GPS tracking data of Lesser Black-backed Gulls and Herring Gulls breeding at the southern North Sea coast.

Eric Stienen ,Peter Desmet,Marc Van De Walle,Hans Matheve,Alejandro Sotillo,Roland-Jan Buijs,Nicolas Vanermen,Marwa M Kavelaars,Wendt Müller,Bart Aelterman,Wouter Courtens,David Herman,Hilbran Verstraete,Simon Feys,Luc Lens,Robin Houthoofdt,W Bouten ,F Hernández ,K Deneudt ,B Vanhoorne

doi:10.3897/zookeys.555.6173

Abstract

In this data paper, Bird tracking - GPS tracking of Lesser Black-backed Gulls and Herring Gulls breeding at the southern North Sea coast is described, a species occurrence dataset published by the Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO). The dataset (version 5.5) contains close to 2.5 million occurrences, recorded by 101 GPS trackers mounted on 75 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 26 Herring Gulls breeding at the Belgian and Dutch coast. The trackers were developed by the University of Amsterdam Bird Tracking System (UvA-BiTS, http://www.uva-bits.nl). These automatically record and transmit bird movements, which allows us and others to study their habitat use and migration behaviour in great detail. Our bird tracking network is operational since 2013. It is funded for LifeWatch by the Hercules Foundation and maintained in collaboration with UvA-BiTS and the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ). The recorded data are periodically released in bulk as open data (http://dataset.inbo.be/bird-tracking-gull-occurrences), and are also accessible through CartoDB and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF).

Highlights

As part of our terrestrial and marine observatory for LifeWatch, the Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO), the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), Ghent University (UGent), and University of Antwerp (UA) are tracking large gull species with lightweight, solar powered GPS trackers
The project builds upon the extensive knowledge the INBO has acquired over the last 15 years when studying in particular postnuptial migration, as well as mate and site fidelity of large gulls, by means of sightings of colour-marked individuals ringed in Belgium and via individual-based life-history studies by UGent and UA
The data collected through this bird tracking network allows to study the migration patterns and habitat use of the gulls in more detail

Summary

Introduction

The data collected through this bird tracking network allows to study the migration patterns and habitat use of the gulls in more detail. The dataset contains tracking data from 75 Lesser Black-Backed Gulls (Larus fuscus, Figure 1) and 26 Herring Gulls (Larus argentatus, Figure 3) breeding at the Belgian and Dutch coast. GPS tracking data of Lesser Black-backed Gulls and Herring Gulls...

Results

Conclusion