Birds and the Salton Sea

1. Birds and the Salton Sea An exploration of the importance of the Salton Sea and associated ecosystems to birds: a global and regional perspective Presented to: California Water Dialogue Sept. 16, 2003 Los Angeles Daniel S. Cooper, M.Sc. (University of California, Riverside) Director of Bird Conservation Audubon California Pasadena

3. Key bird habitats of the Salton Sea/LCR Valley (in no order) Shallow, open water Salton Sea, northern Gulf of California Islands Freshwater/brackish marsh LCR and tribs.; seeps in large canals; unlined smaller canals Mudflat/Impoundment Mainly South End Salton Sea Mesquite Bosque Algodones Dunes, Lower Colorado River Valley Cottonwood/Willow Woodland Lower Colorado River Valley, Locally in Imperial Valley Agricultural fields Mainly Imperial and Mexicali Valleys; locally elsewhere

4. Rare vs. �rare� Species formerly common in California, now declining or lost entirely Generally due to habitat loss e.g. Burrowing Owl, Mountain Plover Species formerly absent or in low numbers; now present but still rare Due to habitat alteration or climate/global change e.g. Gull-billed Tern Species never common in California, and only occurring as vagrants Chased by bird-watchers; of low conservation concern

5. The Salton Sea avifauna Lower Colorado River (�LCR�) Endemics �Last Stand� breeders/winterers Winter congregants Summer dispersers Passage migrants Vanishing (vanished?) nesters

6. Lower Colorado River �Endemics� Confined to extreme northwestern Mexico, western AZ, southern NV and southeastern CA �Yuma� Clapper Rail �Van Rossem�s� Gull-billed Tern Abert�s Towhee �Salton Sea� Song Sparrow �Large-billed� Savannah Sparrow

7. �Last Stand� Breeders/Winterers Mountain Plover 30-40% Global population in Imperial Valley (formerly widespread) Burrowing Owl 70% of California pop. in Imperial Valley Associated with agricultural fields 60% of CA population lost in 1980s Western Snowy Plover Largest wintering concentration in interior of U.S. Major interior-U.S. breeding site

8. Winter congregants Begin arriving late July/August � November Occur in two main roles: Agricultural fields Largest agricultural/grassland area in southern California The Salton Sea itself Largest and shallowest body of water in California

9. Winter congregants� (agricultural)

10. Winter congregants� (the Salton Sea itself)

11. Winter congregants� (the Salton Sea itself)

12. And lots in between�

13. Summer Dispersers:  north out of the Gulf

14. Passage migrant songbirds

15. Vanishing (from CA) species

16. Vanishing (from CA) species

17. Outlook for the Sea �Do nothing� (Increased salinity/pollutants = fewer fish) Declines in pelicans Unhealthy birds? Lower Colorado River continues to dry/degrade �Save� the Sea w/o retaining some agriculture No more Burrowing Owl, Sandhill Crane, curlews, etc. Audubon is pushing for maximum restoration of entire LCR system, including the Salton Sea Improvement to threatened ecosystems Reflective of historic conditions No �net loss� of birds No increase of exotic vegetation

18. Thanks!