The majority of the Eared Grebe population uses the Sonny Bono Salton Sea during the migration seasons, most noticibly in Sping.  Over a million grebes have been documented at the Salton Sea at one time.

The yellow-footed gull is a common visitor to the Salton Sea, which is the only place in the United States that this species can be reliably seen. The gulls breed in the Gulf of California, and can be seen after this period at the Salton Sea during the summer months.  A few usually linger at the Sea into winter, and they are very rare in spring.  

Fall comes early at the Sonny Bono Salton Sea with peak shorebird migrants arriving as early as August.  Passerines begin thier extended migration period which can last from August to November.

The Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWR manages an intensive farming program to provide nutritious forage for over 30,000 wintering geese and other migratory birds and wildlife.