Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake near the Colville River, Alaska
Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake near the Colville River, AlaskaA Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake on the Colville River delta.
Available here are tracking data of Pacific Loons, a species that breeds throughout much of Alaska and winters throughout the Pacific Ocean basin, along the costs of East Asia and the U.S. These data were collected to better understand timing of spring arrival, fall departure, and habitat use patterns on the North Slope 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
Tracking Maps
Media
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
(Credit: David Douglas, USGS)
Pacific 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]
- View ScienceBase Data Release
Suggested Citation
Harrison, A.-L., Uher-Koch, B.D., Schmutz, J.A., and Douglas, D.C., 2020, Tracking data for Pacific Loons (Gavia pacifica) (ver 1.0, February 2020): U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9NNN2XY
Below are other science projects associated with Pacific Loon.
Changing Arctic Ecosystems
Arctic regions of Alaska are important for cultural and economic sustainability and host a wide variety of wildlife species, many of which are of conservation and management interest to the U.S. Department of the Interior. The USGS and collaborators provide information about Arctic ecosystems that are used by Arctic residents, management agencies, and industry.
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 Pacific Loon.
Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake near the Colville River, Alaska
Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake near the Colville River, Alaska
Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake near the Colville River, AlaskaA Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake on the Colville River delta.
Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake near the Colville River, Alaska
Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake near the Colville River, AlaskaA Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake on the Colville River delta.
Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake near the Colville River, Alaska
Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake near the Colville River, AlaskaA Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake on the Colville River delta.
Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica)
Pacific loon.
Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica)
Pacific loon.
Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica)
Pacific loon.
Available here are tracking data of Pacific Loons, a species that breeds throughout much of Alaska and winters throughout the Pacific Ocean basin, along the costs of East Asia and the U.S. These data were collected to better understand timing of spring arrival, fall departure, and habitat use patterns on the North Slope 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
Tracking Maps
Media
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
(Credit: David Douglas, USGS)
Pacific 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]
- View ScienceBase Data Release
Suggested Citation
Harrison, A.-L., Uher-Koch, B.D., Schmutz, J.A., and Douglas, D.C., 2020, Tracking data for Pacific Loons (Gavia pacifica) (ver 1.0, February 2020): U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9NNN2XY
Below are other science projects associated with Pacific Loon.
Changing Arctic Ecosystems
Arctic regions of Alaska are important for cultural and economic sustainability and host a wide variety of wildlife species, many of which are of conservation and management interest to the U.S. Department of the Interior. The USGS and collaborators provide information about Arctic ecosystems that are used by Arctic residents, management agencies, and industry.
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 Pacific Loon.
Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake near the Colville River, Alaska
Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake near the Colville River, AlaskaA Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake on the Colville River delta.
Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake near the Colville River, Alaska
Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake near the Colville River, AlaskaA Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake on the Colville River delta.
Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake near the Colville River, Alaska
Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake near the Colville River, AlaskaA Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake on the Colville River delta.
Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake near the Colville River, Alaska
Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake near the Colville River, AlaskaA Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake on the Colville River delta.
Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica)
Pacific loon.
Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica)
Pacific loon.
Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica)
Pacific loon.