2006 Long-billed Curlew Satellite Tracking Study

Alex Hartman and Lewis W. Oring
Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science
University of Nevada, Reno

Current Results from our 2007 Satellite-Tracking Study

Background: Linking breeding and overwintering sites of specific populations is an important, yet often difficult task in the conservation of migratory birds. For those species large enough to carry them, satellite transmitters provide detailed information regarding movements, even over great distances. In May of 2006, we initiated a study examining the migratory connectivity of Long-billed Curlews breeding in northeastern Nevada. The objectives of this project were to track migration routes, identify critical staging areas and learn where northern Nevada breeding Long-billed Curlews overwinter. Two breeding males and two breeding females were caught in Ruby Valley, Nevada between 11-May and 18-May. Each curlew was given a 20-gram, battery-powered satellite transmitter (North Star Science and Technology, LLC) attached using a leg-loop backpack-harness. Funding for this project is provided by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation , the Nevada Department of Wildlife and North Star Science and Technology, LLC.

       

PTT-20 satellite transmitter and harness, attaching the transmitter, and two curlews wearing the backpack harness and transmitter.

Locations and Movements (Maps courtesy of Google Maps and Google Earth)

Update (18-April-2007): All four satellite-tagged curlews have returned to Ruby Valley, Nevada. Although their satellite transmitters are no longer operational (and three of the four have actually lost their tranmitters), the curlews were observed near their breeding territories during the first two weeks of April.

The batteries of all four satellite transmitters have expired. The Last Location links below indicate the final location of each satellite-tagged curlew. The Movement Map links show the path each curlew took from Ruby Valley, Nevada to reach its overwintering location. Each curlew's letter abbreviation (e.g., RY:OA) corresponds to their color band combination.

Female #1 RY:OA	Last Location  (Aug 25th, 2006)	Movement Map
Female #2 YY:OA	Last Location  (Nov 11th, 2006)	Movement Map
Male #1 RR:OA	Last Location  (Oct 30th, 2006)	Movement Map
Male #2 KG:OA	Last Location  (Feb 14th, 2007)	Movement Map

Last Update: 18-Apr-2007

REPORT A COLOR-BANDED CURLEW!!!

Since 2002, we have color-banded 102 adult and 266 juvenile Long-billed Curlews in Ruby Valley, Nevada. If you see a color-banded curlew please let us know! Curlews banded in Ruby Valley have been seen in San Francisco Bay, Morro Bay and San Diego. Banded curlews will have two to three color bands and one metal band. All bands are on the tibia (upper leg). Color bands will be red, yellow, green, blue, orange, black or white. In addition, some curlews banded as chicks may have one of four colors (red, yellow, green, blue) of electrical tape partially covering their metal band and some birds will have a radio transmitter attached to the metal band. Color-band combinations are read left leg (top-to-bottom) then right leg (top-to-bottom).

Please report any color-banded Long-billed Curlew sightings to:

Alex Hartman
University of Nevada-Reno
1000 Valley Road
Reno, NV 89512
775-784-1467
chartman@unr.nevada.edu

Examples of color-banded Long-billed Curlews

	Adult female with color-band combination Left tibia: Orange over Black, Right tibia: Metal over Black.
	Adult female with color-band combination Left tibia: Black over Blue, Right tibia: Orange over Metal.
	Juvenile with color-band combination Left tibia: Yellow over Metal, Right tibia: White. Notice the red electrical tape partially covering the metal band.
	Juvenile with color-band combination Left tibia: Metal, Right tibia: Red over Green. Notice the radio transmitter attached to the metal band.
	Adult male with radio transmitter seen near San Diego, CA in the Fall of 2005 and 2006. Photo by Matt Sadowski.

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