diff --git a/frontend/src/components/ObservationSearchBar.vue b/frontend/src/components/ObservationSearchBar.vue
index 0e50df5..e279dc8 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/ObservationSearchBar.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/components/ObservationSearchBar.vue
@@ -157,6 +157,7 @@ export default {
       .get("/site")
       .then(response => {
         this.siteOptions = response.data;
+        this.siteSelection = response.data[0].value;
       })
       .catch(error => {
         if (error.response.status === 404) {