51ÁÔÆæÈë¿Ú

Shoreline Sentinels of Great Salt Lake is a 17-minute film about the plight of Snowy Plovers, a small shorebird that nests on the busy shores of Great Salt Lake. This is home to the largest non-coastal breeding population of western Snowy Plovers, but their nesting area overlaps with the most heavily used part of the lake. In 2023, the 51ÁÔÆæÈë¿Ú, , and dedicated volunteers started studying how recreation is impacting the plovers. Shoreline Sentinels calls attention to these hardy birds that most people don’t even realize exist at Great Salt Lake.

In-Person Screenings

In addition to watching the film for free on , you can watch the film in-person at the following events:

This film is meant to raise awareness for Snowy Plovers, Great Salt Lake, and beach-nesting shorebirds. To do that, we are offering the film free of charge to people and organizations who want to organize their own screenings.

Why Organize a Screening?

Shoreline Sentinels tells a story that shows the importance of Great Salt Lake, encourages people to share beaches with nesting birds, and demonstrates the value of people taking action to care for nature locally. If your group or organization is involved with any of these topics, this film can help your audience understand and care about them. If your organization doesn’t focus on these exactly, the film also conveys the broader importance of saline lakes, wildlife conservation, human-wildlife interactions, and volunteer efforts. Plus, it’s a film about cute birds and their babies. Who doesn’t love that?

Hosting a film screening can be a valuable and enjoyable way to engage your members or community. By gathering to watch and discuss a film, you can inform them about important issues and motivate them to take part in important efforts. And it’s relatively easy to do. Once you , we'll send you a guide that walks you through how to set one up.

Past Screenings

• July 21, Fort Collins, Colorado: 51ÁÔÆæÈë¿Ú Rockies 2026 Chapter Gathering
• September 10, Salt Lake City, Utah: Mt. Olympus Presbyterian Church
• September 14, Salt Lake City, Utah: The Neighborhood Garden Club
• September 18, Brigham City, Utah: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge Volunteer Appreciation Dinner
• October 14, Laramie, Wyoming: Laramie 51ÁÔÆæÈë¿Ú Society

Acknowledgements

Shoreline Sentinels was directed, filmed, and edited by Evan Barrientos for the 51ÁÔÆæÈë¿Ú in collaboration with Tracy Aviary. The film was funded by the 51ÁÔÆæÈë¿Ú, Tracy Aviary, and an anonymous donor.