CUTLER MARSH, Cache County — A white pelican has landed amid a stand of cattails, weary from his long flight from Mexico, perhaps.
The pelicans will feast here and make their nests among the thousands of Franklin's gulls swooping over blue-green waters framed by the Wellsville Mountains.
White-faced ibis, snowy egrets and gulls sound a cacophony, if not a downright wildlife symphony.
It is sweet music to Dick Mueller, a Utah State University biologist and bird lover, drawn to this 10,000-acre wetlands maze created during the construction of Cutler Dam. It draws water from the Bear, Logan and Little Bear rivers to provide irrigation water and hydroelectric power to Utah farmers and residents.
"It's wild, it's beautiful," he said while navigating a canoe toward the north marsh rookery. "We were out here Monday night as the moon rose out of the mountains. It was quite a sight."
For millions of migratory birds, Cutler Marsh and the adjacent Barrens Sanctuary are a home away from home.
On Friday, officials from Utah Power, the Bridgerland Audubon Society and the National Audubon Society commemorated efforts to improve and enhance the wetlands in northeastern Utah known as the Amalga Barrens Bird Sanctuary. In doing so, they showcased the Barrens Sanctuary, a 150-acre mud flat the National Audubon Society designated as one of Utah's newest IBAs or "Important Bird Areas."
It's the result of a partnership between Utah Power and the Bridgerland Audubon Society, officials noted.
"Because of this partnership, this area will stay green, the water quality improved and wildlife habitat restored," said Bill Edmonds, director of environmental policy for Utah Power.
In 2003, Utah Power sold 150 acres adjacent to the Cutler Dam to the Bridgerland Audubon Society for $35,000 to expand marsh habitat for migratory birds. The society raised the money from private sources, including $25,000 from the Intermountain West Joint Venture.
Andy MacRitchie, an executive vice president for PacifiCorp, which owns Utah Power, called the deal a win for Utah's environment.
"We produced electricity, we build dams, we impact the environment," he said. "By undertaking this work, we are trying to minimize the environmental footprint."
The bird sanctuary is a far cry from what was once proposed here: a dam to divert Bear River water to the Wasatch Front.
"We were amazed and appalled" at the dam idea, said Bryan Dixon of the Bridgerland Audubon Society.
On hand for Friday's ceremony was Brad Barber, former Gov. Mike Leavitt's right-hand man on public lands issues and the chief architect of Leavitt's environmental philosophy, called Enlibra, which dictates all sides of an issue can come together and find common ground.
"This is a classic example of Enlibra," Barber said, adding the philosophy is all about public-private partnerships working toward a common goal.
In this case, it created a bird haven.
"In environmental politics, the thinking goes that you never win, you just postpone losing," added Dixon. "The sanctuary is one of those wins."
Cutler Marsh is a bird-watcher's paradise. There are 137 species found here; 30 percent of them are permanent residents like the eagles and other raptors, western meadowlarks and little tweetie birds.
The stilts and avocets migrate from the south, places like Mexico or Texas. The Swainson's hawk and the killdeers migrate from as far away as Argentina, all without visas or passports.
Utah State University students will be able to use the Barrens Sanctuary as a lab, learning all about the birds and their habitat.
Jim Cane, a scientist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is fascinated by it all. Mostly, he loves the solitude and mystery of the Barrens Sanctuary.
"A lot of days it's just hushed," he said. "It takes an hour to walk the perimeter. It does look barren. Every time I come out here it is always rewarding, especially on quiet peaceful mornings."
E-mail: donna@desnews.com