Monitoring Snowy Plovers at Great Salt Lake

As the sun rises over the expanse of Great Salt Lake, its first light casts a golden hue across the endless playa, creating a surreal and serene landscape. The air is crisp, filled with the subtle scent of brine; the only sounds to be heard are the distant calls of waterbirds and the soft crunch of salt crust underfoot. Here, amidst the shimmering flats and sparse vegetation, the elusive Snowy Plover makes its home. These tiny shorebirds go about their lives largely unnoticed, their plumage blending perfectly with the playa's textured surface. The plovers’ presence here is both a whisper and a testament to the fragile beauty of Great Salt Lake’s unique ecosystem.

The Snowy Plover (Anarhhynchus nivosus) is a small shorebird primarily found along North America’s ocean coasts and inland saline lakes, such as Great Salt Lake, with some additional resident populations along the western coast of South America. Known for its pale plumage and distinctive black markings, the Snowy Plover is a ground-nester that prefers open, sandy areas near water. These birds are particularly vulnerable to habitat loss, predation, and human disturbances, making conservation efforts critical to their survival.

The Snowy Plovers at Great Salt Lake belong to the subspecies commonly known as the Western Snowy Plover. This subspecies is the most widespread and is composed of two significant populations: resident birds that nest along the Pacific coast, listed as Threatened by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1993, and a migratory population that mainly breeds in the dry western interior of the United States and Mexico. While this interior population is not listed under the Endangered Species Act, it is protected as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need through state-level Wildlife Action Plans in multiple states, such as Utah, Nevada, and Kansas.

A breeding survey conducted in 2007 and 2008 throughout the continental United States and Mexico estimated the Snowy Plover population at 23,555 individuals. Great Salt Lake was home to 5,541 of these birds, representing 23 percent of the total population. The Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma also had a significant concentration, with 5,280 individuals, or 22 percent of the population. The rest of the population was dispersed in lower numbers across their extensive range. (Thomas et al., 2012).

Masters of camouflage, the Plover’s bluff-colored feathers mimic the sandy and salt-crusted environment, blending them seamlessly into Great Salt Lake's expansive playa habitat and rendering them nearly invisible to the untrained eye. This cryptic coloration is a crucial survival adaptation, allowing them to evade predators and human disturbances.

The vast and often harsh landscape of the playa, with its shimmering salt flats and scattered vegetation, provides perfect cover for these small shorebirds. Consequently, even seasoned bird watchers and researchers find it challenging to spot Snowy Plovers, underscoring the importance of dedicated and meticulous monitoring efforts to understand and protect this elusive species.

Importance of Great Salt Lake for the Snowy Plover

Great Salt Lake is an ecological hotspot, providing a unique saline environment that supports a diverse array of both migratory and breeding birds. The lake's expansive mudflats and playas are part of a diverse wetland matrix connected to the hydrology and ecosystem of Great Salt Lake, offering ideal breeding grounds for Snowy Plovers, making it one of the most important habitats for this species in the western United States. Characterized by vast, open expanses of salty, muddy flats, which fluctuate in size and composition with changing water levels, the dynamic nature of Great Salt Lake’s playa environment creates microhabitats crucial for the Snowy Plover and other bird species. These fluctuating water levels, and the presence of both wet and dry areas, provide essential feeding opportunities and protected nesting sites.

This saline ecosystem is a vital habitat for Snowy Plovers and a diverse array of lesser-known species. The lake's hypersaline environment supports microorganisms, brine shrimp, and brine flies, forming the foundation of the food web. These organisms are fundamental food sources for Snowy Plovers and other bird species, aiding their survival and breeding success.

Moreover, Great Salt Lake serves as a vital stopover for migratory birds, contributing to the overall health of avian populations across the region. The lake's importance extends to the broader ecosystem, supporting not only bird species but also influencing dust dynamics and nutrient cycling in the area. Understanding and preserving this unique habitat is critical for maintaining the biodiversity and ecological balance of Great Salt Lake.

The Snowy Plover Monitoring Program at Great Salt Lake

In 2023, Audubon’s Saline Lakes Program partnered with Audubon Rockies’ Gillmor Sanctuary and Tracy Aviary’s Conservation Program to establish a Snowy Plover Monitoring Program on the south shore of Great Salt Lake. This collaborative effort aims to understand and mitigate the impacts of human activities on Snowy Plover nesting habitats and builds upon the foundational work conducted by Dr. John Cavitt and his lab at Weber State University. Cavitt's research provided significant background and baseline data on plover breeding success and threats at Great Salt Lake (Ellis, Cavitt, & Larsen, 2015). However, since his efforts, strategic monitoring of plover breeding activity has been limited. This project seeks to continue and expand upon his valuable contributions to ensure comprehensive conservation strategies for Snowy Plovers at Great Salt Lake.

From April to August, the Snowy Plover Monitoring Program mobilized a dedicated team of trained ecologists and volunteer community scientists to conduct comprehensive surveys and nest monitoring activities along the south shore of Great Salt Lake. Monitoring days begin with sunrise expeditions across the expansive salt flats, where team members scan the landscape for subtle signs of plover activity. Using both traditional field methods and innovative technologies, like nest cameras, the team gathers invaluable data on nesting behavior, nest success rates, and factors influencing reproductive outcomes. This hands-on approach not only enhances scientific understanding but also underscores the team's dedication to safeguarding this vulnerable species and its fragile habitat.

The south shore of Great Salt Lake is a popular recreation area, making it susceptible to disturbances that can negatively impact Snowy Plover nesting sites. The project employs various methods to gauge these disturbances, including direct observations and deploying cameras to monitor nests.

Nest cameras play a pivotal role in the Snowy Plover Monitoring Program, capturing detailed footage that offers researchers a window into the daily lives of these elusive shorebirds. Positioned strategically near active nests, these cameras operate silently, documenting every movement and interaction without disturbing the birds. This non-intrusive approach is crucial for accurately assessing nest activity and identifying potential threats such as predation and flooding, which are significant causes of nest failure.

Through careful analysis of the footage, the team gains valuable insights into the specific conditions that influence nest success or failure. Specific observations include nesting behaviors, such as incubation, hatching, and defense of the nest as well as external factors like weather patterns, predation events, and human disturbances. This data-driven approach enables the development of targeted conservation strategies. As patterns and potential threats become clearer through ongoing analysis, the team and state agency partners will be better equipped to implement measures aimed at mitigating those threats and enhancing breeding success rates for Snowy Plovers at Great Salt Lake. This evolving understanding will guide the creation of effective protection plans to safeguard these birds and their habitats.

In 2024, the project took a significant step forward by incorporating the use of Motus Wildlife Tracking System tags on Snowy Plovers. This is the first time Motus tags have been used on Snowy Plovers at Great Salt Lake. These small, lightweight tags allow researchers to track the movements and behaviors of individual birds in real-time, providing unprecedented insights into their daily activities and interactions within the ecosystem. One exciting outcome of this tracking effort is an adult Snowy Plover that recently embarked on a nonstop journey to Mexico, covering the distance in just a day's time. The bird was last detected at Great Salt Lake on 7/18 and arrived in Mexico on 7/19, which we presume is its wintering grounds. Remarkably, it reached speeds of up to 44.87 miles per hour during its flight, showcasing the incredible endurance and navigational abilities of these birds, and shedding light on how, when, and where Great Salt Lake birds navigate the landscape. By using Motus tags, the project aims to gather crucial data on the migration patterns and habitat use of Snowy Plovers, enhancing our understanding of their ecological needs and enabling more effective conservation strategies to safeguard their populations for generations to come.

At the heart of the Snowy Plover Monitoring Program lies a deep commitment to community involvement, where volunteers play pivotal roles in monitoring and data collection.  Volunteers undergo comprehensive training, empowering them to contribute to various aspects of the project – including nest monitoring, camera setup, and educational outreach. Their dedication not only strengthens our conservation efforts but also ignites a passion for preserving the unique and delicate ecosystem of Great Salt Lake. By actively involving the community, this effort not only enhances data collection capabilities, but also cultivates a shared sense of stewardship and awareness about the conservation needs of the Snowy Plover.

This collaborative approach has resulted in numerous success stories, with volunteers making significant contributions to our understanding of Snowy Plover breeding habits and the challenges they encounter. Through community science, a network of informed and dedicated individuals is forged, who champion the conservation of Great Salt Lake and its diverse inhabitants.

Securing a Thriving Future for the Snowy Plover

The Snowy Plover Monitoring Program is not just about collecting data, it's about making a tangible impact on the conservation of this vulnerable species. The information gathered informs conservation strategies that are implemented to reduce disturbances and improve nesting success. By understanding the breeding biology and habitat needs of the Snowy Plover, we can develop targeted actions to protect and support these birds. Additionally, the team is working closely with Utah state agencies, such as the Department of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands, to utilize the data collected to inform their management of human activities on the lake shore. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources also has been tracking Snowy Plovers through their Great Salt Lake waterbird surveys and will be embarking on a more extensive research initiative to reassess the population distribution and abundance of the species across their Utah range. This collaboration ensures that the program’s findings contribute to broader efforts to preserve the ecological integrity of Great Salt Lake and enhance the overall effectiveness of conservation measures.

Given that Great Salt Lake hosts one of the largest concentrations of inland Western Snowy Plovers, the project’s work has broader implications for the species' overall conservation. The data-driven strategies can be applied to other regions, helping to bolster Snowy Plover populations across their range. The Snowy Plover Monitoring Program at Great Salt Lake highlights the critical role that dedicated monitoring and conservation efforts play in protecting vulnerable species. Through comprehensive surveys, innovative monitoring techniques, and community involvement, the monitoring team is making strides in understanding and mitigating the challenges faced by the Snowy Plover.

Every action matters—whether it's volunteering, supporting conservation initiatives, or spreading awareness about efforts such as the Snowy Plover Monitoring Program, together, we can preserve Great Salt Lake's unique ecosystem and secure a thriving future for the Snowy Plover in its natural habitat.

In the quiet hours of late morning, as the sun climbs higher above the saline flats of Great Salt Lake, a researcher carefully approaches a small depression in the salt crust. Three petite eggs, speckled and perfectly hidden, are nearly imperceptible amidst the vastness of the landscape. Here, nestled among the gentle undulations of the playa, lies a testament to resilience and adaptation – the delicate nest of a Snowy Plover. With meticulous care, data is collected, and observations are made, ensuring that each tiny life contributes to the broader tapestry of understanding this ecosystem.

As the day warms, the plovers continue their dance of survival, their presence echoing softly across the shimmering landscape – a reminder of the interconnectedness between these birds and the sublime beauty of Great Salt Lake.