First Post

All PTTs were successfully added to American Avocets (AMAV) this breeding season!  Our first bird, Leah, was captured on May 31 with the final bird, Torito tagged on June 27.  We were able to place transmitters on 6 females and 2 males from 3 different sites at Great Salt Lake - Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area and Gillmor Audubon Sanctuary.

Most of the birds are now starting to move into Farmington Bay at Great Salt Lake. We have seen several large flocks of AMAV in the Bay but have not been able to visually re-sight our marked birds.  Anyone that sees a color banded AMAV should contact us at Weber State University.  We are particularly interested in their behavior, flock size and their stage of molt.  Many AMAV in the Bay have started their prebasic molt.  In addition to replacing flight feathers, the prebasic molt also returns the stunning reddish-orange head back to the nonbreeding white condition.

Sweco was the last bird confirmed to have young.  Ella Sorensen, National Audubon Society and Manager of the Gillmor Sanctuary, spent several days in the field relocating both Sweco and Florence to determine their status.  Sweco and his mate successfully hatched 4 young and as of our last report was seen foraging with them.  Florence, the other Gillmor bird is furthest south of all our birds but has been moving back and forth from Farmington Bay to Gillmor.

We have one transmitter (Leah's) that has been failing to provide us with a consistent signal.  Unfortunately, we don't yet know what has happened.  The transmitter provided several weeks worth of good data and Leah was observed with young in early June.  However, on June 9 we received a signal but then it quit transmitting until a couple of signals in early July.  These signals were of low quality so we're unable to get a good location for it.