Two chances to see bald eagles are available in February.

Utah's annual Bald Eagle Day will be held Feb. 2 at sites in central, northeastern and southwestern Utah. On the following Saturday, Feb. 9, viewing will be offered at two sites in northern Utah.

Admission to Bald Eagle Day is free. Viewing times are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. except at the Salt Creek Waterfowl Management Area site, where viewing will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

On Feb. 2, you can view eagles at the following locations:

Feb. 2 Fountain Green State Fish Hatchery, located east of Nephi. If coming from the north, take I-15 and exit the freeway at the second Nephi exit (Exit 225). After exiting the freeway, turn east on SR-132 and travel about 10 miles. About 1 mile before the city of Fountain Green, a Bald Eagle Day sign will point you to an access road that leads to the hatchery.

Once you reach the hatchery, you'll be given a driving map of the Sanpete Valley that highlights the best areas in the valley to view eagles. Literature, displays and bathroom facilities will also be available at the hatchery. If eagles are near the hatchery, Division of Wildlife Resources staff will set up spotting scopes so you can view them. Spotting scopes will also be set-up at a viewing location about one mile from the hatchery.

Split Mountain/Green River, located north of Jensen and below the Dinosaur Quarry in Dinosaur National Monument (DNM). To reach the site, drive north from Highway 40 in Jensen on the road (SR 149) to the Dinosaur Quarry. Your first stop should be at the staging area located just inside the DNM boundary where displays, spotting scopes and possibly bald eagles and other raptors await. From the staging area, biologists will direct you to other sites where you may have better views of eagles and other wildlife of interest. In past years, visitors have seen bald and golden eagles hunting and feeding, as well as prairie falcons, hawks, mule deer, river otters, pheasants, turkeys, sandhill cranes, porcupines, mergansers, Canada geese and other wildlife.

If you'd like a closer look at some of the features in the monument and the surrounding area, members from the Uinta Mountain Club will lead two nature walks. The walks will leave from the main staging area at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

During your trip, you may also want to stop and visit the Dinosaur National Monument. The monument's dinosaur quarry is closed, but you can see a few dinosaur bones at a temporary visitor center near the quarry. The visitor center also includes a small bookstore.

Cedar Valley, located on the northwest side of Cedar City. To reach the site, exit I-15 at Exit 59 and travel west on SR-56 to 3900 W. Turn right on 3900 W. and travel north to 2800 N. The viewing site is located at 3900 W. and 2800 N.

On Feb. 9, viewing will take place at the following locations:

Feb. 9

Salt Creek Waterfowl Management Area (Compton's Knoll), located about 10 miles northwest of Corinne. To reach the WMA, take Exit 365 off of I 15 and travel west on SR-83 through Corinne. Stay on SR-83 until you get to 6800 W. (Iowa String). Travel north to 6800 N. Travel west on 6800 N. until you reach the Salt Creek WMA/Compton's Knoll Watchable Wildlife site.

Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, located on the west side of Farmington at 1325 W. Glover Lane (925 South). If you're traveling north on I-15, coming from Salt Lake City and other areas south of Farmington:

To reach the WMA, travel north on I-15, and exit the freeway at Exit 324. Turn left on Park Lane and travel west. The road will angle to the south, and you'll come to Clark Lane at the first traffic light.

Turn right. Travel west to the first stop sign, which is at 1525 West, and turn left. Travel south to Glover Lane, and turn right. Travel west on Glover Lane for about two blocks until you come to 1700 W. Turn left on 1700 W. and travel south to the Great Salt Lake Nature Center. You can park in the parking lot.

If you're traveling south on I-15, coming from Ogden and other areas north of Farmington:

To reach the WMA, travel south on I-15 and exit the freeway at Exit 325. Go to the stoplight and turn right on Park Lane. Travel south to the next light, which is at Clark Lane, and turn right. Travel west to

the first stop sign, which is at 1525 West, and turn left. Travel south to Glover Lane, and turn right. Travel west on Glover Lane for about two blocks until you come to 1700 W. Turn left on 1700 W. and travel south to the Great Salt Lake Nature Center. You can park in the parking lot.

"Spotting scopes will available at each viewing site," says Bob Walters, Watchable Wildlife coordinator for the DWR. "Division of Wildlife Resources biologists and volunteers will also be on hand to help you spot eagles and to answer your questions."

Displays will also be set up at each location, and pamphlets and other materials about bald eagles will be available for free, or for a small cost.

Seeing eagles

The best time to view eagles on Feb. 2 and Feb. 9 depends on the individual, Walters says.

The most comfortable time is late morning and early afternoon. That's when the temperature is the warmest and visibility is the best. The warmer temperatures are especially important if you're bringing young children with you.

You can expect to see eagles during the late morning and early afternoon but not as many as just before sundown, when eagles fly to trees to roost for the night. At most of the sites, the best time to see the greatest number of eagles is probably from 2 to 4 p.m., Walters says.

Walters encourages you to dress warmly. And if there's snow on the ground, make sure you wear waterproof boots.

If you'd like to photograph the eagles, bring a telephoto lens. The eagles will be some distance from the viewing areas. Photographers who don't bring the proper equipment and try to get close to the eagles for a better shot will probably scare them away, Walters says.

Walters started Bald Eagle Day in 1990 as a way to introduce people to Utah's wildlife. "It was started as a way to arouse people's interest, whet their appetite and make them aware of the wildlife around them," Walters says.

Since it began, Bald Eagle Day has grown into Utah's most well attended, and one of its most enjoyed, wildlife-viewing events.

For more information about Bald Eagle Day, call Walters at (801)538-4771 or Division of Wildlife Resources offices in Ogden, Springville, Vernal or Cedar City.