Available here are tracking data for two subspecies of Bar-tailed Godwits. One of the subspecies, Limosa lapponica baueri, nests in Alaska and spends the nonbreeding season in New Zealand and eastern Australia whereas L.l.menzbieri nests in Siberia and spends the nonbreeding season in western Australia. This study was the first to describe the year-round movements of these extremely long-distance migrants.
Return to Ecosystems >> Wildlife Tracking Data Collection
USGS Alaska Science Center scientists collect data from wildlife tracking devices to: determine locations of animals throughout their annual cycles, understand patterns of habitat use, quantify time spent on various behaviors, and identify geographic areas repeatedly used by wildlife that may indicate sites of importance to species and populations. Tracking data from other wildlife species can be found at: https://doi.org/10.5066/P9VYSWEH
Tracking Maps
Bar-tailed Godwit Tracking Maps
These webpages contain five different types of browse maps and other visualizations of the tracking data.
- Maps (Animated, Static, Interactive, and Google Earth)
- Summary graphs of the data: where, when, duration
- Shorebirds Tagged Animal Movement Explorer interactive visualization tool
- Note: These maps serve only as a depiction of the geographic content of the specific data provided and may be inappropriate for inferences and interpretation outside the intent of the original study. For example, maps may portray only certain ages, sexes, limited numbers of animals or variable tracking duration and start times that may limit inference for other questions. Users are advised to read the publication(s) and data set metadata associated with these maps to understand appropriate use and data limitations.
Data Packages
Argos Satellite Telemetry Data
These data packages contain the data collected from satellite transmitters attached to free-ranging animals. The packages include both raw and processed location and sensor data. The raw data includes data as originally retrieved from the Argos System. The processed data have been filtered for location plausibility, and sensor data have been decoded into standard measurement units. For most users, the processed data will be preferred.
NOTE: Processed data contains both plausible (DAF_Filter=0) and implausible (DAF_Filter=1) locations as indicated by the column “Location_DAF_filter”. Before using these data, we recommend excluding locations flagged as implausible or apply an alternative filtering method of your choice.
- Processed Data [Metadata] [Data Download]
- Raw Data [Metadata] [Data Download]
- Read Me [PDF]
Suggested Citation
Gill, R.E., Jr., Tibbitts, T.L., Battley, P.F., Warnock, N., and Douglas, D.C., 2023, Tracking data for Bar-tailed godwits (Limosa lapponica baueri and Limosa lapponica menzbieri ) (ver 1.0, November 2023): U.S. Geological Survey data release, doi:10.5066/P9A9BYQW
Shorebird Research
USGS Alaska Science Center Adult Shorebird Morphological Measurement Data
Bird Species Checklists from USGS Alaska Science Center Field Camps
Aerial surveys of shorebirds at pre-migratory staging sites in western Alaska, 2018-2019
Bar-tailed Godwits Limosa lapponica in Alaska: Revisiting population estimates from the staging grounds
Physiomorphic transformation in extreme endurance migrants: Revisiting the case of bar-tailed godwits preparing for trans-pacific flights
Shorebird research at the U.S. Geological Survey Alaska Science Center
Shorebird subsistence harvest and indigenous knowledge in Alaska: Informing harvest assessment and management, and engaging users in shorebird conservation
- Overview
Available here are tracking data for two subspecies of Bar-tailed Godwits. One of the subspecies, Limosa lapponica baueri, nests in Alaska and spends the nonbreeding season in New Zealand and eastern Australia whereas L.l.menzbieri nests in Siberia and spends the nonbreeding season in western Australia. This study was the first to describe the year-round movements of these extremely long-distance migrants.
Return to Ecosystems >> Wildlife Tracking Data Collection
USGS Alaska Science Center scientists collect data from wildlife tracking devices to: determine locations of animals throughout their annual cycles, understand patterns of habitat use, quantify time spent on various behaviors, and identify geographic areas repeatedly used by wildlife that may indicate sites of importance to species and populations. Tracking data from other wildlife species can be found at: https://doi.org/10.5066/P9VYSWEH
Tracking Maps
Argos Wildlife Tracking of Bar-tailed Godwits. Bar-tailed Godwit Tracking Maps
These webpages contain five different types of browse maps and other visualizations of the tracking data.
- Maps (Animated, Static, Interactive, and Google Earth)
- Summary graphs of the data: where, when, duration
- Shorebirds Tagged Animal Movement Explorer interactive visualization tool
- Note: These maps serve only as a depiction of the geographic content of the specific data provided and may be inappropriate for inferences and interpretation outside the intent of the original study. For example, maps may portray only certain ages, sexes, limited numbers of animals or variable tracking duration and start times that may limit inference for other questions. Users are advised to read the publication(s) and data set metadata associated with these maps to understand appropriate use and data limitations.
Data Packages
Argos Satellite Telemetry Data
These data packages contain the data collected from satellite transmitters attached to free-ranging animals. The packages include both raw and processed location and sensor data. The raw data includes data as originally retrieved from the Argos System. The processed data have been filtered for location plausibility, and sensor data have been decoded into standard measurement units. For most users, the processed data will be preferred.
NOTE: Processed data contains both plausible (DAF_Filter=0) and implausible (DAF_Filter=1) locations as indicated by the column “Location_DAF_filter”. Before using these data, we recommend excluding locations flagged as implausible or apply an alternative filtering method of your choice.
- Processed Data [Metadata] [Data Download]
- Raw Data [Metadata] [Data Download]
- Read Me [PDF]
Suggested Citation
Gill, R.E., Jr., Tibbitts, T.L., Battley, P.F., Warnock, N., and Douglas, D.C., 2023, Tracking data for Bar-tailed godwits (Limosa lapponica baueri and Limosa lapponica menzbieri ) (ver 1.0, November 2023): U.S. Geological Survey data release, doi:10.5066/P9A9BYQW
- Science
Shorebird Research
With its vast size and geographic position at the northern end of several migration pathways, Alaska is a critically important site for the world’s shorebirds. Thirty-seven shorebird species regularly breed in Alaska. Most of these species conduct epically long migrations to take advantage of Alaska’s abundant food resources and breeding habitat, making Alaska a global resource for shorebirds... - Data
USGS Alaska Science Center Adult Shorebird Morphological Measurement Data
This dataset consists of three tables, 1) taxonomy, 2) contributors, and 3) shorebird morphological measurements collected from various species captured from 1977-2021. In addition, photographs of plumage patterns are available for several species. Researchers with the U.S. Geological Survey - Alaska Science Center, along with collaborators from many government agencies and research institutions,Bird Species Checklists from USGS Alaska Science Center Field Camps
These data are daily summary checklists of all bird species observed at U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center (ASC) field camps. Data include species observation details such as observers, dates, location, and number of individuals seen.Aerial surveys of shorebirds at pre-migratory staging sites in western Alaska, 2018-2019
These data are in one table and document the numbers of four species of shorebird counted during aerial surveys of coastal sites in western Alaska. Survey regions encompassed coastline between the mouths of the Kuskokwim and Yukon rivers, and the northern coast of the Alaska Peninsula from the mouths of the Kvichak and Naknek Rivers to Nelson Lagoon. Surveys were flown from 7-9 September 2018 and - Multimedia
- Publications
Bar-tailed Godwits Limosa lapponica in Alaska: Revisiting population estimates from the staging grounds
Bar-tailed Godwits Limosa lapponica baueri breed in Alaska and spend the nonbreeding season primarily in eastern Australia and New Zealand. Long-term declines spurred recent surveys at nonbreeding sites that yielded a revised population estimate of ~126,000 godwits. We conducted aerial surveys for Bar-tailed Godwits in 2018 and 2019 at pre-migratory staging sites in western Alaska. Counts from simAuthorsDaniel R. Ruthrauff, Zak Pohlen, Heather M. Wilson, James JohnsonPhysiomorphic transformation in extreme endurance migrants: Revisiting the case of bar-tailed godwits preparing for trans-pacific flights
In a 1998 paper entitled “Guts don’t fly: small digestive organs in obese bar-tailed godwits,” Piersma and Gill (1998) showed that the digestive organs were tiny and the fat loads huge in individuals suspected of embarking on a non-stop flight from Alaska to New Zealand. It was suggested that prior to migratory departure, these godwits would shrink the digestive organs used during fuel depositionAuthorsTheunis Piersma, Robert E. Gill, Daniel R. RuthrauffShorebird research at the U.S. Geological Survey Alaska Science Center
Shorebirds—which include sandpipers, plovers, and oystercatchers—are perhaps best known by their presence on sandy beaches, running along the water’s edge while they probe for food. But they are probably less recognized for their impressive long-distance migrations. Millions of individuals travel from across the globe to breed throughout Alaska each spring, making these birds a familiar and importAuthorsDan Ruthrauff, T. Lee Tibbitts, John PearceShorebird subsistence harvest and indigenous knowledge in Alaska: Informing harvest assessment and management, and engaging users in shorebird conservation
Limited data on harvest and population parameters are major impediments to assess shorebird harvest sustainability. Because of sharp declines in shorebird populations, timely conservation efforts require approaches that account for uncertainty in harvest sustainability. We combined harvest assessment and ethnographic research to better understand shorebird conservation concerns related to subsisteAuthorsNaves. Liliana, Jacqueline Keating, T. Lee Tibbitts, Daniel R. Ruthrauff - News