Robert E Gill, Jr.
The movement ecology of migratory animals, especially extreme endurance migrant birds, fascinates me. Alaska migratory shorebirds have links to all hemispheres, requiring international collaborations to implement effective conservations efforts.
Through an emeritus position at the Alaska Science Center my research is focused on: 1) collaborations with an international suite of colleagues to assess the movement ecology of extreme endurance migrant shorebirds and identify the global-scale conservation issues facing their populations, and 2) releasing data to the public domain and publishing results associated with information collected during my five-decade-long tenure as a research biologist.
Professional Experience
2015 - present Scientist Emeritus USGS, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, AK
1996 - 2015 Research Wildlife Biologist USGS, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, AK
1993 - 1996 Wildlife Biologist NBS Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, AK
1987 - 1993 Wildlife Biologist USFWS, Alaska Fish and Wildlife Research Center, Anchorage, AK
1984 - 1987 Wildlife Biologist Denver Wildlife Research Center, Anchorage, AK
1981 - 1983 Wildlife Biologist Seattle National Fisheries Research Center, Anchorage, AK
1976 - 1980 Wildlife Biologist US Fish and Wildlife Service, Anchorage, AK
1973 - 1976 Wildlife Biologist California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, CA
Education and Certifications
Ph. D. 2010 - present Groningen University, The Netherlands
M.S. 1972 San Jose State University, San Jose, CA Biology
B.A. 1970 San Jose State College, San Jose, CA Wildlife Management
Affiliations and Memberships*
Alaska Shorebird Group (Founding member)
American Ornithologists' Union (Life member, Elective Member 1983, Fellow 2011)
Arctic Institute of North America (Life member)
Australasian Wader Studies Group (North American Representative, 2001-2010)
Canada Shorebird Plan (Member, Scientific Advisory Committee, 1998-2001)
Cooper Ornithological Society (Life member)
East Asian-Australasian Shorebird Working Group (U.S. representative, 2002-2007)
Global Flyway Network (Member, Scientific Advisory Board (2001-present)
International Wader Study Group (Life member; Executive Committee, 1999-2008; Editorial Advisory Board, 2012-present)
New Zealand Wader Study Group
Pacific Shorebird Migration Project (Co-PI, 2006-present)
Russian Working Group on Waders
Western Hemisphere Shorebird Group (Founding Member; Advisory Board, 2008-present)
Western Field Ornithologists (Board of Directors, 1999-2015; Assoc. Editor, 2005-present)
Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (Chair, Scientific Advisory Board, 2004-2012)
U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan (Chair, Research and Monitoring Group, 1998-2001)
Abstracts and Presentations
Five invited keynote, 14 invited, and >60 contributed presentations before various scientific bodies.
Science and Products
The blind men and the elephant: Concerns about the use of juvenile proportion data
Inventory of montane-nesting birds in the Arctic Network of National Parks, Alaska
Shorebird avoidance of nearshore feeding and roosting areas at night correlates with presence of a nocturnal avian predator
The conservation and population status of the world's waders at the turn of the millennium
Populations estimates of North American shorebirds, 2006
Crossing the ultimate ecological barrier: Evidence for an 11,000-km-long non-stop flight from Alaska to New Zealand and Eastern Australia by Bar-tailed Godwits
Subarctic, alpine nesting by Bairds Sandpipers Calidris bairdii
Rock Sandpiper (Calidris ptilocnemis)
Bristle-thighed Curlew (Numenius tahitiensis)
Wandering Tattler (Tringa incana)
Black Turnstone (Arenaria melanocephala)
Science and Products
- Science
- Data
- Multimedia
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 92
The blind men and the elephant: Concerns about the use of juvenile proportion data
Juvenile proportion data in shorebirds are being used with increasing frequency to estimate recruitment and even breeding success. Although this area of investigation holds great promise, flaws in current study designs preclude great confidence in the broad-scale inferences being drawn. We present data from our own investigations on juvenile proportions in Bar-tailed Godwits Limosa lapponica in AlAuthorsBrian J. McCaffery, Colleen M. Handel, Robert E. Gill, Daniel R. RuthrauffInventory of montane-nesting birds in the Arctic Network of National Parks, Alaska
The Alaska Science Center of the U.S. Geological Survey conducted an inventory of birds in montane areas of the four northern parks in the Arctic Network of National Parks, Alaska. This effort represents the first comprehensive assessment of breeding range and habitat associations for the majority of avian species in the Arctic Network. Ultimately, these data provide a framework upon which to desiAuthorsT. Lee Tibbitts, Daniel R. Ruthrauff, Robert E. Gill, Colleen M. HandelShorebird avoidance of nearshore feeding and roosting areas at night correlates with presence of a nocturnal avian predator
We here report two anecdotes about avianinteractions relevant to the interpretation of differences in shorebirdhabitat use between day and night. Several studies have reported that shorebirds avoid feeding and roosting along nearshore areasat night yet commonly use these sites during daytime. This suggests that nighttime avoidance of nearshore places is a response to increased danger of predation.AuthorsTheunis Piersma, Robert E. Gill, Petra de Goeij, Anne Dekinga, Marnie Shepherd, Daniel R. Ruthrauff, T. Lee TibbittsThe conservation and population status of the world's waders at the turn of the millennium
Using information from many sources, but especially data collated for the third edition of Wetlands International’s Waterbird Population Estimates, we review the status of the world’s waders in the late 1990s. There are widespread declines in most regions and biotopes caused principally by loss and degradation of wetland (and other) habitats. On different flyways, between 33%and 68% of populationsAuthorsDavid A. Stroud, Andy Baker, D.E. Blanco, Nick C. Davidson, B. Ganter, Robert E. Gill, P.M. Gonzalez, L. Haanstra, R. I. G. Morrison, Theunis Piersma, D. Scott, O. Thorup, R. West, J.L. Wilson, Christoph ZöcklerPopulations estimates of North American shorebirds, 2006
This paper provides updates on population estimates for 52 species of shorebirds, involving 75 taxa, occurring in North America. New information resulting in a changed estimate is available for 39 of the 75 taxa (52%), involving 24 increases and 15 decreases. The preponderance of increased estimates is likely the result of improved estimates rather than actual increases in numbers. Many shorebirdAuthorsR.I. Guy Morrison, Brian J. McCaffery, Robert E. Gill, Susan K. Skagen, Stephanie L. Jones, Gary W. Page, Cheri L. Gratto-Trevor, Brad A. AndresCrossing the ultimate ecological barrier: Evidence for an 11,000-km-long non-stop flight from Alaska to New Zealand and Eastern Australia by Bar-tailed Godwits
Populations of the Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica; Scolopacidae) embark on some of the longest migrations known among birds. The baueri race breeds in western Alaska and spends the nonbreeding season a hemisphere away in New Zealand and eastern Australia; the menzbieri race breeds in Siberia and migrates to western and northern Australia. Although the Siberian birds are known to follow the coAuthorsRobert E. Gill, Theunis Piersma, Gary Hufford, R. Servranckx, Adrian C. RiegenSubarctic, alpine nesting by Bairds Sandpipers Calidris bairdii
Baird's Sandpipers Calidris bairdii were found nesting in alpine habitat in southwestern Alaska (60°48'N, 154°00'W), almost 250 km from the nearest known breeding site, and studied over three consecutive seasons, 1997-1999. The first birds arrived during the second week of May each spring with peak numbers recorded the third week of May. Most nests and newly hatched broods were found on sparsely vAuthorsRobert E. Gill, Pavel S. TomkovichRock Sandpiper (Calidris ptilocnemis)
No abstract availableAuthorsRobert E. Gill, Pavel S. Tomkovich, Brian J. McCafferyBristle-thighed Curlew (Numenius tahitiensis)
No abstract availableAuthorsJ.S. Marks, T. Lee Tibbitts, Robert E. Gill, Brian J. McCafferyWandering Tattler (Tringa incana)
No abstract availableAuthorsRobert E. Gill, Brian J. McCaffery, Pavel S. TomkovichBlack Turnstone (Arenaria melanocephala)
No abstract availableAuthorsColleen M. Handel, Robert E. Gill - News
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government