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Arenaria interpres (Rutu, Ruddy Turnstone)

Project Name: Southampton Island Shorebird project

Project Location: Southampton Island, Nunavut, Canada,  East Bay Camp operated by Environment Canada

Correspondent researcher: Paul Smith at paulallen.smith@canada.ca or geowader@waderstudygroup.org
Researchers: Paul Smith, Grant Gilchrist, Ron Porter, Oliver Love, Lisa Kennedy

Bibliographic citation: Porter, R. & Smith, P.A. 2013. Techniques to improve the accuracy of location estimation using light-level geolocation to track shorebirds. Wader Study Group Bull.120(3): 147–158.  (RutuEbm01457 analysis example p.156)

WmRutuEbm01457RutuEbm01457: A typical migration
06jul11 deployed Southampton, N45.3xW76.3
14aug11 left Southampton, 39 days later
15aug11 arrived Maine, USA near N43.8xW69.7
02sep11 left Maine, stayed 20 days
  flight 4.8d, >4700km, MMS 41km/h, beamwinds
07sep11 arrived French Guiana, N4.9xW52.4
17sep11 left French Guiana, stayed 10 days
19sep11 arrived Maranao, Brazil, S1.3xW45.2
12may12 left Maranao, stayed 263 days
flight 3.6d,  >5400km,  MMS 62km/h,  tailwinds
16may12 arrived Delaware Bay, USA  N39.3xW75.4
31may12  left Delaware Bay, stayed 15 days
07sep11 arrived Southampton Island N45.3xW76.3
05jul12, geolocator recovered

 

WmRutuEbm21232saveAsPic9%22

 

RutuEbm21232: Elliptical migration
Here is shown a change to the Midwest flyway. Do all “Westward Winterers” use the Midwest flyway?

Why the eastward loop over the Atlantic Ocean?

With more recoveries we hope to answer these questions.

 

 

 

Route variability in Arenaria interpres of Southampton Island

Northbound routes are westerly, southbound routes are easterly. The circular migration takes advantage of favorable prevailing winds. The long oceanic flights have no indications of stops an route.

WmRutuEbm01457variations