Low Great Salt Lake levels mean coyotes can get onto the island.
Gunnison Island has provided a haven for at least three groups in the last century or so. In 1896, artist Alfred Lambourne attempted to establish a vineyard on the fertile soil of the rugged island in the northwest corner of Utah’s Great Salt Lake. But the next spring, the land was reclaimed by thousands of pelicans on their annual migration. Later, a group of miners attempted to capitalize on the birds’ valuable fertilizer, and for a time, they even drove out the pelicans. But without the birds visiting to replenish the resource — and in the face of other business challenges — the guano business went bust, and the miners left.
A remote island sees just a third of its pelicans return for breeding season
Gunnison Island has provided a haven for at least three groups in the last century or so. In 1896, artist Alfred Lambourne attempted to establish a vineyard on the fertile soil of the rugged island in the northwest corner of Utah’s Great Salt Lake. But the next spring, the land was reclaimed by thousands of pelicans on their annual migration. Later, a group of miners attempted to capitalize on the birds’ valuable fertilizer, and for a time, they even drove out the pelicans. But without the birds visiting to replenish the resource — and in the face of other business challenges — the guano business went bust, and the miners left.
A remote island sees just a third of its pelicans return for breeding season