GREAT SALT LAKE—Of the many things that the Great Salt Lake is known for, wildlife isn’t high up on the list. Many longtime residents of Davis County will remember learning about brine shrimp, and the Antelope Island buffalo, but beyond that? A surprisingly diverse wildlife ecology.

That diversity is due, in large part to the shorebirds whose migration makes the Great Salt Lake an integral part of their ecosystem. Just how many there are, and how well they have been doing has been somewhat of a mystery for the past 30 years…until now.

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, together with Sageland Collaborative, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Tracy Aviary, National Audubon Society Audubon Chapters in Utah, Point Blue Conservation Science, and many volunteers conducted a shorebird survey in Utah, cataloging the different species, their population, and dispersion around the state this year.

“The historic bird surveys we are replicating occurred nearly 30 years ago, so these surveys fill a critical three-decade data gap in our understanding of migratory shorebird populations and their distribution,” National Audubon Society Engagement Manager Max Malmquist said. “Most importantly, the results of these surveys will inform management and policy efforts to ensure there are resources to support birds and the places they need during their migratory journeys across the Intermountain West.”

Though numbers were lower than expected, a fact largely attributed to the late thaw this year, volunteers and workers found 23 different species of shorebirds, 447 examples of a near-threatened species, and a few sightings of birds rare to Utah, including various species of sandpiper.

“Over the course of five days, 115 participants surveyed for shorebirds across Utah,” Sageland Collaborative’s Communications Specialist and Project Coordinator Sierra Hastings said. “Without the dedication of our outstanding volunteers, these efforts would not be possible. We're so grateful for the expertise and passion that our volunteers bring to these surveys, and we're excited to continue counting shorebirds with them in the fall.”

Even with returning volunteers, the DWR will need help with the follow-up survey this fall and has asked that any residents with experience in shorebird identification and conservation join them on Aug. 11, 2023. Interested parties can find more information, and register at https://sagelandcollaborative.org/. 

A member of the West Layton survey team looks out over the landscape with recording equipment at the ready as part of the recent survey. Courtesy Photo.