Images

The Saline Lake Ecosystems IWAA Waterbird Movement Project began tagging American Avocets in March 2023 to track their movements across the landscape. Tracking data from these birds will help scientists better understand why these birds choose to use the terminal lake and wetland habitats they do in the Great Basin.

American Avocet are a bird that relies heavily on the Saline Lakes ecosystem during their spring migration periods. Over 50% of these birds exist here. Part of their use includes using the terminal lakes there to breed. 

Lake Abert, Oregon is one of the 20 terminal lakes identified by USGS partners as priority ecosystems for study by the Saline Lakes Ecosystems IWAA.

In this sagebrush community, there are intact biological soil crusts that are composed of cyanobacteria, lichens and mosses. Phlox sp. are growing abundantly on these biocrust communities.

Eared grebes in a courtship behavior in the Great Salt Lake. They are one of many migratory birds in the Great Basin that rely on terminal lakes and wetlands in the area to stop rest and feed. 

This is a community of biological soil crusts including scale lichens, crustose lichens, mosses, and cyanobacteria. 

Biological soil crusts are an intimate association of soil particles, cyanobacteria, algae, lichens, bryophytes, and microfungi which live within or directly on top of the uppermost millimeters of soil. (Belnap, 2003)

Photograph of Summer Lake Wildlife Area, an important stopping spot for migratory birds on their spring and fall migration flights. 

Hoary bat with a Motus tag. Learn more about our project to track bats and birds through the Motus network here: https://www.usgs.gov/centers/werc/science/birds-bats-and-beyond-network…

Gabe Reyes holds a hoary bat during the process of tagging bats with Motus tags.

Looking east on Bullgate Pond at sunrise with lone tule white-fronted goose (Anser albifrons elgasi) in upper right, Summer Lake Wildlife Area, near Summer Lake, Oregon.

USGS crew measuring forest conditions following the Dixie Fire in 2021. Lassen Volcanic National Park. California. 

These scientists are working on The Great Salt Lake to determine the amount of water and qualities of it. This will help them in developing better management techniques that will work to support the migratory birds that frequent the area. 

These brine flies are an important fuel source for migratory birds, giving them energy for long flights. 

Researchers attach a GPS tag to the tail feathers of a Red-footed Booby as part of the Palmyra Blue Water project.

Learn more:

https://www.usgs.gov/centers/werc/science/palmyra-blue-water-research

Biologists measure the bill length of a GPS-tagged Red-footed Booby for the Palmyra Blue Water project.

Learn more:

https://www.usgs.gov/centers/werc/science/palmyra-blue-water-research

Reef manta rays were one of 10 pelagic species tagged in a new effort to understand marine habitat use and the functionality of the large "blue water" marine protected area surrounding Palmyra Atoll and Kingman Reef in the central eastern Pacific Ocean.

Learn more:

Sunset over the lagoon at Palmyra Atoll.

Learn more about research at Palmyra Atoll:

https://www.usgs.gov/centers/werc/science/palmyra-blue-water-research

Successfully hatched greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) nest in southeastern Oregon.

A patch of short moss photographed in the Great Basin.

Biological soil crusts are an intimate association of soil particles, cyanobacteria, algae, lichens, bryophytes, and microfungi which live within or directly on top of the uppermost millimeters of soil. (Belnap, 2003)

Reference: 

A male greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) displaying on a lek in the Bodie Hills, California.

Amy Vandergast (left) and Julia Smith (right) pose next to a rail crossing sign in Ventura County.