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Project Description
Evaluating exchange of avian-borne pathogens between Asia and North America by migratory birds requires an understanding of where birds from each continent are likely to come into contact. Satellite telemetry can help in that assessment. Biologists from the Alaska Science Center are using satellite telemetry combined with band recovery data to estimate the extent to which Asian and North American pintails use the same nesting and molting areas in Russia. In addition, we are comparing neutral nuclear and mitochondrial genetic similarities between Asian and North American pintails to evaluate the degree of reproductive isolation between these populations, and are assessing transcontinental transmission of avian influenza by comparing genetic similarities of low pathogenic (non-H5N1) virus strains in pintails wintering in California to those from Japan. Our collaborators include the Laboratory of Biodiversity Science (University of Tokyo), USGS National Wildlife Health Center, Western Ecological Research Center, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Yamashina Institute of Ornithology.
Click here for a copy of the project proposal
Click here for a copy of the 2007 progress report
In February 2007, biologists from the Alaska Science Center worked with Japanese scientists to mark Northern Pintail ducks with satellite transmitters (also referred to as PTTs) at Lakes Izunuma-Uchinuma in the Miyagi Prefecture of Japan. Satellite transmitters were deployed on 27 pintails (16 males and 11 females). In February 2008, this international research team marked 52 pintails (31 males and 21 females) with satellite transmitters. Pintails were again marked at Lake Izunuma-Uchinuma as well as at Gosho Reservoir in the Iwate Prefecture. An additional sample of pintails will be marked in 2009, the final year of the study.
Click here for a trip report from 2008
click on images for larger view
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| Locations in Japan where Northern Pintail Ducks
where captured and radiomarked |
Capture of Northern Pintails at Lake Izunuma-Uchinuma, Japan |
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| Dr. Hiroyoshi Higuchi (University of Tokyo) and
Mr. Ken-ichi Tokita (Abiko City Museum of Birds)
attach a satellite transmitter to a male Northern Pintail |
A female Northern Pintail marked with a solar-powered satellite transmitter. Photo courtesy of Dr. Tetsuo Shimada (Izunuma-Uchinuma Environmental Foundation) |
Recent Movements of Northern Pintails
You need Google Earth installed on your personal computer to view an interactive file of pintail movements. To get Google Earth free.
Click on the movements link below, if Google Earth doesn't automatically open:
In Internet Explorer - you will get a File Download window that asks you "Do you want to open or save this file?" Select Open. You will then get a window that says "Windows cannot open this file", choose "Select the program from a list". Click the Browse button in the bottom right corner. It will bring up the Program Files directory. Select Google/GoogleEarth.exe and click OK.
In Mozilla Firefox - you will get a pop-up window that will tell you to either "Open this file" or "Save to Disk". You need to select "Open with" and use the drop down box and select "Other". This will bring you to a browse feature. Point the browser to the Program Files/Google/GoogleEarth.exe file on your computer. Then say OK. Each time you go to this file (i.e. for updates) chose, Open with Google Earth.
To fully view the image, click on the "View" tab on the top toolbar of Google Earth, and set the "Show Time" setting to "Never". The image will show locations of individual pintails and lines connecting successive locations. Each pintail is represented by a different colored symbol and line. You can zoom in on any part of the image to see the quality and date of each location. Click on a location for information on identification of the bird, time since the previous location, and distance moved from the previous location. On the left side of the screen is a listing of all PTTs and the date of the last location. The image was created using the Douglas Argos-Filter Algorithm v7.03
THE FOLLOWING IMAGES ARE BASED ON PRELIMINARY DATA. THEY ARE NOT FOR USE WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE USGS ALASKA SCIENCE CENTER. Contact jhupp@usgs.gov for more information.
 Interactive Movements of Pintails marked in 2008
Click here for a non-interactive JPEG file that shows the last location for each pintail
Interactive Movements of Pintails marked in 2007
The highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus was detected in Whooper Swans at three locations in Japan between 21-28 April, 2008. Whooper Swans and Northern Pintails frequently occur together at wintering and migration areas in Japan (photo below). Because of potential interspecific transmission and spread of the virus, we are interested in movements of Pintails that used areas where H5N1 was detected.
Click here for a map that shows movements of Pintails that occurred in areas where H5N1 was detected in Whooper Swans
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| Feeding of Whooper Swans and Northern Pintails at a wintering site on Goshu-Damu Reservoir in the Iwate Prefecture of Japan |
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