Amid rapid population growth, rising water demand, and climate change, protecting Great Salt Lake and its wetlands is critical to wetland bird conservation. Despite the challenges facing Great Salt Lake and its associated wetlands, Gillmor Sanctuary and Lee Creek Natural Area continue to thrive today due to the dedication and generosity of community members who volunteer their time and talents. 

Whether it's signing up for an event or sharing your own ideas for helping Great Salt Lake, we welcome you to discover the different opportunities to get involved below. Events will be posted to Audubon Rockies’ events page and announced through the Audubon Rockies email list. If you are interested in volunteering at Gillmor Sanctuary or would like to submit an idea for a volunteer event or project at the sanctuary, please complete our Gillmor Sanctuary volunteer signup form here.

Community Science Projects

Light Pollution Monitoring

Light pollution associated with development is rapidly increasing across the Salt Lake Valley. This poses a serious obstacle to the millions of birds that migrate through the valley, most of which migrate at night. Artificial light disorients birds, causing them to waste precious energy and collide with buildings. Gillmor Sanctuary launched a new program to monitor light pollution across the Salt Lake Valley to better understand how it’s impacting birds and what we can do to help them. Volunteering will entail conducting two-hour surveys at night four times per year. No prior experience is necessary, but volunteers should be comfortable collecting data outside at night. Volunteers will work together in pairs. We will provide all necessary training. Sign up

Volunteer With the Snowy Plover Project

Snowy Plovers are declining across their range, and the interior population depends on Great Salt Lake as a critically important breeding site. The South Shore of Great Salt Lake is a popular recreation area, and disturbances in this region may be negatively impacting the Snowy Plovers trying to nest there. This project seeks to understand if and how this is happening so we can develop solutions to conserve this charismatic little bird. From April—August, we will be monitoring Snowy Plover nests at several sites on the Great Salt Lake South Shore, installing cameras to monitor the nests and determine nest fate, and doing surveys and outreach for visitors to these sites to better understand the recreational impacts these birds face. Sign up 

We have three volunteer roles for this project, which takes place from April - August each year. 

• Nest Monitors: Full site survey for new and existing nests, nest checks near estimated hatch dates

• Camera Crew: Help set up nest cameras and retrieve SD cards. Retrieve camera assembly from hatched and lost nests. 

• Rec Team: Recreational Use Surveys and education/outreach for south shore visitors

For questions, email heidi.hoven@audubon.org.

Intermountain West Shorebird Surveys

Migratory shorebirds are key indicators of environmental health, and the wetlands and saline lakes of the Intermountain West are oases for migrating shorebirds each spring and fall. Much has changed since the last comprehensive shorebird survey of the region in 1989-1995, and this program is replicating that census so scientists can better manage shorebirds today and into the future. The goals of the Intermountain West Shorebird Survey aim to sustain shorebird populations by empowering and inspiring people to take actions that conserve wetlands and water. Alongside Sageland Collaborative and partners, volunteer shorebird surveyors help document shorebird populations at more than 200 sites during spring and fall migration. Learn more about participating in the Intermountain West Shorebird Survey from Sageland Collaborative.

Habitat Restoration Projects

Gillmor Sanctuary Workdays

Each spring and fall, Gillmor Sanctuary hosts three to four volunteer workdays. Volunteers have the opportunity to visit the sanctuary and its birds in person while working alongside sanctuary staff and other community members on meaningful projects that improve critical bird habitat. Projects change from season to season based on the needs of the sanctuary. Past projects include removing old fencing, replacing signs, and tackling invasive plants. No matter the project, the work that you and other volunteers do at Gillmor Sanctuary and Lee Creek builds on the legacy of volunteerism that has been invaluable to the establishment, growth, and continued stewardship of these significant places. Check here for event listings.

International Coastal Cleanup

International Coastal Cleanup is an annual initiative of the Ocean Conservancy promoting beach cleanups coordinated by local groups all around the world. FRIENDS of Great Salt Lake has been Utah’s lead organizer of International Coastal Cleanup since 2015, working in partnership with Audubon Rockies, Audubon Saline Lakes Program, Great Salt Lake State Park, Great Salt Lake Audubon, and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. International Coastal Cleanup invites volunteers from across Utah to collect and remove trash from Great Salt Lake’s sensitive shoreline habitats, including Lee Creek Natural Area, which are critical for migratory birds. Since 2019, more than 600 volunteers have removed more than 13,500 pounds of trash from the south shore. By collecting and removing trash from the lake’s shores, our volunteers make a tangible impact on critical wildlife habitat.

More Ways to Get Involved

Discover Gillmor Sanctuary Events

The saline playas, wetlands, and uplands found at Gillmor Sanctuary and Lee Creek create a rich ecosystem that provides absolutely critical habitat for birds and other wildlife. Through our Discover Gillmor Sanctuary program, visitors can join Audubon staff and invited experts to explore the landscape and the wild inhabitants that depend on it. From guided hikes with botanists to explorations of ants and other insects with entomologists, each Discover Gillmor Sanctuary event is a unique opportunity to learn even more about the wetlands of Great Salt Lake.

Join an Audubon Chapter in Utah

Utah is home to four Audubon community chapters and one Audubon sanctuary! Find the Audubon chapter closest to you here.

Volunteer or Propose an Event or Project

If you are interested in volunteering at Gillmor Sanctuary or if you have an idea for a volunteer event or project, please submit our volunteer signup form here!