Iconic, lanky, and in decline. The Long-billed Curlew is a large, grasslands-breeding shorebird. We aim to estimate population numbers, assess habitat components critical for survival and successful reproduction, and use satellite transmitters to explore the migratory patterns of curlews breeding across the Intermountain West.
Latest Update: |
1 June 2017: Nearing the end of a three-week curlew trapping spree that took him to British Columbia, Idaho, and five sites in Wyoming, Jay is at his last stop: Pinedale, Wyoming. Pending success there, we will have deployed 28 transmitters this season! Mark Davis of the Powell Tribune covered the action in a story about our efforts in the Cody, Wyoming area.
|
Live-stream Map of Long-billed Curlew Movements!
As part of understanding the entire annual cycle of Long-billed Curlews, we are using satellite transmitters to track their movements. The curlews wear these lightweight transmitters "backpack-style" so the equipment doesn't interfere with their flight. Each transmitter has a small, solar-charged battery and logs a location about four times per day.
|
We have an all new Curlew Tracking Map! Toggle between basemaps, change the date to go back in time, and click on the dots to see the curlew's name. This season we will be deploying more transmitters, mostly in Wyoming. Keep your eye on the map for newly tracked birds to appear!
While you're exploring the IBO Curlew Tracking map, you might notice that currently there are two unnamed birds "TBD" and "TBD2". Through our outreach and education program, "Curlews in the Classroom", school classes come up with names for each of the tracked curlews. You can vote for your favorites here, and learn more about the origins of the names here, on the IBO blog. For the latest news from the field, check out the Curlew Crew Facebook page. |
Past Updates From the Flock:
3 May 2017: We are headed out for our last night of trapping in Southwest Idaho on the 20 Mile South Farm! The last two days we have successfully captured our targeted individuals, and even live-streamed some of the process on our Curlew Crew Facebook page!
11 April 2017: Curlews are returning, and the 2017 Curlew Crew is already seeing some early courtship and nesty behaviors! Check out the new tracking map and our Curlew Crew Facebook page for up-to-the-minute updates. Also, the polls are open to vote in our curlew naming contest! For more information about the names and the classes that came up with them, have look at IBO's blog.
7 July 2015: The flock has departed! Follow them live on IBO's Curlew Tracking page! Find past updates below and look for more updates from The Curlew Crew on Facebook.
11 May 2015: Over the last two weeks we have been capturing curlews for satellite transmitter attachment and genetic sampling. We also re-captured our old friends Bethine and Frank for a check up on transmitter fit, and to collect blood samples. Bethine was back on her nest incubating as of yesterday afternoon.
23 April 2015: Exciting update! Bethine and Frank have started incubating a clutch of four eggs. If all goes well, they'll hatch close to the third week of May.
19 April 2015: A.J. finally landed back at the National Elk Refuge near Jackson, Wyoming. She's the last of our flock to arrive! Just in time for our curlew crew technicians to get out to their field sites. Stay tuned for more news from the field!
7 April 2015: Two more from the flock, Goldie and A.J., are making their way back to the breeding grounds!
5 April 2015: Dave's most recent location indicates she made an Easter trip through Craters of the Moon National Monument; a slight detour on her path back to MPG Ranch in the Missoula, Montana area.
21 March 2015: This just in! Bethine is back and she and Frank have reunited! After spending more than 7 months apart, Bethine bee-lined it back to Idaho and found Frank within a day. We've added her to Frank's map below so you can follow their story.
18 March 2015: Frank departed the Saltan Sea area last night and is on his way to Idaho! He made a stop between Austin and Eureka, Nevada before continuing his journey.
15 March 2015: Emmett, another curlew tagged on the ACEC along with Frank, flew last night from his wintering grounds in central California. He is the first of our tagged flock to return to the breeding grounds. Look for the path he took on the main map page. Last year Emmett arrived late, and with a limp. Looks like his timing is perfect this time around!
11 April 2017: Curlews are returning, and the 2017 Curlew Crew is already seeing some early courtship and nesty behaviors! Check out the new tracking map and our Curlew Crew Facebook page for up-to-the-minute updates. Also, the polls are open to vote in our curlew naming contest! For more information about the names and the classes that came up with them, have look at IBO's blog.
7 July 2015: The flock has departed! Follow them live on IBO's Curlew Tracking page! Find past updates below and look for more updates from The Curlew Crew on Facebook.
11 May 2015: Over the last two weeks we have been capturing curlews for satellite transmitter attachment and genetic sampling. We also re-captured our old friends Bethine and Frank for a check up on transmitter fit, and to collect blood samples. Bethine was back on her nest incubating as of yesterday afternoon.
23 April 2015: Exciting update! Bethine and Frank have started incubating a clutch of four eggs. If all goes well, they'll hatch close to the third week of May.
19 April 2015: A.J. finally landed back at the National Elk Refuge near Jackson, Wyoming. She's the last of our flock to arrive! Just in time for our curlew crew technicians to get out to their field sites. Stay tuned for more news from the field!
7 April 2015: Two more from the flock, Goldie and A.J., are making their way back to the breeding grounds!
5 April 2015: Dave's most recent location indicates she made an Easter trip through Craters of the Moon National Monument; a slight detour on her path back to MPG Ranch in the Missoula, Montana area.
21 March 2015: This just in! Bethine is back and she and Frank have reunited! After spending more than 7 months apart, Bethine bee-lined it back to Idaho and found Frank within a day. We've added her to Frank's map below so you can follow their story.
18 March 2015: Frank departed the Saltan Sea area last night and is on his way to Idaho! He made a stop between Austin and Eureka, Nevada before continuing his journey.
15 March 2015: Emmett, another curlew tagged on the ACEC along with Frank, flew last night from his wintering grounds in central California. He is the first of our tagged flock to return to the breeding grounds. Look for the path he took on the main map page. Last year Emmett arrived late, and with a limp. Looks like his timing is perfect this time around!
