Study Species
A small shorebird that lives most of the year primarily on mudflats on the edges of the ocean
Breeds on tundra in Alaska
Spends non-breeding season on mudflats that range from California to South Carolina to Peru
Southward migration starts with a long over-ocean flight from Southern Alaska to the Salish Sea
On average female adults leave first, then their male counterparts
Juveniles migrate a month later, once they have grown to full size
Western Sandpipers are abundant and easy to identify, making them a good species to survey
Previous research on their behaviour, physiology and ecology will allow us to make specific predictions of their behaviour under various conditions.