the Wilson's phalarope and the Eared grebe.  The Wilson's phalarope spends several months

at the Great Salt Lake during the summer,  feasting on the abundant brine flies and brine shrimp,

before its 3,000 mile non-stop migration to South America.  The Eared grebe also relies upon the huge concentrations of

brine flies and brine shrimp that inhabit the Great Salt Lake, in order to build and replenish fat deposits necessary for their

fall migration to Mexico and the Gulf of California.

 
 WILSON'S PHALAROPE IDENTIFICATION
  

The Wilson’s phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor) is a   strikingly patterned shorebird  which can be   characterized by its slender needle-like bill, pearl-gray   head and  back, white under parts, black strip through its  eye and down its neck, and chestnut  markings on  its breast   and back. Unlike the other species of phalaropes, the   Wilson’s  phalarope does not possess fully lobed toes,  therefore it rarely swims.

                                                                                                                                                       Wilson's phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor)

 WHERE DOES THE WILSON'S PHALAROPE LIVE?
 

The Wilson’s phalarope is primarily an   inland  species, nesting on the grassy   borders  of  shallow lakes, marshes,  reservoirs, and gathers at inland   saltwater  and alkali sites  before its fall   migration.   These habitats that the   Wilson's  phalarope occupies makes   them vulnerable to  predators, such as   the Marsh  Hawk. The  Wilson’s phalarope   breeds primarily in the wetlands  that are scattered  throughout the  interior western North   America  and winters in  South America.

shrimp, mosquito larva, brine flies and other invertebrates, which they capture by spinning their body in

 circles in the water while, at the same time rapidly stabbing at the surface with its needle-like bill.

WILSON'S PHALAROPE EXHIBIT SEX ROLE REVERSAL
 
    The Wilson’s phalarope is unusual among birds in that the sex roles are reversed.  The

female not only has the brighter plumage but also arrives first on the breeding ground and

advertises and competes for a mate.  Also, the male phalarope has to construct the nest,

incubate the eggs, and tend for the young.

WILSON'S PHALAROPE MIGRATION

    Around mid-June, female Wilson’s phalaropes begin arriving in large concentrations to the

shores of the Great Salt Lake from Canada.  Male phalaropes typically arrive at the Great Salt

Lake two weeks later than the females.  It has been estimated that 50% of the world's population

of Wilson’s phalarope stop at the Great Salt Lake during their fall migration. The annual

phalarope survey was conducted on July 29, 1998 and researchers counted approximately

300,000 birds which is approximately 100,000 more birds than previous years.

Feasting on the rich abundance of brine flies,   brine  shrimp, and other invertebrates, the phalaropes   double their weight during their visit to the   Great  Salt Lake.  Typically, the Wilson’s   phalarope departs from the Great Salt Lake in  late July  through August and fly   approximately 54 hours non-stop, to reach   their  wintering grounds in the inland saline   lakes of Argentina,  Bolivia, Chile, and Peru.

EARED GREBE IDENTIFICATION
 

The Eared Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis) is a   small, stocky-bodied diving bird, which can   be  characterized by it's  slender bill and   neck,  slate-gray head and back with a   contrasting  white chin, and whitish flanks   and belly.   During the breeding season, the   Eared  Grebe's plumage  undergoes various   changes, which consist of a black  crested   head with golden ear tufts, and a black   neck  and  back with reddish flanks.

aquatic waterbird.  The Eared Grebe's plumage is thickly covered with waterproof feathers,

which allows the Eared Grebe to sink easily and reduce its buoyancy by compressing its

plumage and internal air reservoirs in order to capture prey and escape predators.  Unlike most other diving birds, the

Eared Grebe doesn't posses webbed feet, but lobed feet, which are used to propel itself through the water.  Also, the

anatomy of the Eared Grebe, which is characterized by small wings, short tail, and leg placement towards the back end of

the body, makes it difficult for the Eared Grebe to maneuver on land and engage in flight.

WHERE DOES THE EARED GREBE LIVE?

    The Eared Grebe primarily inhabits shallow lakes, marshes, reservoirs, and gathers at inland

saltwater and alkali sites before it's fall migration.  Eared Grebes are typically found on all the

continents, except Antarctica.  The Eared Grebe, primarily breeds in the marshes and wetlands

of the interior North America and winters along the Pacific and Gulf coasts.

WHAT DOES THE EARED GREBE EAT?
 

The Eared Grebe feeds almost exclusively on   aquatic insects and small crustaceans;   including brine shrimp, plankton, and   other invertebrates, which they catch   by  diving underwater and capturing prey with   their slender bills.  It is noted that Eared   Grebes have become adapted somehow, in order to to   be able to ingest large quantities of brine   solution and survive.  Possible explanations   suggest that the Eared Grebe's massive   tongue, when feeding, releases the saline solution in it's   beak back into the lake, leaving only shrimp to swallow.

EARED GREBE MIGRATION

    Towards the end of June, the Eared Grebe begins arriving in large concentrations to the

shores of Great Salt Lake, from the interior marshes and wetlands of North America.  During

1994, researchers counted approximately 400,000 Eared Grebes, which is the second largest

staging population in North America.  Feasting on the abundance of brine shrimp and

other invertebrates, the Eared Grebe often becomes so obese during their stay at the

Great Salt Lake, that they are unable to fly.   When this happens, the Eared Grebe remains

in order to rebuild their breast muscles, and to molt which are necessary actions for a successful

migration.  As winter approaches and the brine shrimp populations begin to dwindle, the Eared

Grebe departs from the Great Salt Lake and migrates to their wintering grounds along the

Pacific and Gulf coasts.  
 
 

 

RETURN TO HOMEPAGE
 
 
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References:
 

Sorensen, Ella. (1997). "A Grebe Called Hope".  Seductive Beauty of Great Salt Lake.
       Gibbs-Smith: Salt Lake City.

Sorensen, Ella.  "Wison's Phalarope." The Salt Lake Tribune.  Aug. 25, 1998.
        pgs. C1 & C6.

Great Salt Lake Ecosystem Project
    (http://www.nr.state.ut.us/dwr/GSLECO.HTM)

Wharton, Tom. (ND) "The Great Salt Lake: Utah's Amazing Inland Sea". The Salt Lake
       Tribune. pgs. 12-13.      
 
Wilson's Phalarope picture
    (http://www.r6.fws.gov/REFUGES/AUDUBON/WPHALARO.GIF)

Eared Grebe pictures
    (http://eco.bio.lmu.edu/WWW_Nat_History/birds/orders/podi/grebe_e.htm)

Great Salt Lake and Mar Chiquita Cordoba pictures
     (http://people.westminstercollege.edu/faculty/r-ford/GSL/index.html)
 

Additional sites of interest:
 

Western Hemisphere Reserve Network
    (http://www.wetlands.ca/wi_a/whsrn/saltlake.html)

Robert Ford's virtual fieldtrip, Westminster College professor
    (http://people.westminstercollege.edu/faculty/r-ford/GSL/index.html)

Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center
    (http://www.si.edu/organiza/museums/zoo/zooview/smbc/wiph.htm)

Eared Grebe, winter distribution map
    (http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/bbs/htm96/cbc622/ra0040.html)

Eared Grebe, summer distribution map
    (http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/bbs/htm96/map617/ra0040.html)

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
    (http://www.nr.state.ut.us/dwr/!homeypg.htm)

Utah Department of Natural Resources
     (http://www.nr.state.ut.us/)