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Birds and the Salton Sea

Birds and the Salton Sea. Habitat diversity in the Lower Colorado River Valley (

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Birds and the Salton Sea

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    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 Rossems Gull-billed Tern Aberts 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!

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