Pacific Shorebird Migration Project

In 2007, the Alaska Science Center, PRBO Conservation Science and collaborators in New Zealand and Australia received funding from The David and Lucile Packard Foundation for an international study of the migration of godwits and curlews, shorebirds that have some of the longest migrations of any birds.  Since then we have used satellite telemetry and light-level geolocators to track the annual migrations of four species of godwits (Bar-tailed, Hudsonian, Marbled, and Black-tailed) and three species of curlews (Bristle-thighed, Long-billed, and Whimbrel).  For each species we have learned when they migrate, what routes they take, where they spend the nonbreeding season, and, for many of the same individuals, the extent to which these life history attributes vary between years.  This information is guiding conservation efforts and helping scientists and conservation groups to better understand the effects of global-scale threats to shorebirds, including habitat destruction, climate change, and the spread of infectious diseases.

Frequently Asked Questions

Species We Are Working With

• Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica)
• Bristle-thighed Curlew (Numenius tahitiensis)
• Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus)
• Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)