seen in the area. American White Pelicans were observed in groups of three and four along the slough. Wilson's Snipe were commonly heard winnowing, which is the hollow, whistled sound of air flowing over the tail feathers, used by the male to defend his territory and attract a mate. New sightings included a single Horned Grebe; dozens of Tree, Cliff and Barn Swallows; a pair of Short-eared Owls, three Forster's Terns, and a couple of Brewer's Sparrows. Seven Wilson's Phalaropes had made it to the north end of the sanctuary, where I observed them swimming in herky, jerky circles, stirring up food from the bottom of the shallows of the slough. These are stopover, migratory species that traditionally breed further north, into Canada, but have been known to nest in Cache Valley. Much work is still to be done on collecting the data we need to document all species in the sanctuary. I am looking forward to the job ahead and will keep everyone posted on what I find.