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Snow Geese along the shores of the Great Salt Lake
The Great Salt Lake, which borders the northwest corner of the Salt Lake Countywide Watershed, has been named one of seventeen Hemispheric Reserve Sites for its importance to shorebird populations. On an annual basis, the Great Salt Lake is thought to support upwards of 270 species of birds. In correlation, the Jordan River is a major migratory corridor associated with the Great Salt Lake.
The variety of bird species along the Jordan River has declined over the last 150 years due to the replacement of willow bottoms and wet meadows with xeric grass/forb species and Russian Olives. Currently, the ten bird species that dominate the corridor are habitat generalists and include: Black-billed Magpie (Pica pica), Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta), Red Winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus), Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia), Killdeer (Charadrius vociferous), Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustice), Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus), Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura), American Robin (Turdus migratorius), Mallard Ducks (Anas platyrhynchas), and the American Goldfinch (Cardelis tristis) (National Audubon Society 2000).
A comprehensive list of bird species that use and occupy the Jordan River was compiled in 2008 by Dan Potts, member of the Salt Lake County Fish & Game Advisory Group and local naturalist (Bird species in JR Corridor).
The extensive degradation and loss of wetland areas along the Jordan River make the enhancement of available habitat of increased importance for both residential and migratory bird species.
For more information, visit:
Great Salt Lake Audubon
Great Salt Lake Bird Festival
Friends of Great Salt Lake
Utah Bird Watching
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