<
https://greatsaltlakenews.org/latest-news/ksl-com/pelicans-return-to-nest-at-great-salt-lake-island-for-1st-time-in-81-years>
'GRANTSVILLE — Some of Utah's pelicans have found a new home at the Great Salt
Lake, after many of the state's pods completely abandoned a long-standing
nesting site on another part of the lake last year.
About 1,300 American white pelicans were found nesting at Hat Island during a
survey conducted last week by state wildlife biologists in the area north of
Stansbury Bay by the Great Salt Lake's western edge, the Utah Division of
Wildlife Resources reported Monday. It's not the first time pelicans have
nested on the island, but it was last recorded in 1943.
The update comes after Utah wildlife biologists determined last year the
species had completely abandoned its massive colony on Gunnison Island at the
lake's northwestern edge, once home to up to 20,000 nesting pelicans.
Biologists reported some birds have returned to the island to nest, but the
pelicans remain spread out.
"As far as we can tell, pelicans are nesting at Hat Island, again, because some
may be a little 'gun-shy' about nesting at Gunnison Island after the
disturbances that led to the colony abandonment last year," John Luft, the
division's Great Salt Lake ecosystem program manager, said in a statement. "So
this year, some birds decided to find a new location to nest."
Pelicans had nested on Gunnison Island because of its remoteness. The species
seeks to avoid disturbances when it settles down and the island offered that
since the water kept predators away and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
closed it off to visitors to protect the rookery.
However, it became less secluded as the lake's levels dropped to an all-time
low in 2022. Land bridges began to form by the island as the water dropped,
opening pathways for coyotes and other predators to walk to the island. The
division estimates the average number of nests at Gunnison Island over the last
10 years is around 4,290, with 8,580 breeding adults.'
Via
Fix the News:
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https://fixthenews.com/goodnews-aids-lgbtq-south-korea-canada-marine-protection/>
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
