**Important sites for aquatic birds in Utah**

version 2.0

By Ann Manning and Lara Hartley

March 2006

![](media/image1.jpeg){width="6.495833333333334in"
height="4.760416666666667in"}

**Table of Contents**

[Introduction 2](#introduction)

[Summary of the assessment 2](#summary-of-the-assessment)

[Potential additional surveys 5](#potential-additional-surveys)

[Acknowledgments 6](#acknowledgments)

[Appendix One: Focal species 6](#appendix-one-focal-species)

[Appendix Two: Recommendations for each site.
8](#appendix-two-recommendations-for-each-site.)

[Appendix Three: List of Contacts 12](#appendix-three-list-of-contacts)

# Introduction

This is one of a series of reports that summarize information about
sites and regions important to aquatic birds. The report is intended to
facilitate development of comprehensive surveys for aquatic birds.
Similar reports have been prepared for each of the 48 coterminous
States. The reports were prepared as part of the Coordinated Bird
Monitoring (CBM) effort that many States and other groups are engaged in
(see [http://greatbasin.nbii.gov/iwcbm/]{.underline}). The work on CBM
has included a substantial effort, funded by the US Fish and Wildlife
Service and the US Geological Survey, to develop a sampling plan for
aquatic species. The sampling frame is hierarchical and includes the
following "levels":

Level One: Bird Conservation Sub-region (BCS)

Level Two: Designated areas within a BCS

Additional levels as needed

BCSs were defined throughout Canada and the US by intersecting a map of
Bird Conservation Regions (BCR) with a map of Provinces and States. We
deleted small polygons and smoothed the BCR boundaries to make them
easier to locate on the ground. The resulting BCSs permit aggregating
results to either the BCR or Province and State level and to any larger
level that uses these sub-divisions.

The most important areas for aquatic birds were identified in each BCS.
We called these "designated areas". They support significant numbers of
aquatic birds and would probably be surveyed in a comprehensive aquatic
bird survey. Examples include National Wildlife Refuges, State game
management areas if biologists are available to survey them, and other
areas that are notable for aquatic birds and that volunteers could
probably be found to survey. Designated areas may be regions, such as
the playa lakes region in northwest Nevada, and they may be
discontinuous, such as 37 lakes and reservoirs that have been identified
in southern Idaho. Each designated area is described using a standard
format. These descriptions facilitate development of specific surveys.
Designated areas are numbered sequentially within each BCS.

This report identifies species that regularly use each BCS in the State
and presents lists of designated areas in each BCR. The species lists
were generated by compiling checklists, available on the internet. An
initial list was prepared by including all species that were designated
as common or abundant. The lists were then reviewed by biologists in the
area. Information about existing surveys and surveys that would be
beneficial is also summarized and an indication is provided of whether
potentially useful new surveys could be carried out by volunteers or
would require paid staff or contractors. We hope the report will help
groups interested in initiating surveys for aquatic birds by identifying
areas that warrant coverage and by describing the broad outlines of a
sampling plan that may be used to select survey locations.

# Summary of the assessment

Aquatic bird surveys in Utah were assessed in consultation with John
Luft, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Utah has two BCSs: 95 and 96
which are in BCRs 9 (Great Basin) and 16 (Southern Rockies Colorado
Plateau) respectively. We identified 41 important areas for aquatic
birds, most of them in BCSs 95 (Tables 2, 3, Figure 1). At least 25 of
them are on State land and 7 are on federal land (3-USFWS, 3-BLM,
1-USFS).

Fig. 1. Important sites for aquatic birds in Utah.

![](media/image2.jpeg){width="6.495833333333334in"
height="4.760416666666667in"}

Table 1. Number of identified, important areas for aquatic birds in
Utah.

  ------------------- ---------------------------------------------------
  BCS                 Designated Areas

  95                  36

  96                  5

  All                 41
  ------------------- ---------------------------------------------------

Approximately 50 aquatic species occur at least commonly, at some time
of year, in these sites (Table 1).

Our assessment indicated that 59 surveys for aquatic birds are being
conducted at present (Table 2). All but four of the sites suitable for
coverage using aerial surveys are being covered, and 25 of 27 sites are
surveyed for all waterbirds. In contrast, only 2 of 16 sites important
for secretive marshbirds and only 2 of 6 colonies are being surveyed.
Site descriptions, using the format we recommend, have been prepared for
30 of the areas. We estimate that 18 of the 27 potentially valuable
surveys could be carried out by volunteers assuming that a coordinator,
working at the IW-wide level, was available to recruit and manage the
volunteers (Table 3). Implementation of these surveys would provide good
to excellent coverage of 50 aquatic species that warrant monitoring in
Utah including 16 waterfowl, 9 shorebirds, and 18 waterbirds.

Table 2. Surveys for aquatic birds in Utah.

  -------------------------- ------------ ------------------- ------------
  Survey                     Current      Potential new       Season
                             number       surveys             

  Aerial                     13           4                   W

  Ground (all species)       25           2                   MBW

  Secretive marshbirds       2            14                  B

  Migrating shorebirds       15           5                   M

  Colonies                   4            2                   B
  -------------------------- ------------ ------------------- ------------

Table 3. Important areas and status of surveys for aquatic birds in
Utah.

  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  BCS   Num-ber   Name            Site            Species                                  Surveys^2^                                          
                                  des-cription?   present^1^                                                                                   
  ----- --------- --------------- --------------- ------------ ------------- ------------- ------------ -------------- ----------- ----------- ----------
                                                  Water-fowl   Water-birds   Shore-birds   Aerial       Ground-based   Secretive   Migrating   Breeding
                                                                                           Water-fowl   waterbird      Marshbird   Shorebird   Colonies

  95    1         Antelope Island y               0            1             1             6            1              2           2           4

  95    2         Antelope Island y               0            1             1             6            1              6           2           6
                  Causeway                                                                                                                     

  95    3         Associated Duck y               0            1             1             6            1              2           2           2
                  Clubs                                                                                                                        

  95    4         Bear River Bay  n               0            0             0             6            6              6           6           6

  95    5         Bear River      y               1            1             1             1            1              1           1           1
                  Migratory Bird                                                                                                               
                  Refuge                                                                                                                       

  95    6         Blue Lake       y               0            0             0             6            6              6           6           6

  95    7         Clear Lake WMA  y               1            1             0             1            1              6           6           1

  95    8         Cutler Marsh /  y               0            1             0             6            1              6           6           6
                  Amalga Barrens                                                                                                               

  95    9         Deseret Land    n               0            0             0             6            6              6           6           6
                  and Livestock                                                                                                                
                  Ranch                                                                                                                        

  95    10        Farmington Bay  y               1            1             1             1            1              6           1           6
                  \--Lakeside                                                                                                                  

  95    11        Farmington Bay  y               1            1             1             1            1              4           1           6
                  WMA (includes                                                                                                                
                  Crystal)                                                                                                                     

  95    12        Fish Springs    y               1            1             1             1            1              4           1           1
                  NWR                                                                                                                          

  95    13        Gilbert Bay     n               1            0             0             4            6              6           6           6
                  (South Arm)                                                                                                                  

  95    14        Great Salt Lake n               0            0             0             6            6              6           6           6

  95    15        Gunnison Bay /  n               0            0             0             6            6              6           6           1
                  Gunnison Island                                                                                                              

  95    16        Harold Crane    y               1            1             1             1            1              4           1           6
                  WMA                                                                                                                          

  95    17        Howard Slough   y               1            1             1             1            1              4           1           6
                  WMA                                                                                                                          

  95    18        Inland Sea      y               0            1             1             6            1              4           1           6
                  Shorebird                                                                                                                    
                  Reserve                                                                                                                      

  95    19        Layton /        y               1            1             1             4            1              4           1           6
                  Kaysville Marsh                                                                                                              

  95    20        Locomotive      y               1            1             1             1            1              4           1           6
                  Springs WMA                                                                                                                  

  95    21        Neponset        y               0            0             0             6            6              6           6           6
                  Reservoir                                                                                                                    

  95    22        Northwestern    n               0            0             0             6            6              6           6           6
                  Utah                                                                                                                         

  95    23        Ogden Bay North y               1            1             1             1            1              6           1           6
                  Mudflat                                                                                                                      

  95    24        Ogden Bay Open  y               1            0             0             4            6              6           6           6
                  Water                                                                                                                        

  95    25        Ogden Bay WMA   y               1            1             1             1            1              4           1           6

  95    26        Public Shooting y               1            1             1             1            1              4           1           6
                  Grounds WMA                                                                                                                  

  95    27        Salt Creek WMA  y               0            1             0             6            4              4           0           6

  95    28        Salt Wells Flat y               0            1             1             6            1              0           1           6

  95    29        Saltair Resort  y               0            1             1             6            2              2           2           6

  95    30        Sevier River    y               0            0             0             6            6              6           6           6

  95    31        Stansbury South y               0            1             1             6            1              6           1           6
                  Mudflat                                                                                                                      

  95    32        Stansbury Bay   y               1            1             1             4            1              0           1           6

  95    33        Timpie Springs  n               0            1             1             6            1              4           4           6
                  WMA                                                                                                                          

  95    34        Utah Lake North n               1            0             0             1            6              6           6           6

  95    35        Utah Lake Provo n               0            1             0             6            1              6           6           6
                  Bay                                                                                                                          

  95    36        Utah Lake       y               0            1             0             6            1              6           6           6
                  Wetland                                                                                                                      
                  Preserve                                                                                                                     
                  /Goshen Bay                                                                                                                  

  96    1         Desert Lake WMA y               0            1             0             6            1              0           6           6

  96    2         Ouray NWR       y               1            1             0             1            1              1           6           6

  96    3         Quichapa Lake   y               0            0             0             6            6              6           6           6

  96    4         South-central   n               0            0             0             6            6              6           6           6
                  Utah                                                                                                                         

  96    5         Strawberry      n               0            0             0             6            6              6           6           6
                  Reservoir                                                                                                                    
  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

^1^0=no; 1=yes.

^2^0=survey not appropriate; 1=existing survey; 2-5 = site important but
no survey at present (2=volunteers could conduct surveys; 3=volunteers
could help conduct survey; 4=staff would have to conduct survey;
5=survey would be difficult; 6=information still needed.

# Potential additional surveys

We also determined what additional surveys might be conducted at each
area. No presumption was made that these surveys *should* be conducted.
This information was gathered solely to help address questions such as
"If we wanted to survey at least 80% of the sites with significant
numbers of migrating shorebirds (or any other group), how many new
surveys would be needed?". We collected information on whether
volunteers could do the survey entirely or in part, and whether the
surveys were viewed as extremely difficult by biologists familiar with
the areas. Results showed that there are several opportunities for
additional surveys (Table 4). Most suitable areas for aerial surveys are
being surveyed whereas few of the areas suitable for secretive marshbird
surveys are being covered. Based on our results, volunteers could
possibly conduct 9 surveys. Additional information about designated
areas will be valuable in determining where other surveys are needed.

Table 4. Summary of known aquatic bird surveys at designated areas in
Utah.

  ----------------------- ----------- -------------- ----------- ----------- ---------- ---------
  Survey                  Aerial      Ground-based   Secretive   Migrating   Breeding   All
                          Waterfowl   waterbird      Marshbird   Shorebird   Colonies   surveys

  Existing survey         13          25             2           15          4          59

  No survey at present    20          14             22          20          31         107

  Volunteers could        0           1              3           4           1          9
  conduct                                                                               

  Volunteers could help   0           0              0           0           0          0
  conduct                                                                               

  Staff would conduct     4           1              11          1           1          18

  Survey would be         0           0              0           0           0          0
  difficult                                                                             

  Information lacking     20          14             22          20          31         107
  ----------------------- ----------- -------------- ----------- ----------- ---------- ---------

# 

# Acknowledgments

The author wishes to thank Don Paul, Intermountain West Joint Venture,
and John Luft, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, for providing the
Utah Coordinated Bird Monitoring Shorebird Plan. Thanks also to Amy
Seglund, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, for reviewing an earlier
draft report.

# 

# Appendix One: Focal species

Table A1. Focal aquatic species and seasons in which they are common
enough to warrant monitoring (M=migration; B=breeding; W=winter).

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            BCS            
  ----------------------------------------- -------------- --------------
  Species                                   95             96

  Western Grebe                                            B

  Eared Grebe                               M              MB

  Pied-billed Grebe                         MBW            MB

  California Gull                                          MB

  Ring-billed Gull                          MB             M

  Forster\'s Tern                           MB             B

  Black Tern                                               B

  Double-crested Cormorant                  M              MB

  American White Pelican                    M              M

  Common Merganser                                         MB

  Mallard                                   MBW            MBW

  Gadwall                                   MBW            MB

  American Wigeon                           MW             MB

  Green-winged Teal                         MW             MB

  Blue-winged Teal                                         MB

  Cinnamon Teal                             MB             MB

  Northern Shoveler                         MBW            MB

  Northern Pintail                          MBW            MB

  Redhead                                   MBW            MB

  Lesser Scaup                              MW             M

  Ring-necked Duck                          MW             M

  Bufflehead                                               M

  Ruddy Duck                                MBW            MB

  Canada Goose                              MBW            MBW

  Tundra Swan                               MW              

  White-faced Ibis                          B              MB

  American Bittern                                         MB

  Great Blue Heron                          MBW            MB

  Snowy Egret                               MB             MB

  Black-crowned Night-Heron                 MBW            MB

  Sandhill Crane                                           M

  Virginia Rail                                            B

  Sora                                                     B

  American Coot                             MBW            MB

  Wilson\'s Phalarope                       B              MB

  American Avocet                           MB             MB

  Black-necked Stilt                        MB             MB

  Western Sandpiper                         B               

  Greater Yellowlegs                        M               

  Lesser Yellowlegs                                        MB

  Willet                                    MB             MB

  Spotted Sandpiper                                        B

  Killdeer                                  MB             MB

  Northern Harrier                          MBW            MBW

  Bald Eagle                                               W

  Yellow-headed Blackbird                   MB             MB

  Red-winged Blackbird                      MBW            MB

  Tree Swallow                              M              MB

  Violet-green Swallow                                     MB

  Marsh Wren                                MBW            MB
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------

# 

# Appendix Two: Recommendations for each site.

*BCS 95*

1\. Antelope Island

-   A secretive marshbird survey would be valuable; may be able to use
    volunteers to conduct survey.

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   A migrating shorebird survey would be valuable; may be able to use
    volunteer observers.

-   A survey of the breeding colony would be valuable; would probably
    need to be conducted by staff.

2\. Antelope Island Causeway

-   A migrating shorebird survey would be valuable; may be able to use
    volunteer observers.

3\. Associated Duck Clubs

-   A secretive marshbird survey would be valuable; may be able to use
    volunteers to conduct survey.

-   A migrating shorebird survey would be valuable; may be able to use
    volunteer observers.

-   A survey of the breeding colony would be valuable; may be conducted
    by volunteers.

4\. Bear River Bay

-   Prepare a site description using the IW Aquatic Bird Survey
    protocol.

-   Determine whether aerial surveys for waterfowl survey would be
    beneficial.

6\. Blue Lake

-   Determine whether aerial surveys for waterfowl, a secretive
    marshbird survey, and/or a colony survey would be beneficial (we
    were not able to obtain this information).

-   Decide whether to implement any of the surveys that would provide
    useful.

7\. Clear Lake WMA

-   Determine whether aerial surveys for waterfowl, a secretive
    marshbird survey, and/or a colony survey would be beneficial (we
    were not able to obtain this information).

-   Decide whether to implement any of the surveys that would provide
    useful.

8\. Cutler Marsh / Amalga Barrens

-   Determine whether aerial surveys for waterfowl, a secretive
    marshbird survey, and/or a colony survey would be beneficial (we
    were not able to obtain this information).

-   Decide whether to implement any of the surveys that would provide
    useful.

9\. Deseret Land and Livestock Ranch

-   Prepare a site description using the IW Aquatic Bird Survey
    protocol.

-   Determine whether aerial surveys for waterfowl, a secretive
    marshbird survey, and/or a colony survey would be beneficial (we
    were not able to obtain this information).

-   Decide whether to implement any of the surveys that would provide
    useful.

11\. Farmington Bay WMA (includes Crystal)

-   A secretive marshbird survey would be valuable; may be able to use
    volunteers to conduct survey.

12\. Fish Springs NWR

-   A secretive marshbird survey would be valuable; may be able to use
    volunteers to conduct survey.

13\. Gilbert Bay (South Arm)

-   Prepare a site description using the IW Aquatic Bird Survey
    protocol.

-   Determine whether aerial surveys for waterfowl would be beneficial.

14\. Great Salt Lake (This includes all habitat associated with Great
Salt Lake that are not in other designated areas.)

-   Prepare a site description using the IW Aquatic Bird Survey
    protocol.

-   Determine whether aerial surveys for waterfowl, a secretive
    marshbird survey, and/or a colony survey would be beneficial (we
    were not able to obtain this information).

-   Decide whether to implement any of the surveys that would provide
    useful information.

15\. Gunnison Bay / Gunnison Island

-   Prepare a site description using the IW Aquatic Bird Survey
    protocol.

-   Determine whether aerial surveys for waterfowl would be beneficial.

16\. Harold Crane WMA

-   A secretive marshbird survey would be valuable; may be able to use
    volunteers to conduct survey.

17\. Howard Slough WMA

-   A secretive marshbird survey would be valuable; may be able to use
    volunteers to conduct survey.

18\. Inland Sea Shorebird Reserve

-   A secretive marshbird survey would be valuable; would probably need
    to be conducted by staff.

19\. Layton / Kaysville Marsh

-   Determine need/ possibility of including in aerial waterfowl survey.

-   A secretive marshbird survey would be valuable; may be able to use
    volunteers to conduct survey.

20\. Locomotive Springs WMA

-   A secretive marshbird survey would be valuable; may be able to use
    volunteers to conduct survey.

21\. Neponset Reservoir

-   Determine whether aerial surveys for waterfowl, a secretive
    marshbird survey, and/or a colony survey would be beneficial (we
    were not able to obtain this information).

-   Decide whether to implement any of the surveys that would provide
    useful information.

22\. Northwestern Utah (This includes all areas in BCS 95 that are not
in other designated areas.)

-   Prepare a site description using the IW Aquatic Bird Survey
    protocol.

-   Determine whether aerial surveys for waterfowl, a secretive
    marshbird survey, and/or a colony survey would be beneficial (we
    were not able to obtain this information).

-   Decide whether to implement any of the surveys that would provide
    useful information.

24\. Ogden Bay Open Water

-   Determine need/ possibility of including in aerial waterfowl survey.

25\. Ogden Bay WMA

-   A secretive marshbird survey would be valuable; may be able to use
    volunteers to conduct survey.

26\. Public Shooting Grounds WMA

-   A secretive marshbird survey would be valuable; may be able to use
    volunteers to conduct survey.

27\. Salt Creek WMA

-   A ground-based survey for all aquatic birds would be valuable; may
    be conducted by volunteers.

-   A secretive marshbird survey would be valuable; may be able to use
    volunteers to conduct survey.

28\. Salt Wells Flat

-   Determine whether aerial surveys for waterfowl would be beneficial
    (we were not able to obtain this information).

-   Decide whether to implement any of the surveys that would provide
    useful information.

29\. Saltair Resort

-   A ground-based survey for all aquatic birds would be valuable; would
    probably need to be conducted by staff.

-   A secretive marshbird survey would be valuable; may be able to use
    volunteers to conduct survey.

-   A migrating shorebird survey would be valuable; may be able to use
    volunteer observers.

30\. Sevier River

-   Determine whether aerial surveys for waterfowl, a secretive
    marshbird survey, and/or a colony survey would be beneficial (we
    were not able to obtain this information).

-   Decide whether to implement any of the surveys that would provide
    useful information.

31\. Stansbury South Mudflat

-   Determine whether aerial surveys for waterfowl and/ or a secretive
    marshbird survey, would be beneficial.

-   Decide whether to implement any of the surveys that would provide
    useful information.

32\. Stansbury Bay

-   Determine need/ possibility of including in aerial waterfowl survey.

33\. Timpie Springs WMA

-   Prepare a site description using the IW Aquatic Bird Survey
    protocol.

-   A secretive marshbird survey would be valuable; may be able to use
    volunteers to conduct survey.

-   A migrating shorebird survey would be valuable; may be able to use
    volunteer observers.

34\. Utah Lake North

-   Prepare a site description using the IW Aquatic Bird Survey
    protocol.

-   Determine whether a secretive marshbird survey, and/or a colony
    survey would be beneficial (we were not able to obtain this
    information).

-   Decide whether to implement any of the surveys that would provide
    useful information.

35\. Utah Lake Provo Bay

-   Prepare a site description using the IW Aquatic Bird Survey
    protocol.

36\. Utah Lake Wetland Preserve / Goshen Bay

-   Prepare a site description using the IW Aquatic Bird Survey
    protocol.

*BCS 96*

1.  Desert Lake WMA

-   Determine whether aerial surveys for waterfowl would be beneficial.

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   Decide whether to implement any of the surveys that would provide
    useful information.

2.  Ouray NWR

-   Determine whether aerial surveys for migrating shorebirds and/or a
    colony survey would be beneficial (we were not able to obtain this
    information).

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   Decide whether to implement any of the surveys that would provide
    useful information.

3.  Quichapa Lake

-   Determine whether aerial surveys for waterfowl, a secretive
    marshbird survey, and/or a colony survey would be beneficial (we
    were not able to obtain this information).

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   Decide whether to implement any of the surveys that would provide
    useful information.

4\. South-central Utah (This includes all areas in BCS 96 that are not
in other designated areas.)

-   Prepare a site description using the IW Aquatic Bird Survey
    protocol.

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   Determine whether aerial surveys for waterfowl, a secretive
    marshbird survey, and/or a colony survey would be beneficial (we
    were not able to obtain this information).

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   Decide whether to implement any of the surveys that would provide
    useful information.

5\. Strawberry Reservoir

-   Prepare a site description using the IW Aquatic Bird Survey
    protocol.

-   Determine whether aerial surveys for waterfowl, a secretive
    marshbird survey, and/or a colony survey would be beneficial (we
    were not able to obtain this information).

-   Decide whether to implement any of the surveys that would provide
    useful information.

# Appendix Three: List of Contacts

This is not an all inclusive list, but are people who have provided
information or who may be able to provide information about aquatic
sites in Utah.

  ------------- ----------------------------- -------------- -------------------------------------------------------------
  **Contact**   **Site / Organization**       **Phone**      **Email**

  Banta, Jay    Fish Springs NWR              435-831-5353   
                                              x2223          

  Danvir, Rick  Deseret Land and Livestock    435-793-4161   

  Lee, David    Utah Lake Wetlands Preserve   801-538-4751   [[DavidLee@utah.gov]{.underline}](mailto:DavidLee@utah.gov)

  Luft, John    Great Salt Lake               801-537-3342   

  Marchant, Roy Desert Lake WMA               435-653-2900   

  Neville, Ann  Inland Sea Shorebird Reserve  801-252-3030   

  Olson,        Bear River MBR                435-723-5887   
  Bridget                                     x\*813         

  Seglund, Amy  Utah Div of Wildlife, Utah    435-881-5787   
                CBM                                          
  ------------- ----------------------------- -------------- -------------------------------------------------------------