Before this study, data had been collected for individual species that brought to light the local, regional, continental, hemispheric, and world importance of GSL to the species occurring here. For some species, the GSL ecosystem is important for breeding, for others the area is important during migration, and for still others, the lake provides important wintering habitat (Table 1). Some species use the lake for combinations of these reasons.  Implicit in these uses of lake environments, depending on the species, is the need for a place to molt, fatten, court, and stage for migration. Significant numbers of American bald eagles and peregrine falcons forage at the lake on its concentration of waterbirds. Several species of swallows and other passerines exploit the robust populations of brine flies and midges at the lake.

The importance of the GSL to birds is underscored by the levels of local, regional, and national planners that have included the GSL in their scope of concern and conservation action. The GSL is prominently featured in the U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan and the Intermountain West Regional Shorebird Plan. The GSL ecosystem is also featured in the current planning for the Intermountain West regional and Continental Waterbird Plan. The GSL and associated wetlands have long been recognized by the North American Waterfowl Management Plan as key to the habitat integrity of the Pacific Flyway. The GSL is one of the few ecosystems in western North America that is recognized as a site of hemispheric importance within the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network.

Recently, avian values of the GSL were recognized by the GSL Comprehensive Management Plan developed under the auspices of the Utah Department of Natural Resources. Currently, a GSL Shorebird Plan is being developed as a tool in lake wide conservation planning for use by the various GSL resource users.