The following description comes from the event organizer.

As Oregon’s only hypersaline lake and one of just three such lakes in the western U.S., Lake Abert is a vital ecosystem within the high desert and an essential stop for migratory birds travelling along the Pacific Flyway from Patagonia to Alaska.

At it’s full capacity, Lake Abert covers 64 square miles below the iconic Abert Rim. When conditions are optimal in this delicate ecosystem, Lake Abert can support hundreds of thousands of birds whose arrival at the lake coincides with peak brine shrimp and alkali fly populations.

Join us as we kick off the 2023 High Desert Speaker Series with a captivating virtual presentation on Lake Abert and its birdlife. Presenters Ron Larson and John Reuland will cover the natural history of Lake Abert followed by a deep dive into the many bird species that depend on the lake. ONDA’s Conservation Coordinator Anne White will delve into the steps it will take to ensure the lake is provided the water it needs to thrive.

Birders, photographers, and naturalists alike will enjoy this visually detailed presentation as our speakers will use their avian photographs to illuminate the special ecosystem of Lake Abert. And, stay tuned, as the High Desert Speaker Series will continue with events in Bend and Portland in March and April.