Short Eared Owl #293

Bear River Bird Refuge, Utah

We had two family reunions in Utah the week before the 4th of July holiday. On our drive home I forced my family to endure a couple hours of birding so that I could see the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. We didn't really even make it to the 12 mile loop where the birds are the thickest due to the kids complaining that they were starving to death. Regardless, the couple of hours we spent driving to the beginning of the loop were very rewarding. We found a Short Eared Owl hopping around in the shade of an olive tree in an otherwise barren field. It was only 30 yards of the road and gave us great chances to look at it. I even think Jessica and the kids were impressed.