[mou] RFI: banded marbled godwits

Robert_Russell@fws.gov Robert_Russell@fws.gov
Tue, 16 May 2006 09:13:13 -0500 

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The time of the year is fast approaching when large flocks of marbled
godwits appear for a few hours or a day in northern MN and the Lake
Superior region.  These birds are thought to be breeders from the James=
 Bay
population in Ontario and Quebec with an estimated population of
2,000-3,000 birds (99% in ON).  Their wintering grounds are unknown but=
 may
be the SE USA coast or the western Gulf coast in Mexico and TX.  A very=
 few
birds have been color-banded on wintering sites.  Please get a good
estimate of any flocks seen and look carefully for color banded birds,
paying close attention to leg placement and color schemes and report su=
ch
sightings to me and I'll relay the information.  One banded godwit was
recently sighted inland in NC and was likely banded in Georgia.  Satell=
ite
collars attached to two godwits in late April at Bear River NWR, UT by
researchers Adrian Farmer and Bridget Olson, have helped track these bi=
rds
to potential breeding sites in Alberta with one bird even photographed =
on
his territory.  Areas where godwits have been seen in late May (most be=
ween
17 May and 27 May) include Interstate Island at Duluth, Ashland and Lon=
g
Island (in the Apostles) in WI, and Roseau River State Wildife Area in =
far
northern MN.  Bob Russell, US Fish and Wildife Service=

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<html><body>
<p>The time of the year is fast approaching when large flocks of marble=
d godwits appear for a few hours or a day in northern MN and the Lake S=
uperior region.  These birds are thought to be breeders from the James =
Bay population in Ontario and Quebec with an estimated population of 2,=
000-3,000 birds (99% in ON).  Their wintering grounds are unknown but m=
ay be the SE USA coast or the western Gulf coast in Mexico and TX.  A v=
ery few birds have been color-banded on wintering sites.  Please get a =
good estimate of any flocks seen and look carefully for color banded bi=
rds, paying close attention to leg placement and color schemes and repo=
rt such sightings to me and I'll relay the information.  One banded god=
wit was recently sighted inland in NC and was likely banded in Georgia.=
  Satellite collars attached to two godwits in late April at Bear River=
 NWR, UT by researchers Adrian Farmer and Bridget Olson, have helped tr=
ack these birds to potential breeding sites in Alberta with one bird ev=
en photographed on his territory.  Areas where godwits have been seen i=
n late May (most beween 17 May and 27 May) include Interstate Island at=
 Duluth, Ashland and Long Island (in the Apostles) in WI, and Roseau Ri=
ver State Wildife Area in far northern MN.  Bob Russell, US Fish and Wi=
ldife Service</body></html>=

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