page_title: Lake Abert
section_title: Ecology
hierarchical_section_title: Lake Abert / Ecology
caption_attribution_description: English: Lake Abert, as seen from space.
context_page_description: Lake Abert is a large, shallow, alkali lake in Lake County, Oregon, United States. It is approximately 15 miles long and 7 miles wide at its widest point. It is located 3 miles northeast of the small, unincorporated community of Valley Falls, Oregon. The lake was named in honor of Colonel John James Abert by explorer John C. Fremont during his 1843 expedition into Central Oregon. No fish live in the alkaline waters of the lake; however, its dense population of brine shrimp supports a variety of shorebirds. The lake is also an important stop on the bird migration route known as the Pacific flyway.
context_section_description: Fish cannot survive in the lake because of the high salinity and alkali content; as a consequence, brine shrimp are abundant.  The lake provides an excellent habitat for a variety of shore birds. It is one of Oregon’s few inland nesting sites for snowy plovers. The lake is also a stop on the Pacific flyway for many migrant bird species. During the annual migrations, it hosts tens of thousands of eared grebes, Wilson's phalaropes, red-necked phalaropes, American avocets, killdeer, and northern shovelers.  black terns, Forster's terns, American avocet, white-faced ibis, Clark's grebes, and black-necked stilts are common during the summer months.  Canada geese, snow geese, Ross’ geese and many duck species are also common. Bird counts have recorded over 20,000 ducks at the lake at one time. Over 12,000 ring-billed gulls and California gulls have been counted at the lake as well. Sage grouse and burrowing owls are found near the lake, and bald eagles, ferruginous hawks, and peregrine falcons hunt in the Lake Abert area.
caption: Lake Abert seen from space
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