This metadata document describes the data contained in the "rawData" folder of this data package. This data package contains all data collected by the Argos System from 53 satellite transmitters attached to Black Scoters on their breeding and winter ranges in western Alaska, 2003-2007. Five data files are included in the "rawData" folder of this data package. Two data files (with identical content) contain the raw Argos DIAG (Diagnostic) data, one in the legacy verbose ASCII format and one in a tabular Comma Separate Value (CSV) format. Two other data files (with identical content) contain the raw Argos DS (Dispose) data, one in the legacy verbose ASCII format and one in a tabular CSV format. The fifth file, "deploymentAttributes", contains one record for each transmitter deployment in a CSV formatted table. The deployment attributes file contains information such as when the transmitter was attached to the animal, when tracking of a live animal ended, and a variety of variables describing the animal and transmitter. This table is identical to the "deploymentAttributes" table in the "processedData" folder of this data package.

This metadata document describes the data contained in the "processedData" folder of this data package. This data package contains all data collected by the Argos System from 53 satellite transmitters attached to Black Scoters on their breeding and winter ranges in western Alaska, 2003-2007. The raw data were processed to accomplish two goals: flag implausible location estimates and decode raw sensor data. Three Comma Separate Value (CSV) tables are included in the "processedData" folder of this data package: 1) the "diag_filteredLocations" table contains one record for every location estimate collected, accompanied by a binary flag that denotes an algorithm's plausibility check. Each record also includes a 'Tracking_Status' variable that denotes whether the location was collected from a live animal, a dead animal, or shed transmitter, 2) the "decodedSensor" table contains decoded sensor data such as a transmitter's temperature, battery voltage, and motion (activity), and 3) the "deploymentAttributes" table contains one record for each transmitter deployment in a CSV formatted table. The deployment attributes file contains information such as when the transmitter was attached to the animal, when tracking of a live animal ended, and a variety of variables describing the animal and transmitter. This table is identical to the "deploymentAttributes" table in the "rawData" folder of this data package.

This data release includes 1 child item with tracking data for Black Brant, a goose species that breeds in coastal areas of Alaska, northwestern Canada, and northeastern Russia and winters along coastal areas of North America from western Alaska to Mexico. Child Item 1: "Light-Level Geolocator Tracking Data for Black Brant (Branta bernicla nigricans)" -- Tracking data collected from light-level geolocator attached Black Brant at breeding areas in Alaska, 2011-2014.

This data release includes 2 child items with tracking data for Whimbrels, a shorebird found throughout tundra and boreal habitats of Alaska during the summer and winters along the coasts of the continental U.S., and central and South America. Child Item 1: "Argos Satellite Tracking Data for Whimbrels (Numenius phaeopus) - Processed Data" -- Quality-controlled data collected from Argos satellite transmitters. Child Item 2: "Argos Satellite Tracking Data for Whimbrels (Numenius phaeopus) - Raw Data" -- All raw data collected from Argos satellite transmitters, provided for completeness of the archive. The quality-controlled, "Argos Processed Data" (Child Item 1) are better suited for most analytical purposes.

This data release includes 2 child items with tracking data for Tundra Swans, a species that nests in coastal areas throughout Alaska and winters across a broad area of North America from the Pacific to Atlantic coasts. Child Item 1: "Argos Satellite Tracking Data for Tundra Swans (Cygnus columbianus) - Processed Data" -- Quality-controlled data collected from Argos satellite transmitters. Child Item 2: "Argos Satellite Tracking Data for Tundra Swans (Cygnus columbianus) - Raw Data" -- All raw data collected from Argos satellite transmitters, provided for completeness of the archive. The quality-controlled, "Argos Processed Data" (Child Item 1) are better suited for most analytical purposes.

Understanding the short- and long-distance movements of wildlife is critical for a wide variety of ecological research studies and management decisions. Since the mid-1980s, the USGS Alaska Science Center has collected data from wildlife tracking devices to: determine locations of animals throughout their annual cycles, understand patterns of habitat use, quantify time spent on various behaviors, determine timing of life cycle events, and identify geographic areas repeatedly used by wildlife that may be of significance to other species and populations. These datasets are a collection of the USGS Alaska Science Center wildlife tracking data arranged by species or closely allied species groups. Details of tracking projects, devices, methods, and data can be found within each species directory.

This data package contains all location data collected by light-level geolocators attached to 68 Black Brant at breeding areas in Alaska. The data include: a deployment attributes file with details of each brant at the time of capture, the raw light-level data in ASCII files as downloaded and decompressed, and twice-daily estimated locations.

This data release includes 1 child item with tracking data for Greater White-fronted Geese, a species that nests in coastal areas of western and northern Alaska and winters across a broad area of North America along the Pacific and Central flyways. Child Item 1: "VHF Tracking Data for Pacific Flyway Greater White-Fronted Geese (Anser albifrons), 1987-1991" -- VHF tracking data for Greater White-fronted Geese marked annually (1987-1991) in Alaska and the Klamath Basin (Oregon and California) and subsequently tracked through the Pacific Flyway (primarily in Alaska, California, and Mexico).

This data release includes 2 child items with tracking data for Long-billed Curlews, a shorebird species that nests in deserts and grasslands of central and western North America and spends the nonbreeding season in agriculture fields and pastures or along coastlines in California, Texas, and Mexico. Child Item 1: "Argos Satellite Tracking Data for Long-billed Curlews (Numenius americanus) - Processed Data" -- Quality-controlled data collected from Argos satellite transmitters. Child Item 2: "Argos Satellite Tracking Data for Long-billed Curlews (Numenius americanus) - Raw Data" -- All raw data collected from Argos satellite transmitters, provided for completeness of the archive. The quality-controlled, "Argos Processed Data" (Child Item 1) are better suited for most analytical purposes.

This data release includes 2 child items with tracking data for Red-throated Loons, a species that breeds in coastal areas throughout Alaska and winters along the Pacific coasts of North America and Eurasia. Child Item 1: "Argos Satellite Tracking Data for Red-throated Loons (Gavia stellata) - Processed Data" -- Quality-controlled data collected from Argos satellite transmitters. Child Item 2: "Argos Satellite Tracking Data for Red-throated Loons (Gavia stellata) - Raw Data" -- All raw data collected from Argos satellite transmitters, provided for completeness of the archive. The quality-controlled, "Argos Processed Data" (Child Item 1) are better suited for most analytical purposes.