Biological Science Technician Maura Speck (USGS – ASC) about to release a red-throated loon (Gavia stellata) with a GPS transmitter attached.
Available here are tracking data of Red-throated Loons, a species that breeds in coastal areas throughout Alaska and winters along the Pacific coasts of North America and Eurasia. These data were collected to better understand the patterns of migratory movements and seasonal use of different regions of Alaska.
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
Media
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Tracking Maps
Red-throated Loon 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
- Loons 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]
- View ScienceBase Data Release
Suggested Citation
Uher-Koch, B.D., Schmutz, J.A., and Douglas, D.C., 2017, Tracking data for Red-throated Loons (Gavia stellata) (ver 2.0, February 2020): U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/F7TH8KVH.
Version History:
First release: December 2017
Revised: February 2020 (ver. 2.0)
Below are other science products associated with Red-throated Loon.
Loon Research
Scientists at the USGS Alaska Science Center have conducted research on Alaska’s three loon species since the late 1970s. Loons rely on freshwater lakes for nesting habitat and fish and invertebrates inhabiting lakes and marine ecosystems for food. All three loon species in Alaska occur within the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A) on Alaska’s northern coast. Research by the USGS is...
Below are multimedia items associated with Red-throated Loon.
Red-throated loon with GPS transmitter
Biological Science Technician Maura Speck (USGS – ASC) about to release a red-throated loon (Gavia stellata) with a GPS transmitter attached.
Two Red-throated loons
Two Red-throated loons (Gavia stellata) in a pond near the Beaufort Sea, Alaska.
Two Red-throated loons (Gavia stellata) in a pond near the Beaufort Sea, Alaska.
Banding a red-throated loon
Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program (ANSEP) student Austin Bergerson attaching a coded metal band to the leg of red-throated loon (Gavia stellata).
Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program (ANSEP) student Austin Bergerson attaching a coded metal band to the leg of red-throated loon (Gavia stellata).
ANSEP student Jakob Sipary holds a red-throated loon, Alaska
ANSEP student Jakob Sipary holds a red-throated loon, AlaskaAlaska Native Science and Engineering Program (ANSEP) student Jakob Sipary holds a red-throated loon on the Canning River Delta, Alaska, July 2019 as part of a USGS study on loon marine habitat use areas. Jakob was an intern for the summer with the U.S. Geological Survey.
ANSEP student Jakob Sipary holds a red-throated loon, Alaska
ANSEP student Jakob Sipary holds a red-throated loon, AlaskaAlaska Native Science and Engineering Program (ANSEP) student Jakob Sipary holds a red-throated loon on the Canning River Delta, Alaska, July 2019 as part of a USGS study on loon marine habitat use areas. Jakob was an intern for the summer with the U.S. Geological Survey.
Red-throated Loon swimming near the Colville River, Alaska
Red-throated Loon swimming near the Colville River, AlaskaA Red-throated Loon swimming in a small lake on the Colville River Delta.
Red-throated Loon swimming near the Colville River, Alaska
Red-throated Loon swimming near the Colville River, AlaskaA Red-throated Loon swimming in a small lake on the Colville River Delta.
Available here are tracking data of Red-throated Loons, a species that breeds in coastal areas throughout Alaska and winters along the Pacific coasts of North America and Eurasia. These data were collected to better understand the patterns of migratory movements and seasonal use of different regions of Alaska.
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
Media
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Tracking Maps
Red-throated Loon 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
- Loons 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]
- View ScienceBase Data Release
Suggested Citation
Uher-Koch, B.D., Schmutz, J.A., and Douglas, D.C., 2017, Tracking data for Red-throated Loons (Gavia stellata) (ver 2.0, February 2020): U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/F7TH8KVH.
Version History:
First release: December 2017
Revised: February 2020 (ver. 2.0)
Below are other science products associated with Red-throated Loon.
Loon Research
Scientists at the USGS Alaska Science Center have conducted research on Alaska’s three loon species since the late 1970s. Loons rely on freshwater lakes for nesting habitat and fish and invertebrates inhabiting lakes and marine ecosystems for food. All three loon species in Alaska occur within the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A) on Alaska’s northern coast. Research by the USGS is...
Below are multimedia items associated with Red-throated Loon.
Red-throated loon with GPS transmitter
Biological Science Technician Maura Speck (USGS – ASC) about to release a red-throated loon (Gavia stellata) with a GPS transmitter attached.
Biological Science Technician Maura Speck (USGS – ASC) about to release a red-throated loon (Gavia stellata) with a GPS transmitter attached.
Two Red-throated loons
Two Red-throated loons (Gavia stellata) in a pond near the Beaufort Sea, Alaska.
Two Red-throated loons (Gavia stellata) in a pond near the Beaufort Sea, Alaska.
Banding a red-throated loon
Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program (ANSEP) student Austin Bergerson attaching a coded metal band to the leg of red-throated loon (Gavia stellata).
Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program (ANSEP) student Austin Bergerson attaching a coded metal band to the leg of red-throated loon (Gavia stellata).
ANSEP student Jakob Sipary holds a red-throated loon, Alaska
ANSEP student Jakob Sipary holds a red-throated loon, AlaskaAlaska Native Science and Engineering Program (ANSEP) student Jakob Sipary holds a red-throated loon on the Canning River Delta, Alaska, July 2019 as part of a USGS study on loon marine habitat use areas. Jakob was an intern for the summer with the U.S. Geological Survey.
ANSEP student Jakob Sipary holds a red-throated loon, Alaska
ANSEP student Jakob Sipary holds a red-throated loon, AlaskaAlaska Native Science and Engineering Program (ANSEP) student Jakob Sipary holds a red-throated loon on the Canning River Delta, Alaska, July 2019 as part of a USGS study on loon marine habitat use areas. Jakob was an intern for the summer with the U.S. Geological Survey.
Red-throated Loon swimming near the Colville River, Alaska
Red-throated Loon swimming near the Colville River, AlaskaA Red-throated Loon swimming in a small lake on the Colville River Delta.
Red-throated Loon swimming near the Colville River, Alaska
Red-throated Loon swimming near the Colville River, AlaskaA Red-throated Loon swimming in a small lake on the Colville River Delta.