BCR 9. 

Great Basin

Wilson's Phalarope. Photo: © Bill Schmoker

This large and complex region includes the Northern Basin and Range, Columbia Plateau, and the eastern slope of the Cascade Mountains.This area is dry due to its position in the rainshadow of the Cascades and Sierra Nevada. Grasslands, sagebrush, and other xeric shrubs dominate the flats and lowlands, with pinyon-juniper woodlands and open ponderosa pine forests on higher slopes. Lodgepole pine/sub-alpine fir forests occur at higher elevations on north-facing slopes. Several substantial lowland wetlands are extremely important to shorebirds, including breeding American Avocet, Black-necked Stilt, and Willet, migrating Wilson's Phalarope, and other water birds, notably Eared Grebe. The region is also important for breeding Mountain Plover and Snowy Plover. Most of North American breeding White-faced Ibis and California Gulls nest in marshes and lakes scattered across the region. The Great Salt Lake and adjacent marshes host large numbers of American White Pelican, Cinnamon Teal, Northern Pintail, Redhead, Tundra Swan, and other waterfowl, and many species of migrant shorebirds. Sage Grouse, Sage Sparrow, and Brewer's Sparrow are priority land birds of lowlands, with White-headed Woodpecker leading the list of characteristic birds of the region's pine forests.

Important Bird Areas in this BCR

Brewer's Sparrow. Photo: © Ashok Khosla

American Falls Reservoir/Springfield Bottoms

Bear Valley National Wildlife Refuge

Carson Lake and Pasture Area (Lahontan Valley Wetlands)

C.J. Strike Wildlife Management Area and Reservoir

Clear Lake

Columbia National Wildlife Refuge including Goose Lake, and Lava Lake

Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge

Franklin Lake Wildlife Management Area

Goose Lake

Great Basin National Park

Inyo National Forest

Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex including Klamath Marsh and Upper Klamath National Wildlife Refuge

Lake Abert

Lassen National Forest

Market Lake Wildlife Management Area

Malheur National Wildlife Refuge

Mount Hood National Forest

Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Sand Creek Wildlife Management Area

Shasta-Trinity National Forest

Sierra National Forest

Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area

Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge (Lahontan Valley Wetlands)

Summer Lake Wildlife Area

Tule Lake

Wallowa National Forest

Wenatchee National Forest