Importance of Western Wetland Basins to Aquatic Migratory Birds

Gary IveyWestern Crane Conservation Manager

International Crane Foundationwww.savingcranes.org

Intermountain wetlands are important to breeding, migrating and wintering birds

It’s about the Habitat!

And the Food!

Some Important Western Wetlands

Dynamic ConditionsAUTUMN

2004 2005

Great Salt Lake

Species GSL Population and Status Values

Wilson’s Phalarope 500,000: largest staging concentration in the world

Red-necked Phalarope 240,000: single day estimate

American Avocet 250,000: many times higher than any other in the Pacific Flyway

Black-necked Stilt 65,000: many times higher than any other in the Pacific Flyway

Marbled Godwit 43,000: the only staging area in the interior United States

Snowy Plover 10,000: representing 55% of the entire western breeding population

Western Sandpiper 150,000: single day count

Long-billed Dowitcher 32,000: single day count

American White Pelican 20,000 breeding adults: one of the largest colonies in the western U.S.

White-faced Ibis 21,600 breeding adults

California Gull 160,000 breeding; world’s largest staging population in N. America

Eared Grebe 2,200,000: one of two of the largest staging populations in N. America

Water issues threaten these values

Some examples of Great Salt Lake bird use

Brine Shrimp

Average harvest ≈ 4.5 million kg* 11.7 million kg

LarvaeBrine Flies

GSL Winter duck study – Josh Vest

Utah State University and Utah Division of Wildlife Resources' Great Salt Lake Ecosystem Project

Goldeneye on the GSL

• GSL important wintering area

~ 4% of continental population

• Brine fly larvae appear to be an important food item

• Local and regional drought conditions likely influence body condition

Klamath Basin

Water conflict

Harney Basin

1980s Flood

Largest lake in Oregon, 1984

Shrank to 1000 acres in 1992

Harney Lake Story

Mono Lake

>1.6 million Eared Grebes>125,000 phalaropes> 60,000 breeding California Gulls

Sean Boyd, Environment CanadaCalifornia Fish and GameMono Lake Committee

Stillwater

Grays Lake

Summer Lake

Connectivity

Western White-faced Ibis Colony Locations, 1985-99

1984: 19 colonies7,500 pairs

1999: 40 colonies33,000 pairs

American White Pelican Satellite Study

Mark Fuller, U.S. Geological Survey Mike Yates, Kirk Bates, and Linda Schueck, Raptor Research Center, Boise State University, Boise, ID. Bill Seegar, Department of the Army, Edgewood, MD Bill Henry, Stillwater NWR, Fallon, NVHarlan Shannon and George Young, Penn State University, University Park, PA.

Tundra Swan Study-Craig ElyUSGS Alaska Science Center

Homer Alaska Lesser Sandhill Crane Study

In Summary

Western Wetlands are:• Diverse• Dynamic• Connected from a bird perspective• Important to aquatic birds and the society that values them

Questions?