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Researchers warn shrinking lakes shift bird populations and can sicken waterbirds
Summary
Bonnie Baxter said hyper‑salinity and habitat loss at shrinking saline lakes push birds to relocate and can cause health problems; when Great Salt Lake rose in 2023, brine flies and some bird populations rebounded, showing restoration can help.
Bonnie K. Baxter described regional implications for migratory birds when saline lakes shrink. She said as smaller lakes like the Salton Sea or Lake Abert have receded, some species have shifted to Great Salt Lake, increasing local dependence. Baxter warned that hyper‑salinity at historic lows can overwhelm waterbirds' salt‑regulation and lead to illness, not just food shortages.
She pointed to 2023 as an example in which increased inflows allowed brine flies and other invertebrates to rebound and supported returning bird populations, but noted that pelican nesting remains vulnerable where predators can access formerly isolated nesting islands. Baxter urged restoration efforts that focus on habitat connectivity and predator issues as well as hydrology.
