Learn about, see waterfowl at new DWR viewing event

Cedar City — Utah is home to a variety of ducks and migrating geese — as well as other waterfowl species — and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is hosting a viewing event in southern Utah in February to provide the opportunity to see and learn more about these bird species.

Ducks are typically the most commonly seen waterfowl in Utah, with over 15 species found across the state at various times of the year, including:

Dabbling duck species (often spotted in wetlands, reservoirs and marshes)

• Mallards (These birds can interbreed with many other duck species, resulting in unique hybrids.)
• Northern pintails (These birds have been known to migrate over 9,000 miles annually between their breeding and wintering grounds.)
• Gadwalls
• Northern shovelers
• Cinnamon teal
• Green-winged teal (These birds are among the smallest dabbling ducks, weighing less than 1 pound, but they can fly at speeds over 30 miles per hour.)
• American wigeons
• Wood duck (These birds nest in tree cavities and can perch on branches with the help of their sharp claws, which is rare among waterfowl.)

Diving ducks

• Redheads
• Canvasbacks (These birds can dive more than 30 feet deep to forage for food.)
• Lesser scaup
• Ruddy ducks
• Ring-necked ducks

Piscivorous ducks (primarily eat fish and aren't commonly seen in Utah)

• Hooded merganser
• Common mergansers

"In southern Utah, people are most likely to see mallards, American wigeons, northern shovelers, cinnamon teal, northern pintails and redhead duck species," DWR Migratory Bird and Falconry Programs Coordinator Jason Jones said. "You can also see thousands of snow geese in the Delta area when they migrate through in late January and February. Occasionally, trumpeter swans may also be spotted in southern Utah. It's a lot of fun to see these various bird species and to learn about their characteristics so you can identify them."

Geese are another waterfowl species that is also commonly seen in Utah, primarily Canada and snow geese species which are abundant in the state. Both tundra and trumpeter swans can also be seen when they migrate through Utah. Trumpeter swans are the largest waterfowl species in North America, with wingspans exceeding 8 feet.

Event details

The waterfowl viewing event will be held Saturday, Feb. 8 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Jackson Flat Reservoir in Kanab. DWR biologists will be available to answer questions about the various waterfowl species during the event. Spotting scopes will be available, but participants should bring their own binoculars if they have them.

While the event is free, participants are encouraged to register on Eventbrite in advance. The event will be weather dependent, and registrants will be notified if the event is canceled.