Explore Data

MSP has large, rich data sets from years of collecting observations from citizen scientists.

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Data in Action

Use our full featured apps to see how we put our data to work.

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Survey/Training Resources

Review our data collection protocols, or show other how they can contribute to our project!

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What’s New? 

Migratory Shorebird Project 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 Annual Progress Reports now availables!

Click here for the 2020-2021 Report

Click here for the 2021-2022 Report

General developments in 2021-2022

Survey Team in Chamiza-Chile. Red de observadores de aves de Chile.

  • Completed 12th year of surveys at most sites (November 2021 – February 2022) in North America, 8th year in Central America, and the 9th year in South America.
  • Data collected by >510 volunteers, researchers, and local communities at >100 sites (>2000 survey units).
  • Three new papers were published with data collected by different partners, see Canada, Mexico and South America reports for details.
  • Contributed MSP to the Story Map of the Pacific Americas Shorebird Conservation Initiative.
  • MSP data used to support the designation of a new Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network site in Chile – Las Salinas de Huentelaquén
  • Developed models to understand (1) changes in shorebirds habitats during the last 20 years, (2) trends in trend analyses for 6 species across 23 sites between Mexico and Peru, (3)
    distribution and habitat use of shorebirds in Guatemala, (4) temporal trends in shorebirds in Ecuasal salt works in Ecuador, and (5) influence of weather variation on the distribution and abundance of shorebirds in Northwest Mexico.
  • Supported students and fellows: 5 master degree students, 1 undergraduate student and 5 Coastal Solution Fellows are using MSP data to complete their research or support decisionmaking.
  • 11 presentations of the science of MSP will be presented as part of a symposium focused on the MSP at the upcoming Western Hemisphere Shorebird Group Meeting.

 

Meet the new survey team in Guatemala. Welcome to the Migratory Shorebird Project network!

Surveys for decision support in Central America

Check out this exciting new article from Salvadora Morales about the Migratory Shorebird Project in Central America, and the potential for new Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network sites in El Salvador.

Webinars to share results from Central and South America

Partners from all 10 participating countries in Central and South America participated in two Facebook live events to share results of shorebird surveys in their countries. Recordings of the presentations are available to view at the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network Facebook site. For MSP results from Central America, click here. For results from South America, click here.

Hotspots of human-caused disturbance in western Mexico.

 

Learning about human-caused disturbance to shorebirds

Recent summaries of data collected during MSP surveys identified several hotspots of disturbance from Mexico south to Chile. In particular, Bahia Magdalena and Marismas Nacionales in Mexico, the Gulf of Fonseca in Honduras, and Valparaiso in Chile had the highest proportion of surveys with a source of human-caused disturbance (e.g. dogs, humans) present in the survey area. Upcoming work will assess the impacts on birds and strategies to reduce disturbance.

 

Migratory Shorebird Project 2019-2020 Annual Progress Report now available!

Here’s some highlights:

  • Completed ninth year of surveys at some sites (November 2019 – February 2020) in North America, sixth year in Central America (first in Guatemala!) and the seventh year in South America.
  • Conducted data analysis training for partners in Panama City, Panama, to begin the process of doing essential applied science with project data.
  • Trained 23 biologists in Guatemala how to conduct MSP surveys and implemented them at 8 new sites on the Pacific Coast of Guatemala. 
  • Migratory Shorebird Project partners delivered 6 presentations at the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Group meeting in Panama City, Panama that highlighted the MSP.

Click here for the brief report

 

Become part of the Migratory Shorebird Project

Join this ambitious 10-year, multi-partner research project to help guide shorebird conservation. You will be part of the team protecting shorebirds and wetlands from Alaska to Peru through research for conservation.
We need your help, as a scientist, a volunteer scientist, an educator, or funder.

Data analysis workshop with Migratory Shorebird Project partners  at the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Group meeting during October 2019 in Panama City, Panama.

How to Get Involved

Willets and Marbled Godwits.

  • Add your organization to the list of partners.
  • Join forces with a local partner.
  • Volunteer to study shorebirds, attend a training.
  • Share information, sightings, research findings.
  • Educate people about wetland conservation.

 

 

 

 

The Migration Phenomenon

Each year, millions of shorebirds migrate in waves from their wintering grounds along the Pacific and Caribbean coasts to their nesting grounds in Alaska and Northern Canada, including many that stop at just a few rich feeding spots along the way.