We radio-tagged 55 Pacific Golden-Plovers (Pluvialis fulva) in spring 2001–2003 on wintering grounds in Hawaii. Following their northward migration (most birds deserted winter territories in late April), we relocated 15 golden-plovers in three regions of Alaska: Copper River Delta, King Salmon, and Kotzebue. One individual made the transpacific flight from Oahu to the Alaska Peninsula in a minimum time of 70 hr at a minimum flight speed of 56 km/hr. Our findings, together with earlier records, indicate a major Hawaii-Alaska migratory connection for this species, and suggest that plovers wintering on Oahu nest throughout the known Alaska breeding range. Post-breeding, 84% of the sample birds returned to Oahu and reoccupied their previous winter territories.
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1 June 2004
RADIO-TAGGED PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVERS: FURTHER INSIGHT CONCERNING THE HAWAII-ALASKA MIGRATORY LINK
OSCAR W. JOHNSON,
COREY D. ADLER,
LEE ANNE AYRES,
MARY ANNE BISHOP,
JODI E. DOSTER,
PATRICIA M. JOHNSON,
RONALD J. KIENHOLZ,
SUSAN E. SAVAGE
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