Three American Avocets take flight from a wetland.
Three American Avocets take flight from a wetland.
Our Work

Audubon's Edward L. & Charles F. Gillmor Sanctuary

Protecting critically important shorebird habitat along Great Salt Lake.
American Avocets. Photo: Evan Barrientos/Audubon Rockies
American Avocets. Photo: Evan Barrientos/Audubon Rockies
Our Work

Audubon's Edward L. & Charles F. Gillmor Sanctuary

Protecting critically important shorebird habitat along Great Salt Lake.

Located along the southern shoreline of Great Salt Lake, Audubon’s 3,597-acre Gillmor Sanctuary provides vital habitat to vast numbers of shorebirds, waterfowl, and other migratory birds. It is an area of wide-open vistas and an abundance of wildlife attracted to wetlands and uplands restored and protected by Audubon. Gillmor Sanctuary includes adjacent land owned by the Utah Reclamation Mitigation Conservation Commission that Audubon manages as well, known as the South Shore Preserve.

Gillmor Sanctuary provides nesting habitat for many bird species, such as American Avocet, Wilson’s Phalarope, Black-Necked Stilt, Cinnamon Teal, and Gadwall. Its saline mudflats provide essential resources for many migrating shorebirds, including Marbled Godwits, Least and Western sandpipers, Long-billed Dowitchers, and Greater and Lesser yellowlegs. The sanctuary also provides nesting and migratory habitat for many species of waterfowl and other waterbirds. In the sanctuary's drier upland habitat, Loggerhead Shrikes, Brewer’s Sparrows, Sage Thrashers, Burrowing and Short-eared owls, and other species nest.

Amid rapid population growth, rising water demand, and climate change, protecting Great Salt Lake and its wetlands is critical to wetland bird conservation. Audubon’s goal at Gillmor Sanctuary is to provide diverse and healthy habitats for birds with a focus on managing saline mudflats as shorebird habitat. Through science-based adaptive management, we’re increasing the number of waterbirds nesting, migrating, and wintering on the property. We're also developing stewardship techniques that we share with other land managers and decision-makers to influence the future of Great Salt Lake and its wetlands.

News and Stories

A Tribute to Ella Sorensen, Champion for Shorebirds
Gillmor Sanctuary

A Tribute to Ella Sorensen, Champion for Shorebirds

Ella’s tireless work spanning nearly three decades has forever shaped the face of Great Salt Lake.

The Transformation of Lee Creek Natural Area
Gillmor Sanctuary

The Transformation of Lee Creek Natural Area

Wildlife habitat along Great Salt Lake has been restored, but still needs our help.

The Great Salt Lake Is Too Big—and Too Important—to Fail
Saline Lakes Program

The Great Salt Lake Is Too Big—and Too Important—to Fail

Utah’s leaders and advocates are mobilizing to save the largest saline lake ecosystem in the Western Hemisphere, a haven for people and migrating birds. Time and water are running out.

Audubon and The Nature Conservancy to Lead Great Salt Lake Water Trust
Saline Lakes Program

Audubon and The Nature Conservancy to Lead Great Salt Lake Water Trust

“The selection ensures expert management of an unprecedented $40 million program to protect the drying lake.”

Funneling Phalaropes
Migration

Funneling Phalaropes

Follow the hemispheric migration of the Wilson’s Phalarope.

Snowy Plover: The Beauty of Existence
Gillmor Sanctuary

Snowy Plover: The Beauty of Existence

Subtle Beauty of Shorebirds Series: October

A Step Forward in Securing Water for a Drying Great Salt Lake
Gillmor Sanctuary

A Step Forward in Securing Water for a Drying Great Salt Lake

Collaboration of business, government agencies, and conservation groups dedicate water to Farmington Bay of Great Salt Lake for ten years.

Pectoral Sandpiper: Supreme Master of Migratory Movement
Gillmor Sanctuary

Pectoral Sandpiper: Supreme Master of Migratory Movement

Less sandpiper, more grasspiper.

The Marvel and Mystery of Marbled Godwit Migration
Gillmor Sanctuary

The Marvel and Mystery of Marbled Godwit Migration

The Subtle Beauty of Shorebirds series, July

The Coming and Going of Yellowlegs at Great Salt Lake
Gillmor Sanctuary

The Coming and Going of Yellowlegs at Great Salt Lake

Subtle Beauty of Shorebirds series, June

Learn more

Great Salt Lake

Gillmor Sanctuary is part of the Great Salt Lake wetland ecosystem, a vital pathway for millions of nesting and migrating birds. Unfortunately, Great Salt Lake is drying up, threatening the survival of countless birds and the air quality of neighboring communities. Audubon is taking measures at Gillmor Sanctuary to understand the implications of climate change and a growing human footprint on shorebird habitat. Learn what else Audubon’s Saline Lakes Program is doing to secure a reliable water supply for Great Salt Lake and for the birds, businesses, and Utahns that depend on it.

Learn about birds and get involved.