WMA events

Visit Great Salt Lake's wetlands!

The Great Salt Lake and its wetlands host a large number of birds throughout the year. The DWR and other organizations provide events and other opportunities to see these birds and other wildlife as well.

Swan viewing

Both tundra swans and trumpeter swans stop in the lake's wetlands for some much-needed rest and refueling during their annual spring migration. The migration takes the swans from wintering grounds in California to nesting sites in Canada and Alaska.

March is usually the best month to see these graceful, beautiful birds, and the best locations are the Compton's Knoll viewing area, a small hill on the southeast side of the Salt Creek WMA, and the Eccles Wildlife Education Center on the Farmington Bay WMA.

The DWR usually hosts swan viewing events each spring as well.

View the DWR's Great Salt Lake aerial swan survey data.

Bald eagles

The Great Salt Lake wetlands are also important wintering grounds for America's most iconic birds — bald eagles, who come to find food and escape colder conditions farther north. February is usually the best month to see these birds, when there are hundreds of them throughout Utah.

The DWR usually hosts viewing events for bald eagles in February, both around the Great Salt Lake and in other locations in the state.

If you bring binoculars or a spotting scope, you can typically get great views of bald eagles at several spots around the lake. Here are some of the best:

• 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 southeast 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.