Session
Poster Session 2026
Location
Orem, UT
Start Date
5-4-2026 9:49 AM
Description
The Great Salt Lake in Utah is widely known today for its shrinking water levels and toxic dust concerns, but it is also a critical ecological hotspot that supports millions of migratory birds each year. Among these species is the snowy plover (Charadrius nivosus), a small shorebird that relies on the lake as an important nesting and breeding ground despite ongoing population decline. This study focuses on understanding how human recreational disturbance impacts snowy plover nesting success through a monitoring program that began in 2022. Nest surveys, cameras, and newly implemented recreational impact surveys were used to track nest fate, bird behavior, and types of human activity across multiple sites. Preliminary results from 2023 and 2024 show increased data reliability with camera use, though conclusions remain limited due to the short study duration and variability in early data. Observations suggest that while disturbance is present, more long-term data is needed to determine clear relationships between recreation and nest success. Based on patterns seen in similar studies, continued human disturbance could negatively impact nesting behavior and potentially lead to site abandonment, highlighting the importance of future data collection and potential mitigation strategies.
Snowy Plover Nesting and Disturbance at Great Salt Lake
Orem, UT
The Great Salt Lake in Utah is widely known today for its shrinking water levels and toxic dust concerns, but it is also a critical ecological hotspot that supports millions of migratory birds each year. Among these species is the snowy plover (Charadrius nivosus), a small shorebird that relies on the lake as an important nesting and breeding ground despite ongoing population decline. This study focuses on understanding how human recreational disturbance impacts snowy plover nesting success through a monitoring program that began in 2022. Nest surveys, cameras, and newly implemented recreational impact surveys were used to track nest fate, bird behavior, and types of human activity across multiple sites. Preliminary results from 2023 and 2024 show increased data reliability with camera use, though conclusions remain limited due to the short study duration and variability in early data. Observations suggest that while disturbance is present, more long-term data is needed to determine clear relationships between recreation and nest success. Based on patterns seen in similar studies, continued human disturbance could negatively impact nesting behavior and potentially lead to site abandonment, highlighting the importance of future data collection and potential mitigation strategies.