Biogeography of Marbled Godwit in North America

A project of Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge in conjunction with the partners and sponsors detailed below.

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Introduction

The Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa) is a shorebird species of conservation concern. Reasons for concern include a relatively small global population (about 173,500), contraction of the breeding range and observed declines in breeding densities, its population trends and ecology are poorly understood and significant habitat loss or degradation appears to be eroding much of its breeding and wintering ranges.

To ensure protection of habitats important to this migratory bird, managers need a clear understanding of linkages between specific breeding areas and wintering grounds and key stopover sites used during spring and fall migration. We equipped Marbled Godwit with satellite platform transmitter terminals (PTTs) to determine migratory connectivity of habitat areas in North America.

Thirty Marbled Godwit received satellite transmitters from four locations in North America (2006-2009): 13 at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, UT, USA(a major staging area), 7 at Akimiski Island, Nunavet Territory, Canada (breeding area), 2 at San Blas, Nayarit, Mexico (wintering area), and 8 at Little St. Simon's Island, coastal Georgia, USA (wintering area).

A clear understanding of the links between godwit seasonal habitats will allow for focused, on-the-ground conservation action for the Marbled Godwit.

Project Partners

Partners for the project include U.S. Geological Survey, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, PRONATURA, Utah Wetlands Foundation, George S. and Dolores Dore' Eccles Foundation, The Wilson Conservation Trust, The Environmental Resources Network, and The Nature Conservancy.