stop the legacy highway

Though hundreds of American Eagles winter at the Great Salt Lake, successful nesting sites are extremely rare. The nest that sits less than a mile from the proposed Legacy Highway has produced six healthy Eagles in the last three years. It is the only Bald Eagle nesting site in Northern Utah, and is one of only four known in the entire state. The proposed Legacy Highway, if constructed, would ensure the nest to be forever abandoned.

This year's eaglet pair was dubbed "Mike & Jackie" by several activist groups who are battling the proposed highway.

On Thursday, June 4th, a photograph of the eaglets taken by Utah's famous wildlife photographer Gary Crandall was presented to Governor Leavitt's Chief of Staff Ted Stewart in a ceremony at the State Capitol building.

The groups taking part in the ceremony were:

Hawkwatch International (Tim Funk 524-8513)
Audubon Society (Penny Ciak 974-7060)
Friends of Great Salt Lake (Lynn DeFreitas 582-1496)
Sierra Club (Marc Heileson (467-9294)

Noteworthy Waterfowl Resources of the Great Salt Lake

SpeciesMigrationBreeding
Tundra Swan60,0000
Pintail1,000,0002,000
Gadwall100,00040,000
Cinnamon Teal80,00040,000
Mallard500,000<65,000
Ruddy60,00015,000
Green-winged Teal600,000Rare
Canada Goose50,0002,000
Redhead150,00020,000
Canvasback50,000Minor
Shoveller100,00010,000


Avian Resources of the Great Salt Lake
Wilson's Phalarope500,000, Largest staging concentration in the world, Jehl 1988
Red-necked Phalarope280,000 in a single day estimate, Paul 1986
American Avocet250,000, many times higher than any other wetland in the Pacific Flyway, Shuford 1994
Black Stilt 65,000, many times higher than any other wetland in the Pacific Flyway, Shuford 1994
Marbled Godwit30,000, the only staging area in the interior USA, Shuford, 1994
Snowy Plover10,000, the world's largest assemblage, representing 55% of the entire breeding population west of the Rocky Mnts., Paton 1992
Western Sandpiper17,000, one flock, Paul 1994
Long-billed Dowitcher32,000, single day count, Shuford 1994
White Pelican 18,000 breeding adults, one of the three largest colonies in western Northern America, Paul 1994
White-faced Ibis7,500 breeding adults, world's largest breeding population, US Fish & Wildlife Service status reports 1982
California Gull160,000 breeding adults, world's largest breeding population, White 1992
Eared Grebe1.4 million, single day count, second largest staging population in North America, Paul, 1997
Peregrine Falcon11 active pairs of this listed endangered species, Paul 1994
Bald EagleOver 500 wintering bald eagles associated with GSL, one of the top ten winter populations in the lower 48 states, National Wildlife Federation mid-winter bald eagle survey reports
Bank SwallowOver 10,000 in one flock, GSL represents one of the largest migratory corridors in Western North America, Paton 1994