Uniting for shorebirds

A remarkable survey collaboration in the Intermountain West returns after a 30-year pause

Ashley Kijowski
Coordinator, Eccles Wildlife Education Center

Spanning approximately 200 sites across 11 Western states, the Intermountain West Shorebird Survey kicked off in 2022 after a pause of three decades. It was resurrected by a number of dedicated organizations, including Point Blue Conservation Science, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Audubon Society, Sageland Collaborative, Tracy Aviary, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and wildlife agencies, volunteers and participants from 10 other states.

To put the magnitude of this survey into perspective, the Great Salt Lake ecosystem — which encompasses the main bodies of the lake and an estimated 350,000 acres of wetlands — is treated as a single site within the IMWSS. For example, on one big day last spring, 115 participants surveyed 69 specific sites at four different Utah waterbodies: Great Salt Lake, Utah Lake, Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge and the Amalga Barrens Sanctuary. The survey involved several modes of transportation — including airplanes, vehicles, ATVs, boats and foot travel — to cover vast areas.

"Ibis, ibis, ibis..."

I've been lucky enough to get out on an airboat ride in the Great Salt Lake wetlands during migration. It's an awe-inspiring experience, as GSL is a hub for waterbirds. Thousands of American avocets, white-faced ibis and phalaropes fly overhead, reflected along with Antelope Island on the surface of the water. Pelicans and geese soar above, and great blue herons begin their slow takeoff. Many species of waterfowl fly in the distance, and cinnamon teal rise from the brush as we skirt by.

Luckily, the IMWSS only counts shorebirds, and although there are tens of thousands of them, it makes it just a little bit easier. If our volunteers and biologists had to count shorebirds and waterfowl, it would either take double the volunteers or the amount of time to complete the effort.

During the IMWSS, each surveyor is assigned a species to count, and it can be overwhelming to dial in on those specifics when it's so exciting to see the bounty of species present. I remind myself "ibis, ibis, ibis," and try to focus on the beak and color of those birds to drown out the tens of thousands of other birds present all around us. I count off my tallies aloud in groups, "20, 50, 100, 25, 50, 75..." to be recorded as we zip along the shoreline. It's challenging and fun and loud.

The significance of these regional surveys cannot be overstated. Shorebirds possess the ability to traverse great distances, making it crucial to count them across a wide area during the same time period. By doing so, we gain a comprehensive understanding of their populations and can detect trends or changes over time. For example, the 2023 fall shorebird data indicated that the Great Salt Lake ecosystem hosted about 50% of the entire Intermountain West's shorebirds!

However, challenges to the region abound. According to IMWSS partners, approximately 57% of wetland areas within the Intermountain West have been lost (largely to urbanization and climate-driven habitat decline), with Utah experiencing a 30% loss since the 1980s.

Unprecedented conditions

To learn more about this survey, check out our story map!

Although the survey was a major success at GSL, accessing the wetlands can be challenging. Utah experienced one of the snowiest years in history during the winter of 2022–23, resulting in unprecedented flooding in some areas. The northern GSL wetlands were hit especially hard, and our biologists and wetland managers faced the daunting task of contending with rising water levels that damaged roads and infrastructure.

It was an extraordinary situation, but our dedicated wetland managers worked tirelessly to mitigate the effects of the flooding. Rich Hansen was one of the many DWR biologists who helped with the effort during this spring's record-breaking runoff. "This spring was amazing and we were grateful for every drop of water that came to WMAs. It was challenging at times, but well worth it," he said of the travel conditions.

At the south end of the survey area, DWR biologist Kyle Stone shared this example of the wildly changing conditions: "It was interesting to visit Utah Lake at low water levels in August and high water levels in April. Provo Bay, in particular, went from thousands of concentrated shorebirds in limited habitat in August due to insufficient water to no suitable shorebird habitat due to excessive water depth in April." High water levels don't necessarily mean more water is bad for shorebirds, it just changes the habitat in certain areas. We were all very grateful for the water this year.

Chad Cranney, the Public Shooting Grounds, Salt Creek, Locomotive Springs wetland manager and phragmites coordinator, summed up the survey effort in these unique conditions: "It was a concerted effort among DWR, counties, water districts, irrigation companies, and other municipalities that helped alleviate the potential [water] damage, along with mother nature who helped with slow increasing temperatures."

Despite the flooding and debris, WMA managers cleared waterways and saved critical water control structures used to manage and maintain waterbird habitat throughout the year, which helped immensely during the spring and fall surveys. The managers sent regular updates, sharing information on areas that were no longer accessible and areas that were still safe to survey. Their expertise and vigilance were instrumental in ensuring the safety and success of the survey.

Survey results and implications

Thanks to everyone's dedication, a total of 84,128 birds were counted across the four sites in Utah during the spring 2023 survey, representing 23 different species of migratory shorebirds. Additionally, rare sightings included two semipalmated sandpipers, two whimbrels and one pectoral sandpiper.

Among the surveyed species, American avocets were the most commonly counted birds, closely followed by Wilson's phalaropes. These findings shed light on the diverse avian population utilizing the wetlands of Utah, particularly the iconic Great Salt Lake — an ecosystem of immense ecological significance not just for Utah, but throughout the entire Pacific flyway system.

The fall survey — conducted August 11–12, 2023 — also yielded crucial data. Over 100 volunteers and biologists counted 295,088 shorebirds in Utah.

To put it simply, Great Salt Lake is one of the most important wetlands and lakes in the Intermountain West for migratory birds. The preliminary results of the last three shorebird surveys combined show that Great Salt Lake hosts about 47% of the entire Intermountain West's shorebird populations!

As the impromptu communications liaison, I had the privilege of witnessing the constant exchange of information, strategizing and the collective problem-solving behind the Utah portion of the 2023 surveys. The commitment of our biologists, managers, and volunteers was truly commendable, and it underscored the importance of collaboration in achieving our conservation goals.

To me, the IMWSS not only exemplifies the power of teamwork, but also highlights the resilience and adaptability of those working in the field of wildlife conservation. Despite the challenges posed by the natural world, this collective effort allowed us to obtain invaluable data and insights into the shorebird population of the region.

Ashley Kijowski

Ashley Kijowski has worked for the Division of Wildlife with a focus on the Great Salt Lake ecosystem since 2013. She values collaboration because it can accomplish big goals, like the IMWSS. She currently manages the Eccles Wildlife Education Center, where she gets to continue partnerships and projects with the goal of teaching the public about this amazing ecosystem and the wildlife that rely on it.