Shorebirds and Wetlands May be Winners at the Salton Sea, New Audubon CA Report Finds 

(Salton Sea, CA-June 5, 2025) A new science brief published today by Audubon California shows that a number of factors have surprisingly resulted in an increase in wetland habitat, and that an increasing number of shorebirds are taking advantage of the changes—driving a growth rate of 15 percent per year in waterbirds overall. This new development comes as the Sea continues to witness the shrinkage of deep-water habitats and fish-eating bird populations. 

This finding and others are drawn from seven years of Audubon’s bird surveys and habitat assessments at the Salton Sea. Located in the southern California desert and part of the Colorado River Basin, this important saline lake faces growing challenges from climate change and water reductions, with thousands of acres of habitat changing each year. The report also lays out a number of conservation recommendations. 

“By studying the impacts of changes at the Sea, we can see clear opportunities for strategic and efficient conservation, like protecting and enhancing the ‘accidental’ or emerging wetlands dotting the shoreline,” said Dan Orr, Audubon California’s Director of Geospatial Science and lead author on the upcoming study. “And while the Salton Sea has always been a dynamic place, we have a unique chance right now to create an essential oasis for birds and wildlife that can thrive into the future.” 

The science brief, which summarizes a more comprehensive scientific study currently under peer review in a scientific journal, points to significant shifts in habitats, food availability, and bird populations. Newly formed vegetated wetlands, for example, increased from 5,944 acres in 2019 to 7,312 acres in 2022, or by 23 percent. Since 2016, playa habitat, preferred by the Snowy Plover, has more than doubled. Deep-water habitat, preferred by species such as the American White Pelican and the Double-crested Cormorant, decreased by 86 percent. 

Migratory and breeding shorebirds rely on shallow wetlands and mudflats that are expanding at the Sea and which require significantly less water than other habitats. 

“Saving shorebirds can go hand in hand with saving water— two crucial needs for the future resilience of the Sea,” said Andrea Jones, interim vice president and senior director of conservation at Audubon California. “That points to some really exciting opportunities for the next five to ten years. The Salton Sea remains one of the most important places for birds in the West and we have the chance now to solidify its potential, particularly as habitats across the country disappear.” 

California has lost an estimated 90 percent of its historic wetlands, leaving few critical breeding and wintering sites for migratory birds along the Pacific Flyway. The recently published 2025 State of the Birds report showed sharp and rapid declines in U.S. birds across geographies and species, with shorebirds at the highest number of “tipping point’ species – those that have lost more than half their populations in the last 50 years. But the science brief shows that shorebirds are flocking to the Salton Sea in increasing numbers, and an Audubon bird count in August 2023 yielded a record 250,000 shorebirds sighted in one day. 

“This research opens a lot of exciting doors for those of us looking to lay the foundation for a successful future for birds at the Salton Sea”, said Keilani Bonis-Ericksen, Audubon California’s program manager of geospatial science. “For instance, if we can better understand the presence of biofilm as a potential food source on these new wetlands, we may be able to sustain even larger populations of shorebirds.” Biofilm is a thin layer of nutrient-rich bacteria that sits on the water’s surface that sandpipers have been observed feeding on. 

The publication comes two weeks after the May 22 flooding of about 2,000 acres of the Species Conservation Habitat, a state project providing wildlife habitat and dust mitigation that will eventually cover more than 9,000 acres. “This paper underscores what many of us working in the region have known for years: that the Salton Sea is brimming with opportunities for the future,” said Camila Bautista, Program Manager of Audubon California’s Desert & Salton Sea Program and lead Audubon’s partnership with the State of California on the Bombay Beach Wetlands restoration project. “We look forward to working with our partners at state and local agencies, community organizations, and local residents towards a community-based, biodiverse, sustainable vision of the Sea.” 

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Contact: Jason Howe, jason.howe@audubon.org 

About Audubon 

 The National Audubon Society is a leading nonprofit conservation organization with 120 years of science-based, community-driven impact, dedicated to protecting birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. Birds are powerful indicators of our planet’s health, acting as sentinels that warn us of environmental change and inspire action. Audubon works across the Western Hemisphere, driven by the understanding that what is good for birds is good for the planet. Through a collaborative, bipartisan approach across habitats, borders, and the political spectrum, Audubon drives meaningful and lasting conservation outcomes. With 800 staff and more than 1.9 million supporters, Audubon is a dynamic and ever-growing force committed to ensuring a better planet for both birds and people for generations to come. 

Learn more about Audubon California at www.ca.audubon.org and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @audubonCA.