Tracking Sandy

"Sandy" is an adult female Long-billed Curlew that was outfitted with a satellite transmitter in western Nebraska on 19 May 2009.

UPDATE: 2 December

We stopped receiving data from Sandy in October.  We do not have any information pointing to the cause.  There are a few possibilities, the transmitter may have failed, the transmitter may have fallen off, or Sandy may have died or been killed.  More questions than answers at this point, We do not know.  Sandy's migration route is outlined below in yellow.



Sandy's wintering location is depicted below.




UPDATE: 7 September

Sandy has remained in the same area where she ended up in late June. 

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UPDATE: 31 July

Sandy's has wandered little since she arrived in Mexico.  Below are all her locations since she settled down in Tamaulipas, Mexico, on the 4th of July.




UPDATE: 19 July

Sandy's travels continue to be limited.  She has been spending her time at the same wetland that she was last week, but she did make a trip to the Gulf of Mexico on Thursday.



UPDATE: 12 July

Sandy's fall migration appears to be concluded.  Sandy (yellow pins) is residing about 70 miles south of Bailey (red pins) .  Over the past week, Sandy has remained at or near the same wetland within 15 miles of the Gulf of Mexico.  Bailey is residing at a similar wetland just up the coast.



A closer look (below) at Sandy's recent locations.



UPDATE: 4 July

Sandy's stay on Corpus Christi Bay did not last long.  She moved down the coast and is also now in Tamaulipas, Mexico.  Sandy is now less than 65 miles away from Bailey.  Have we reached the end of fall migration for our birds?  Come back soon to find out the answer.



A closer look, below, at Sandy's most recent location.  Note Bailey's most recent location on map.



UPDATE: 2 July

After resting up for a couple days in the playa lakes region of the Texas panhandle, Sandy undertook another long flight on 2 July.  If we do the math between two points, Sandy traveled 260 miles in 7 hours and 50 minutes (that's about 33 miles an hour).  Our latest information puts her on the south side of Corpus Christi Bay, Nueces County, Texas.  Will she head south and join Bailey in Mexico?  Come back  and find out.



A closer look (below) of Sandy's most recent location




UPDATE: 29 June

Just when we asked the question (see yesterday's update below), we got the answer.  Sandy has bolted from the Nebraska Sandhills and our latest information puts her in Carson County, Texas.   Will she spend time in the playa lakes region of the southern Plains or will she join Bailey along the  Gulf Coast?   Check back to find out.



A closer look (below) of Sandy's last data point.



UPDATE: 28 June

Bailey's long flight raises questions about when Sandy will make a move.  Sandy doesn't seem interested in any long flights just yet, she continues to linger in northern Garden County, the same county where she nested.   When will she make a break?  Check back for the answer.



A closer look, below, at Sandy's recent locations in northern Garden County.



UPDATE: 24 June

Sandy continues to enjoy the Nebraska Sandhills.  She remains in Garden County, not too far from where she nested.  Is she preparing to head south like Bailey soon or will stay put?  Check back to find out.



UPDATE:  17 June

Sandy's on the move!   After loosing her brood to predators, Sandy remained in the same general location where she nested.   However, sometime after 12 June 2009, Sandy headed northwest but then took a sharp right turn.   Then, she went back south.  Over the past 4 days, she's covered 4 counties.  What is her next turn?   Check back to find out.




Initial Location
Sandy's initial general location in Garden County, Nebraska.



Recent Movements & Locations
It is breeding season and Sandy remains on territory in the same area where her nest was discovered and where she was captured.  In the coming weeks, Sandy's movements will cover a larger area.