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Tracking Data for Yellow-billed Loons (Gavia adamsii)

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By Alaska Science Center July 25, 2025

Available here are tracking data of Yellow-billed loons, a species that breeds in coastal areas of western and northern Alaska and adjacent regions of Russia and Canada.  This species 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
Argos Wildlife Tracking of Yellow-billed Loons
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Argos Wildlife Tracking of Yellow-billed Loons
(Credit: David Douglas, USGS)

Tracking Maps

Yellow-billed 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.

Suggested Citation

Schmutz, J.A., Uher-Koch, B., and Douglas, D.C., 2019, Tracking data for Yellow-billed Loons (Gavia adamsii): U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9UKHJ22.

Below are other science products associated with Yellow-billed Loon.

A Yellow-billed Loon swimming in a small lake

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...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center
Loon Research

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...
Learn More

Below are data or web applications associated with the Yellow-billed Loon tracking project.

USGS Alaska Science Center Wildlife Tracking Data Collection USGS Alaska Science Center Wildlife Tracking Data Collection

Understanding the short- and long-distance movements of wildlife is critical for a wide variety of ecological research studies and management decisions. Since the mid-1980s, the USGS Alaska Science Center has collected data from wildlife tracking devices to: determine locations of animals throughout their annual cycles, understand patterns of habitat use, quantify time spent on various...
By
Alaska Science Center

Below are multimedia items associated with Yellow-billed Loon.

Yellow-billed loons are exposed to mercury on their wintering grounds in Asia before migrating to Alaska for breeding.
Yellow-Billed Loons are Exposed to Mercury on their Wintering Grounds
Yellow-Billed Loons are Exposed to Mercury on their Wintering Grounds
Yellow-billed loons are exposed to mercury on their wintering grounds in Asia before migrating to Alaska for breeding.

Yellow-Billed Loons are Exposed to Mercury on their Wintering Grounds

Yellow-Billed Loons are Exposed to Mercury on their Wintering Grounds

Yellow-billed loons are exposed to mercury on their wintering grounds in Asia before migrating to Alaska for breeding. 

By
Contaminant Biology, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Environmental Health Program
Yellow-billed loons are exposed to mercury on their wintering grounds in Asia before migrating to Alaska for breeding.

Yellow-Billed Loons are Exposed to Mercury on their Wintering Grounds

Yellow-Billed Loons are Exposed to Mercury on their Wintering Grounds

Yellow-billed loons are exposed to mercury on their wintering grounds in Asia before migrating to Alaska for breeding. 

By
Contaminant Biology, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Environmental Health Program
Yellow-billed Loon on a lake in the northern area of Alaska.
Yellow-billed Loon on a lake in the northern area of Alaska
Yellow-billed Loon on a lake in the northern area of Alaska
Yellow-billed Loon on a lake in the northern area of Alaska.

Yellow-billed Loon on a lake in the northern area of Alaska

Yellow-billed Loon on a lake in the northern area of Alaska

Yellow-billed Loon on a lake in the northern area of Alaska.

By
Alaska Science Center
Yellow-billed Loon on a lake in the northern area of Alaska.

Yellow-billed Loon on a lake in the northern area of Alaska

Yellow-billed Loon on a lake in the northern area of Alaska

Yellow-billed Loon on a lake in the northern area of Alaska.

By
Alaska Science Center
A Yellow-billed Loon swimming in a small lake
Yellow-billed Loon swimming on the Arctic Coastal Plain, Alaska
Yellow-billed Loon swimming on the Arctic Coastal Plain, Alaska
A Yellow-billed Loon swimming in a small lake

Yellow-billed Loon swimming on the Arctic Coastal Plain, Alaska

Yellow-billed Loon swimming on the Arctic Coastal Plain, Alaska

A Yellow-billed Loon swimming in a small lake on the Arctic Coastal Plain.

By
Alaska Science Center
A Yellow-billed Loon swimming in a small lake

Yellow-billed Loon swimming on the Arctic Coastal Plain, Alaska

Yellow-billed Loon swimming on the Arctic Coastal Plain, Alaska

A Yellow-billed Loon swimming in a small lake on the Arctic Coastal Plain.

By
Alaska Science Center

Below are publications associated with the Yellow-billed Loon tracking project.

Movements and habitat use of loons for assessment of conservation buffer zones in the Arctic Coastal Plain of northern Alaska Movements and habitat use of loons for assessment of conservation buffer zones in the Arctic Coastal Plain of northern Alaska

Oil and gas development in the Arctic Coastal Plain, Alaska, may pose threats to wildlife. Management guidelines within the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska dictate buffer zones for coastal wildlife habitat and for breeding and foraging sites of yellow-billed loons (YBLOs; Gavia adamsii), a species of conservation concern. However, few data exist to assess the value of these buffer...
Authors
Sharon Poessel, Brian Uher-Koch, John Pearce, Joel Schmutz, Todd E. Katzner, David C. Douglas, Vanessa von Biela, Autumn-Lynne Harrison
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Size and retention of breeding territories of yellow-billed loons in Alaska and Canada Size and retention of breeding territories of yellow-billed loons in Alaska and Canada

Yellow-billed Loons (Gavia adamsii) breed in lakes in the treeless Arctic and are globally rare. Like their sister taxa, the well-documented Common Loon (G. immer) of the boreal forest, Yellow-billed Loons exhibit strong territorial behavior during the breeding season. Little is known about what size territories are required, however, or how readily territories are retained from year to...
Authors
Joel Schmutz, Kenneth G. Wright, Christopher DeSorbo, Jeff Fair, David Evers, Brian Uher-Koch, Daniel Mulcahy
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Historic and contemporary mercury exposure and potential risk to yellow-billed loons (Gavia adamsii) breeding in Alaska and Canada Historic and contemporary mercury exposure and potential risk to yellow-billed loons (Gavia adamsii) breeding in Alaska and Canada

The Yellow-billed Loon (Gavia adamsii) is one of the rarest breeding birds in North America. Because of the small population size and patchy distribution, any stressor to its population is of concern. To determine risks posed by environmental mercury (Hg) loads, we captured 115 Yellow-billed Loons between 2002 and 2012 in the North American Arctic and sampled their blood and/or feather...
Authors
David Evers, Joel Schmutz, Niladri Basu, Christopher DeSorbo, Jeff Fair, Carrie E. Gray, James Paruk, Marie Perkins, Kevin Regan, Brian Uher-Koch, Kenneth G. Wright
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Changing Arctic ecosystems: ecology of loons in a changing Arctic Changing Arctic ecosystems: ecology of loons in a changing Arctic

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Changing Arctic Ecosystems (CAE) initiative informs key resource management decisions for Arctic Alaska by providing scientific information on current and future ecosystem response to a changing climate. From 2010 to 2014, a key study area for the USGS CAE initiative has been the Arctic Coastal Plain of northern Alaska. This region has experienced rapid...
Authors
Brian Uher-Koch, Joel Schmutz, Mary Whalen, John Pearce
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Model-Based Predictions of the Effects of Harvest Mortality on Population Size and Trend of Yellow-Billed Loons Model-Based Predictions of the Effects of Harvest Mortality on Population Size and Trend of Yellow-Billed Loons

Yellow-billed loons (Gavia adamsii) breed in low densities in northern tundra habitats in Alaska, Canada, and Russia. They migrate to coastal marine habitats at mid to high latitudes where they spend their winters. Harvest may occur throughout the annual cycle, but of particular concern are recent reports of harvest from the Bering Strait region, which lies between Alaska and Russia and...
Authors
Joel Schmutz
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Available here are tracking data of Yellow-billed loons, a species that breeds in coastal areas of western and northern Alaska and adjacent regions of Russia and Canada.  This species 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
Argos Wildlife Tracking of Yellow-billed Loons
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Argos Wildlife Tracking of Yellow-billed Loons
(Credit: David Douglas, USGS)

Tracking Maps

Yellow-billed 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.

Suggested Citation

Schmutz, J.A., Uher-Koch, B., and Douglas, D.C., 2019, Tracking data for Yellow-billed Loons (Gavia adamsii): U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9UKHJ22.

Below are other science products associated with Yellow-billed Loon.

A Yellow-billed Loon swimming in a small lake

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...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center
Loon Research

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...
Learn More

Below are data or web applications associated with the Yellow-billed Loon tracking project.

USGS Alaska Science Center Wildlife Tracking Data Collection USGS Alaska Science Center Wildlife Tracking Data Collection

Understanding the short- and long-distance movements of wildlife is critical for a wide variety of ecological research studies and management decisions. Since the mid-1980s, the USGS Alaska Science Center has collected data from wildlife tracking devices to: determine locations of animals throughout their annual cycles, understand patterns of habitat use, quantify time spent on various...
By
Alaska Science Center

Below are multimedia items associated with Yellow-billed Loon.

Yellow-billed loons are exposed to mercury on their wintering grounds in Asia before migrating to Alaska for breeding.
Yellow-Billed Loons are Exposed to Mercury on their Wintering Grounds
Yellow-Billed Loons are Exposed to Mercury on their Wintering Grounds
Yellow-billed loons are exposed to mercury on their wintering grounds in Asia before migrating to Alaska for breeding.

Yellow-Billed Loons are Exposed to Mercury on their Wintering Grounds

Yellow-Billed Loons are Exposed to Mercury on their Wintering Grounds

Yellow-billed loons are exposed to mercury on their wintering grounds in Asia before migrating to Alaska for breeding. 

By
Contaminant Biology, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Environmental Health Program
Yellow-billed loons are exposed to mercury on their wintering grounds in Asia before migrating to Alaska for breeding.

Yellow-Billed Loons are Exposed to Mercury on their Wintering Grounds

Yellow-Billed Loons are Exposed to Mercury on their Wintering Grounds

Yellow-billed loons are exposed to mercury on their wintering grounds in Asia before migrating to Alaska for breeding. 

By
Contaminant Biology, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Environmental Health Program
Yellow-billed Loon on a lake in the northern area of Alaska.
Yellow-billed Loon on a lake in the northern area of Alaska
Yellow-billed Loon on a lake in the northern area of Alaska
Yellow-billed Loon on a lake in the northern area of Alaska.

Yellow-billed Loon on a lake in the northern area of Alaska

Yellow-billed Loon on a lake in the northern area of Alaska

Yellow-billed Loon on a lake in the northern area of Alaska.

By
Alaska Science Center
Yellow-billed Loon on a lake in the northern area of Alaska.

Yellow-billed Loon on a lake in the northern area of Alaska

Yellow-billed Loon on a lake in the northern area of Alaska

Yellow-billed Loon on a lake in the northern area of Alaska.

By
Alaska Science Center
A Yellow-billed Loon swimming in a small lake
Yellow-billed Loon swimming on the Arctic Coastal Plain, Alaska
Yellow-billed Loon swimming on the Arctic Coastal Plain, Alaska
A Yellow-billed Loon swimming in a small lake

Yellow-billed Loon swimming on the Arctic Coastal Plain, Alaska

Yellow-billed Loon swimming on the Arctic Coastal Plain, Alaska

A Yellow-billed Loon swimming in a small lake on the Arctic Coastal Plain.

By
Alaska Science Center
A Yellow-billed Loon swimming in a small lake

Yellow-billed Loon swimming on the Arctic Coastal Plain, Alaska

Yellow-billed Loon swimming on the Arctic Coastal Plain, Alaska

A Yellow-billed Loon swimming in a small lake on the Arctic Coastal Plain.

By
Alaska Science Center

Below are publications associated with the Yellow-billed Loon tracking project.

Movements and habitat use of loons for assessment of conservation buffer zones in the Arctic Coastal Plain of northern Alaska Movements and habitat use of loons for assessment of conservation buffer zones in the Arctic Coastal Plain of northern Alaska

Oil and gas development in the Arctic Coastal Plain, Alaska, may pose threats to wildlife. Management guidelines within the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska dictate buffer zones for coastal wildlife habitat and for breeding and foraging sites of yellow-billed loons (YBLOs; Gavia adamsii), a species of conservation concern. However, few data exist to assess the value of these buffer...
Authors
Sharon Poessel, Brian Uher-Koch, John Pearce, Joel Schmutz, Todd E. Katzner, David C. Douglas, Vanessa von Biela, Autumn-Lynne Harrison
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Size and retention of breeding territories of yellow-billed loons in Alaska and Canada Size and retention of breeding territories of yellow-billed loons in Alaska and Canada

Yellow-billed Loons (Gavia adamsii) breed in lakes in the treeless Arctic and are globally rare. Like their sister taxa, the well-documented Common Loon (G. immer) of the boreal forest, Yellow-billed Loons exhibit strong territorial behavior during the breeding season. Little is known about what size territories are required, however, or how readily territories are retained from year to...
Authors
Joel Schmutz, Kenneth G. Wright, Christopher DeSorbo, Jeff Fair, David Evers, Brian Uher-Koch, Daniel Mulcahy
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Historic and contemporary mercury exposure and potential risk to yellow-billed loons (Gavia adamsii) breeding in Alaska and Canada Historic and contemporary mercury exposure and potential risk to yellow-billed loons (Gavia adamsii) breeding in Alaska and Canada

The Yellow-billed Loon (Gavia adamsii) is one of the rarest breeding birds in North America. Because of the small population size and patchy distribution, any stressor to its population is of concern. To determine risks posed by environmental mercury (Hg) loads, we captured 115 Yellow-billed Loons between 2002 and 2012 in the North American Arctic and sampled their blood and/or feather...
Authors
David Evers, Joel Schmutz, Niladri Basu, Christopher DeSorbo, Jeff Fair, Carrie E. Gray, James Paruk, Marie Perkins, Kevin Regan, Brian Uher-Koch, Kenneth G. Wright
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Changing Arctic ecosystems: ecology of loons in a changing Arctic Changing Arctic ecosystems: ecology of loons in a changing Arctic

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Changing Arctic Ecosystems (CAE) initiative informs key resource management decisions for Arctic Alaska by providing scientific information on current and future ecosystem response to a changing climate. From 2010 to 2014, a key study area for the USGS CAE initiative has been the Arctic Coastal Plain of northern Alaska. This region has experienced rapid...
Authors
Brian Uher-Koch, Joel Schmutz, Mary Whalen, John Pearce
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Model-Based Predictions of the Effects of Harvest Mortality on Population Size and Trend of Yellow-Billed Loons Model-Based Predictions of the Effects of Harvest Mortality on Population Size and Trend of Yellow-Billed Loons

Yellow-billed loons (Gavia adamsii) breed in low densities in northern tundra habitats in Alaska, Canada, and Russia. They migrate to coastal marine habitats at mid to high latitudes where they spend their winters. Harvest may occur throughout the annual cycle, but of particular concern are recent reports of harvest from the Bering Strait region, which lies between Alaska and Russia and...
Authors
Joel Schmutz
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center
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