The following article is provided by Sayam U. Chowdhury from the Spoon-billed Sandpiper Task Force:
© Alan Leitch (top), © Katherine Leung (bottom)
BREAKING news from Thailand! We’re thrilled to welcome Orange K9 and A6 as newly colour-marked Spoonies! These Critically Endangered Spoon-billed Sandpipers were recently colour-marked and equipped with solar-powered satellite transmitters at the Gleua Café in Chachoengsao, Thailand. This milestone is part of the “Migratory Shorebird Research Project” led by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation of Thailand (DNP), in collaboration with the Conservation Ecology Program at King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), WWT, RSPB, and the Spoon-billed Sandpiper Task Force of the East Asian – Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP).
The transmitters are already providing incredible insights into their movements and habitat use within Thailand. We’re hopeful they’ll also shed light on the species’ spring migration, about which we still know very little. By identifying the sites they use along their route, these transmitters can help inform critical conservation actions.
Previously, we have tagged 13 Spoon-billed Sandpipers in the breeding and staging grounds, which offered many incredible insights on their migration.
For more information, check out our latest paper with result of previous tracking here: https://lnkd.in/gptzQg2J
You can also read our blogs for satellite tracking news:
https://lnkd.in/gRS6thPk
https://lnkd.in/gHy5BA42
Special thanks to Mr. Arm, the owner of the Gleua Café and nearby salt pans, who welcomed us to carry out research work on his property. Our gratitude also goes to Paul Howey and the staff at Microwave Telemetry for their continued support. The tracking project is funded by the RSPB and WWT, with local support from the BCST.
Stay tuned for further updates about Orange K9 and A6! #SaveSpoonie