Picture by Mary Anne Karen, used with permission
Growing up in the Evergreen State of Washington, I loved coming to Utah in the fall. The vibrant oranges, reds, and yellows of the trees were magic to me as a child from a state with evergreens that lacked fall colors. As I studied and spent more time in Northern Utah, my attention shifted to another phenomenon of yellow, orange, and red that sets this region apart:the fall migration of shorebirds at Great Salt Lake.
Great Salt Lake supports millions of shorebirds each year—who flock to the lake to fuel up on brine shrimp, flies, and the bountiful wetlands surrounding the lake. The shorebirds’ reliance on the Great Salt Lake ecosystem to stock up energy through the summer and fall before long journeys south makes this place a nature lover and birdwatcher paradise.
Each year from July to October, Eared Grebes, Wilson’s Phalarope, Snowy Plovers, California Gulls, American White Pelicans, Common Goldeneyes, Cinnamon Teal, Tundra Swans, and more rely on our saline lake, giving us an opportunity to enjoy Great Salt Lake’s beauty even more. Many of these species congregate at Great Salt Lake in higher numbers than anywhere else in the world.
July is generally an active feeding time for Great Salt Lake’s shorebirds–the brine shrimp and brine fly populations skyrocket, providing food for migrating and resident birds. August brings Black-necked stilts and American Avocets by the thousands, who feed in the shallow and saltiest areas of the lake. Wetlands are packed with Great Egrets, Great Blue Herons, and White-Faced Ibises. In September, up to 80% of North America’s Eared Grebes return from summer nesting grounds to eat their fill of brine shrimp—up to 30,000 a day—and molt their summer plumage before a long journey south.
Late October brings decreasing shrimp and fly populations. As the shorebirds continue on their journey away from Great Salt Lake, waterfowl flock to the lake and its wetlands in mass. This means there are only about two more months to see the magic of more than 250 species of birds collecting in one place!
For all the fellow nature lovers and birdwatchers in Northern Utah, there are several spots around Great Salt Lake that make for great avian viewpoints. Antelope Island State Park, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve, and Willard Bay State Park offer stunning views of our saline lake and the diversity of wildlife present during migration season. Connect with your lake this fall by planning a trip to one of these spots or finding one of your own!
