As human populations grow and prolonged droughts impact water availability, lakes and wetlands have disappeared globally and throughout the Western United States. California alone has lost an estimated 90% of its wetlands over the past two centuries. Millions of migratory birds along the Pacific and Central flyways rely on the persistence of open water and wetland habitats for breeding, stopover and wintering sites. Among the most important remaining sites is the Salton Sea, California’s largest lake and hosts to some of the largest waterbird concentrations in the Western United States. However, the Sea is shrinking rapidly due to reduced inflows, triggering significant changes in habitat and food availability. We analyzed seven years (2016–2023) of bird surveys, habitat, and water quality assessments to evaluate how birds are responding to the Sea’s rapidly changing environment. Key findings show that while deep-water habitats and fish-eating birds like pelicans and cormorants are in decline, shallow wetland habitats are expanding by 23% from 2019 to 2022, supporting significant gains in shorebird populations, including Least and Western Sandpipers. Overall, waterbird numbers increased by roughly 15% annually during the study period, underscoring the Sea’s continued ecological value. Our research identifies new opportunities for conservation and restoration with new emerging and expanding habitats. With coordinated action, the Salton Sea can remain a resilient refuge for birds and a healthier environment for surrounding communities.

Keilani Bonis-Ericksen is a Geospatial Program Manager for Audubon California, where she leads geospatial projects to support conservation efforts across California landscapes (Coasts, Deserts, Central Valley, and Urban) and for programs including the Working Lands, Conservation Ranching, Salton Sea, and Coastal Programs. She supports all California teams, including centers and sanctuaries, with spatial analysis, mapping, data visualizations, and community and stakeholder engagement at a local and state-wide level. Prior to this, she graduated with an M.S. in Conservation Biology and Environmental Science from the University of Hawaii, where her research project involved assessing 3D models of coral reefs in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Before completing her master’s, she worked as an environmental scientist for Marine Research Consultants and as a kayak and naturalist guide in the San Juan Islands of Washington. She received her BA in Geology at Occidental College in 2016.