© 2024 Wyoming Public Media
800-729-5897 | 307-766-4240
Wyoming Public Media is a service of the University of Wyoming
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Transmission & Streaming Disruptions

Long Billed Curlew Mate Gets Satellite Transmitter, Too

Eric Cole / USFWS

North America’s largest shorebird—the Long Billed Curlew--might not be a household name now, but a lot more is about to be discovered about its nesting and migration habits.

New funding this year has allowed researchers to affix satellite transmitters on 7 new curlews in Western Wyoming. Researcher Jay Carlisle with the Intermountain Bird Observatory at Boise State University says last year they tracked a female named AJ that migrated to central Mexico, which is much farther than usual.

I would say, stay tuned. Because I think we are going to have some very cool data that is good for birds in the inter-mountain West but especially in Western Wyoming

“So this year, we’re really excited to get some funding that was able to fund a second bird on the Elk Refuge,” Carlisle says “And we were able to find AJ’s nest and then trap her mate and deploy him with a transmitter. Which is kind of fun to see what pairs do as far as departure timing as well as how close they might winter to each other.”

Curlews were hunted almost to extinction in the late 1800’s, but Carlisle says their numbers are improving, especially in Western Wyoming.

He says 21 curlews in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming now carry transmitters.

“I would say, stay tuned. Because I think we’re going to have some very cool data that’s good for birds in the Intermountain West but especially in Western Wyoming, hopefully over the next few months as they start to migrate.”

Transmitters will allow researchers to learn more about migration behaviors of pairs, where they stop along the way and how humans are affecting where they nest and breed. To learn more about the long billed curlew and hear their call, click here

Melodie Edwards is the host and producer of WPM's award-winning podcast The Modern West. Her Ghost Town(ing) series looks at rural despair and resilience through the lens of her hometown of Walden, Colorado. She has been a radio reporter at WPM since 2013, covering topics from wildlife to Native American issues to agriculture.
Related Content