Western Grebe Satellite Transmitter Study
A project of SeaDoc, OWCN, USGS in conjunction with the partners and sponsors detailed below.
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| Name | Species | Life Stage | Release Date | Last Location | Days Transmitted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 97613 | Western Grebe | Adult | 2010-12-12 | 2011-09-20 | 282 |
| 97614 | Western Grebe | Adult | 2010-12-12 | 2011-01-06 | 25 |
| 97615 | Western Grebe | Adult | 2010-12-12 | 2011-01-28 | 47 |
| 97617 | Western Grebe | Adult | 2010-12-09 | 2012-02-22 | 440 |
| 97618 | Western Grebe | Adult | 2010-12-09 | 2011-02-24 | 77 |
| 97619 | Western Grebe | Adult | 2010-12-09 | 2011-05-01 | 143 |
| 97620 | Western Grebe | Adult | 2010-12-12 | 2011-09-26 | 288 |
| 97621 | Western Grebe | Adult | 2010-12-12 | 2011-02-06 | 56 |
| 97622 | Western Grebe | Adult | 2010-12-12 | 2012-03-11 | 455 |
Click on an animal's name for maps and more information.
Introduction
Western grebes are in serious decline in Washington State and are one of the species most impacted by oil spills in California. Evaluation of post-oil spill rehabilitation and survival of grebes has been prevented by lack of suitable tracking capability. Subcutaneous VHF transmitters tear out shortly after implantation and early pilot studies implanting intracoelomic transmitters resulted in 100% failure. A recent study by the Oiled Wildlife Care Network and the SeaDoc Society developed an intracoelomic surgical procedure that resulted in 86% survival of Western grebes. In this field study to determine how long and how well Western grebes implanted with transmitters will survive after release,10 healthy birds will be implanted with intracoelomic satellite transmitters using the new technique and movement and survival will be monitored post-release. This should provide California’s oiled wildlife responders with a technique for capturing Western grebes on water and will provide significant advances for monitoring post rehabilitation survival of rehabilitated oiled birds. Also this new technology will permit biologists to study Western Grebe migration and for the first time, be able to link winter foraging areas on the marine water with summer nesting location on freshwater lakes.
Project Partners
This is a collaborative project between the Oiled Wildlife Care Network, the USGS and the SeaDoc Society.
OWCN - The OWCN is the world's only oiled wildlife response organization boasting more than 25 different members comprised of world-class aquaria, universities, scientific organizations and rehabilitation groups. Established in 1994 by the Department of Fish and Game’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR) as a result of the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska, it is currently administered by the UC Davis Wildlife Health Center in the School of Veterinary Medicine
USGS - The USGS is a science organization that provides impartial information on the health of our ecosystems and environment, the natural hazards that threaten us, the natural resources we rely on, the impacts of climate and land-use change, and the core science systems that help us provide timely, relevant, and useable information.
SeaDoc - The SeaDoc Society works to ensure the health of marine wildlife and ecosystems through science and education. It is a program of the UC Davis Wildlife Health Center, a center of excellence at the School of Veterinary Medicine.
