Some Current Projects 

Broad-winged Hawks
Continental Migration Modeling
Common Loons
White-faced Ibis
Snowy Owls

Our satellite telemetry study of broad-winged hawks will provide previously unknown information about their migration and wintering ecology. Currently, very little is known about broad-winged hawk winter ecology.

Broad-winged Hawk

 

Broad-winged Hawk Tag in Maryland

 

This project focuses on relating avian migration behavior to synoptic scale weather and winds aloft. This approach will allow us to predict the outset and intensity of avian migration each spring and fall. Earthspan is tracking 1 Canada goose and 7 peregrine falcons, 4 from Northern Alaska and 3 from Assateague Island as part of its Continental Avian Migration Modeling Project (supported by the DoD’s Legacy Resource Management Program). 

Canada Goose map

Arctic Peregrine Falcon map

Earthspan’s satellite telemetry study of common loons that stage in western Nevada will help determine: 1) the breeding, wintering, and migratory ranges of common loons that stage at Walker Lake, NV, and 2) the extent of mercury contamination affecting this population of loons.

Earthspan’s satellite telemetry study of white-faced ibis in western Nevada will elucidate the sources of DDT contamination affecting nearly half of the ibis population in the region. It is critical that we identify these sources of contamination, which are likely to affect other species as well.

White-faced ibis

 

In 1999 in collaboration with The Owl Institute in Missoula Montana, staff of the USGS Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Center – Snake River Field Station, the Boise State University – Raptor Research Center, and University of Maryland Baltimore County - Center of Conservation Research & Technology, initiated a pilot study of radio tracking snowy owls with satellite telemetry.

 [All maps and updates of our current projects located on our webpage]

 For more information, visit the Earthspan website at  www.earthspan.org

Department of Defense Partners in Flight Program Email:DoD PIF Program Manager