Where to Wing It This Summer

A speckled shorebird strides across shallow water with its brown and white patterned wings fully extended, creating a clear, mirrored reflection on the calm surface below.

Four fantastic bird photography hotspots in eastern Idaho, all within an easy drive of Idaho Falls

With a mild winter at our backs, now is the time to get serious about chasing early summer migrants, raptors, waterfowl and songbirds.

Here are five options to get you started!

1) Camas National Wildlife Refuge: 62 miles north of Idaho Falls

Our top pick by far. Just off Interstate 15 near Hamer, Camas encompasses roughly 10,500 acres of wetlands, grasslands and ponds where hundreds of bird species can be seen during migration and breeding season. Trumpeter swans, sandhill cranes, snow geese and dabbling ducks mingle with songbirds among the cattails and mesic habitats, making it a can’t-miss stop for shooters willing to take to the gravel roads and trails through the refuge. Be sure to stop in at the headquarters. Great resources there.

2) Market Lake Wildlife Management Area: 24 miles north of Idaho Falls

A local favorite among birders, Market Lake offers broad shallow wetlands and sagebrush edges that attract waterbirds, marsh dwellers and raptors in spring. Granted, it’s more of an elongated canal than a lake if you’re staying in your car, but with a short hike starting at the habitat corridor’s parking lot, you can increase your chances. Herons, egrets, blackbirds and migrating shorebirds are often spotted near the water’s edge, and with ample open sky and reflective water, this site lends itself to dynamic flight shots as well.

3) Tex Creek Wildlife Management Area: 30 miles east of Idaho Falls

Stretching across tens of thousands of acres of mixed habitat east of town, Tex Creek WMA provides a quieter, more expansive alternative for photographers willing to explore early mornings. Songbirds, meadowlarks, sparrows and seasonal waterfowl inhabit the riparian corridors and sage flats here, yielding opportunities for close-to-ground shooting and habitat scenes that contrast with the canyon and wetland environments.

A colorful male ring-necked pheasant with a vibrant red face, white neck collar, and a long barred tail walks through a field of dry, golden-brown grass.

A hawk with mottled brown and white feathers perches on a weathered branch against a solid blue sky. The bird of prey has a distinct dark belly band and sharp yellow talons gripping the wood.

A long-legged shorebird with a thin, upturned bill steps through shallow water illuminated by warm golden light. A clear, mirrored reflection of the bird appears on the calm surface below.

4) Snake River Around Idaho Falls

Right along the river south of Idaho Falls, birders report sightings of bald eagles, great blue herons, swans and an assortment of ducks. This urban-adjacent mosaic of water and trees is often overlooked, but it can produce quick morning and evening action without much travel time. The Riverwalk itself is a great option for chance encounters. Same goes for downstream areas, such as the Snake River Landing property.

Bonus Option Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area: 280 miles west of Idaho Falls

While the Canyonlands of west-central Idaho may require a bit of a drive, the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area is one of the premier raptor viewing spots in North America. Prairie falcons, red-tailed hawks and golden eagles nest along the steep canyon walls, and the birds’ aerial displays — especially in early June — draw experienced photographers seeking dramatic cliff-side shots and high-speed flight action.

As for eastern Idaho, the mix of wetlands, agricultural edges, river corridors and high desert means you’re as likely to photograph a sandhill crane’s courtship dance as you are a songbird hovering over a sagebrush flat.

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