Browns Park Waterfowl Management Area ~ Utah

​Flickr album link: Browns Park Waterfowl Management Area

The Browns Park Waterfowl Management Area is located on the Colorado-Utah border west of the Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge. This wildlife area is managed by Utah Fish & Game as a spot for seasonal hunters and birdwatchers are welcome year round. This section of the Green River has old irrigation canals and wetland ponds that attract a wide variety of local and migratory species. Often this lesser known wildlife area offers better bird watching opportunities than the neighboring national wildlife refuge because the terrain is more accommodating for waterfowl. 

Ospreys and hawks rule the skies in the Browns Park WMA during the autumn season. There are a few nesting poles near the river where hours can be spent observing late season ospreys and their well developed fledglings sharing fresh caught fish. The young waterfowl have almost enough feather to join in on the migration, but they are still practically flightless birds that can only skim across the water, which is a fascinating sight to capture on camera. Plenty of milkweed grows around the ponds, so this is also a good place for doing some macro photography.

​Roadside campsites can be found in the west end of this park and there is a riverside campground next to the Browns Park NWR, so it is easy to plan an extended stay. Dinosaur National Monument and the Flaming Gorge Recreation Area are in this neighborhood, which means boredom is word seldom heard. Doing the walking tour of the Browns Park Waterfowl Management Area with a powerful lens in hand certainly is a rewarding experience, so be sure to chalk this lesser known destination high on the list!
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