GREAT SALT LAKE BIRDS
Why I photograph the birds of Great Salt Lake
If you’re here, you probably already feel it—the pull of the lake. The light. The silence. The sudden rush of wings lifting off the water.
For more than thirty years, I’ve been photographing and painting birds around Great Salt Lake. What began as a love of wildlife has grown into something deeper: a calling to document, protect, and share this fragile ecosystem through art.
Whether you’re a fellow photographer or someone who cares deeply about conservation, I’m grateful you’re here.
Documenting Great Salt Lake Birds (And Why It’s Not Easy)
Recently, I was given a list of birds found in the Great Salt Lake area—uplands and wetlands included. The list contained around 340 species, which stopped me in my tracks.
As I worked through the list, I realized some species may have only been seen once and would be considered rare sightings. After days of sorting and narrowing, I created a refined list of nearly 200 birds that one would reasonably expect to see throughout the seasons and migration cycles. I’m planning to have the list peer-reviewed soon.
In my portfolio, I’ve photographed around 150 of these species so far.
Choosing favorites feels impossible, but I’m especially drawn to:
Phalaropes spinning in shallow water
Various owls at rest and in flight
The stately Great Blue Heron
American White Pelicans moving in formation
Grebes in their quiet elegance
Sandhill Cranes calling across the wetlands
The ever-graceful American Avocet
And so many more.
Wetland bird photography is challenging. The terrain is unpredictable. The birds are cautious. The conditions change quickly. But that’s also what makes it meaningful.
How I photograph birds in the wild
My goal is simple: capture intimate, authentic moments you wouldn’t normally see unless you spent hours waiting in stillness.
Sometimes I head into the wetlands focused on one particular species. Other days, I go wherever the light and conditions lead me.
One thing remains constant—I do everything I can, not to disturb the birds.
I move slowly.
I sit quietly.
I blend into the landscape as much as possible.
I know that even my presence can create stress, so I’m careful and deliberate.
Photographing birds at Great Salt Lake often means:
Walking through mud (muck boots are essential)
Climbing unstable, rocky hillsides
Sitting or lying on the ground for hours
Wearing camouflage or bug netting
Watching carefully for spiders and snakes
There are days when I sit in silence for hours, simply waiting.
Eventually, something shifts. The bird relaxes. I relax. The rhythm of the wetlands returns. That’s when I’m able to create the image I envisioned—natural, intimate, and honest.
Why Great Salt Lake Conservation Matters
Over the decades, I’ve watched the ebb and flow of Great Salt Lake. But in recent years, the dramatic lowering of water levels has deeply concerned me.
This isn’t just about birds.
It’s about:
Habitat loss
Air quality in nearby cities
Brine shrimp and the broader food chain
Migratory patterns across the West
In 2025, I presented more than sixty images in two major exhibits focused entirely on Great Salt Lake and its birds. These photographs were created over seven years—trudging through mud and shallow water, traveling by airboat, and even flying above the lake in a small Cessna to document its changing shoreline.
Art can speak in ways statistics cannot. My hope is that these images help people pause, care, and act.
Why Displaying Great Salt Lake Bird Photography Supports Conservation
When you bring a Great Salt Lake bird into your home or office, you’re doing more than decorating a wall.
You are:
Supporting continued conservation-focused field work
Helping document a critical moment in the lake’s history
Starting meaningful conversations with guests
Keeping the presence of wildness in your daily life
Each photograph represents a real moment in time at Great Salt Lake. In many ways, these images are historical records.
And they’re deeply personal to me.
How to Order a Great Salt Lake Bird Print
I’ve made the ordering process simple.
Visit my website and browse the Great Salt Lake collection. (Link coming soon - for now look under Birds of a Feather.
The listed size for each image reflects the crop and composition that works best artistically. Larger sizes can be printed if you keep the proportion the same.
Use the checkout process to place your order.
If you live in the Salt Lake City area, I will personally deliver your print.
If you live outside the region, reach out through my contact page and we’ll discuss printing and shipping options.
Pieces are sold as signed prints (some framed pieces are available). I work with local businesses whenever possible, so please allow about a week for printing before shipment.
If you need a custom size for a specific space, contact me. I’m happy to see if the image can be adjusted to meet your needs while maintaining its integrity.
Thank You
Truly—thank you.
Whether you support conservation through art, advocacy, or simply by caring about this lake, it matters.
The birds of Great Salt Lake deserve to be seen.
They deserve to be remembered.
And they deserve our protection.
Contact me if you have further questions
Linda Dalton Walker
