Search Wildlife
- Blue Ribbon Fisheries program allocates $450K to enhance some of Utah's best fishing spots during 2025-26 projects
- See hummingbirds up close at banding event in northeastern Utah
- Want the chance to hunt big game this fall? Remaining 2025 deer, elk permits to be sold beginning July 8
- Want the chance to hunt cranes, grouse or swans in Utah this fall? Apply for 2025 permits starting July 2
- See osprey at upcoming DWR viewing event at Flaming Gorge
- Visiting Antelope Island this summer? How to avoid conflicts with bison
- DWR unveils new viewing platform, trail at Eccles Wildlife Education Center
- Utah Wildlife Board approves updates to WMA license requirement rule, guide and outfitter requirements and other changes
Birds
An avian oasis
The Great Salt Lake is recognized nationally and around the world for its extensive wetlands and tremendous, often unparalleled value to migratory birds.
The lake's unique physical features, including its immense size, dynamic water levels, diversity of aquatic environments, extensive wetlands and geographic position within avian migration corridors, create a mosaic of habitat types that are attractive to literally millions of migratory birds that use the lake extensively for breeding, staging and in some cases, a wintering destination.
Quick facts
Over 12 million birds, represented by 339 species, utilize the Great Salt Lake and its associated wetlands and uplands:
- As many as 5 million eared grebes, at times half to 90% of the North American population
- Up to 20,000 breeding American white pelicans on Gunnison Island
- Over 600,000 Wilson's phalaropes, the largest staging concentration in the world, representing over a third of the world population
- 21% of the continental population of snowy plovers
- Annual waterbird survey since 1997
Birds slideshow
Click or tap the image below to view a slideshow of birds from the Great Salt Lake.
