Alaska Science Center


ASC Data Repository

Argos Satellite Tracking Data for Whimbrels (Numenius phaeopus) - Processed Data

Data Download [Various] | Metadata | AK Science Portal | Project Site | Date Range: 06/27/2006 - 08/01/2015


This metadata document describes the data contained in the "processedData" folder of this data package. This data package contains all data collected by the Argos System from 32 satellite transmitters attached to Whimbrels on their breeding range in arctic and western Alaska, 2006-2010. The raw data were processed to accomplish two goals: flag implausible location estimates and decode raw sensor data. Three Comma Separate Value (CSV) tables are included in the "processedData" folder of this data package: 1) the "diag_filteredLocations" table contains one record for every Argos location estimate collected, accompanied by a binary flag that denotes an algorithm's plausibility check (based on distance, turning angle, and rate thresholds). Each record also includes a 'Tracking_Status' variable that denotes whether the location was collected from a live animal, a dead animal, or shed transmitter, 2) the "decodedSensor" table contains decoded sensor data such as the transmitter's temperature, battery voltage, and motion (activity), and 3) the "deploymentAttributes" table contains one record for each transmitter deployment in a CSV formatted table. The deployment attributes file contains information such as when the transmitter was attached to the animal, when tracking of a live animal ended, and a variety of variables describing the animal and transmitter. This table is identical to the "deploymentAttributes" table in the "rawData" folder of this data package.

Author(s): Tibbitts, T. L.; Ruthrauff, D. R.; Gill, R. E., Jr ; Douglas, D. C.

Suggested Citation:
Tibbitts, T. L., Ruthrauff, D. R., Gill, R. E., Jr and Douglas, D. C., 2018, Tracking data for Whimbrels (Numenius phaeopus) (ver. 2.0, May 2021): U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P978PX2X.

Version History:
First release: June 2020
Revised: May 2021 (ver. 2.0)

Referenced Publication(s):

Ruthrauff, D. R., C. M. Harwood, T. L. Tibbitts, N. Warnock, and R. E. Gill, Jr. 2021. Diverse patterns of migratory timing, site use, and site fidelity by Alaska-breeding Whimbrels. Journal of Field Ornithology 92(2):156-172. doi:10.1111/jofo.12365

Ruthrauff, D. R., C. M. Harwood, T. L. Tibbitts, and V. P. Patil. 2023. Disparate data streams together yield novel survival estimates of Alaska-breeding Whimbrels. Ibis 166(2):622-632. doi:10.1111/ibi.13273


DataID: 205 | doi:10.5066/P978PX2X | Date Posted Online: 2018-06-11 | Last Updated: 2022-03-10 08:37:29

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