Shorebird Survey Confirmed for August 15th!
Utah’s Fall 2026 Intermountain West Shorebird Survey will take place this Saturday, August 15th. Each team should have made its own arrangements for coordinating where and when to meet at its assigned survey area. Please reach out to Project Manager Emm Clark with any questions or concerns for the big day.
SAFETY TIPS
Start at sunrise. Arrive at your survey site early and begin your survey at sunrise. Focus on completing a timely count of shorebirds and White-faced Ibis only. An early start will help you beat the heat and reduce the chance of encountering afternoon thunderstorms.
Stay safe during storms. Afternoon thunderstorms are possible. If there is a threat of lightning, seek shelter and end your survey early. Your safety comes first!
Come prepared. Dress in layers and bring plenty of water, snacks, sun protection, and basic first-aid supplies.
Use caution on roads. Do not drive on slippery roads or surfaces where your vehicle could become stuck. If wet or muddy roads are impassable, it is completely okay to adjust or cancel your survey route.
Please take precautions around sick or dead birds. Highly pathogenic avian influenza (bird flu) has been confirmed across Utah. Sick birds may appear lethargic or display unusual behavior. If you observe a group of five or more sick or recently deceased birds, please report the incident. Do not touch the birds, but from a safe distance, take a photograph with GPS location enabled and submit the photo along with a description of your observation to John Neill.
MANDATORY POST-SURVEY SAFETY CHECK-IN
Immediately after completing your survey, each team must take clear photos of the completed data form and sketched survey map and email them to Emm. This email serves as your team’s mandatory safety check-in and provides us with a back-up copy of the data. Please make sure it is sent as soon as your survey is complete so we know your team has safely finished the survey!
You’re Invited to the Shorebird Social!
Join us for the 2026 Shorebird Social as we celebrate another successful year of shorebird surveys and recognize the incredible efforts of our partners and volunteers. We’ll gather with our friends at Fisher Brewingto celebrate the impact of this community effort!
Who: Shorebird surveyors, friends, family, and enthusiasts (21+)
When: Sunday, August 23, 2026, 2pm-4pm
Where: Fisher Brewing Company
Chat with your fellow shorebird enthusiasts, enjoy some complimentary tasty snacks and drinks for purchase, get your FREE volunteer thank you gift, snag new Sageland merch, and more!
At 3pm, we’re hosting a screening of Shoreline Sentinels of Great Salt Lake. This new, 16-minute film produced by our partners at the National Audubon Society recounts the plight of Snowy Plovers, a shorebird that lays its eggs and raises its chicks on the busy shores of Great Salt Lake.
Volunteer Resources
2026 Utah Shorebird Survey Training:
Shorebird Survey Materials
Utah Shorebird Identification Flashcards
Shorebird Identification Videos
Nevada Shorebird Identification - Lauren Whitenack with Great Basin Bird Observatory
Shorebird Identification 101 - Red Rock Audubon
Basic Shorebird Identification - Kenn Kaufman
Identification of Shorebirds with a Focus on Calidris - Jon Dunn and Lara Tseng
Additional Shorebird ID Cards & Slides
How to Count Birds
About the Intermountain West Shorebird Survey
Shorebirds are a diverse and fascinating group of birds that are most often associated with water. Many shorebird species make epic, long-distance migrations thousands of miles between their breeding grounds as far north as the Arctic Tundra to their nonbreeding grounds as far as southernmost South America and back again each year! Unfortunately, shorebirds in North America are facing some of the steepest population declines of any bird group.
The Intermountain West is an oasis for migratory shorebirds. A comprehensive shorebird survey was last completed across the region in 1989-1995, but much has changed in the past 30 years. Climate change, drought, development, and increasing human use of water have significantly reduced the amount and quality of available habitat and food. The Intermountain West Shorebird Survey is a collaborative effort across 11 states to replicate the census of the past so we can better sustain shorebirds into the future.
The survey objectives are:
Document the distribution and abundance of shorebirds at more than 200 survey sites during the spring and fall migrations from 2022-2026.
Use survey data to compare distribution and abundance with the historical shorebird survey from 1989-1995.
Identify factors that influence the distribution and abundance of shorebirds with the aim to provide management recommendations and conserve critical habitats.
Sageland Collaborative, along with our partners at National Audubon Society, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Utah Division of Natural Resources, Tracy Aviary, Point Blue Conservation Science, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service work together to lead this survey effort in Utah. Each season, we train and recruit volunteers to survey areas across Great Salt Lake, Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge, Utah Lake, and the Amalga Barrens Sanctuary. Survey teams are comprised of professional biologists and volunteer birdwatchers.
We cannot accomplish our conservation goals without your generous donation of time and expertise. Thank you!
Support shorebirds at Great Salt Lake and other wildlife in the West by donating today.
2026 program sticker, designed by Frances Ngo.
Participation At a Glance
Fall 2026 Survey Date: The big day is confirmed for Saturday August 15, 2026.
Stay Current: Registered participants will receive regular newsletters with next steps, and can also check this page for updates.
Training Required: Participants are required to watch the training video, practice shorebird identification in their own time, and review the Survey Plan and Data Form in advance (even if you have participated before).
Age: This survey is for participants 18 years of age or older.
Commitment Level = High: Learn basic shorebird identification on your own, complete a virtual training, review survey materials, and participate in a day-long project outdoors (and commit to a back-up survey date).
Requirements: Work will be in and around wet areas, requiring walking over uneven or muddy surfaces (please contact us if you have questions about accessibility and potential accommodations). Also required is an ability or willingness to learn how to identify shorebirds by sight.
Participants must review & adhere to Sageland’s Volunteer Code of Ethics.
Contact: Reach out to Project Manager Emm Clark.
Important Stories
Lesser Known Species Highlight: Long-billed Dowitchers
Long-billed Dowitcher © Quinn Diaz
Wings in a World on Fire, A Sageland Collaborative film by Sarah Woodbury, 2024.
Phalarope at Great Salt Lake © Sierra Hastings
Red-necked phalarope © Dorian Anderson
