Randall, Lori A. Zenzal, Theodore (TJ) 20230412 vector digital data https://doi.org/10.5066/P9P6AA16 This data release includes measures of vertically-integrated reflectivity (VIR) and estimates of linear trends in VIR as observed by the Weather Surveillance Radar 1988 Doppler (WSR-88D) stations along the Gulf of Mexico during spring and autumn migrations from 2018-2020. The VIR is a measure of bird density and can be used to map the spatial distribution of birds as they leave stopover habitat and resume nocturnal migration. This data release also includes seasonal and multi-year summary statistics. Radar measures of landbird density can be used by resource managers to identify migratory stopover areas for conservation. Author ORCIDs: Randall, L.A.(0000-0003-0100-994X);Zenzal, T.J.(0000-0001-7342-1373) 20180901 20201031 observed Complete None planned -98.3274 -80.9578 31.4058 24.5184 ISO 19115 Topic Category biota environment None birds migratory species doppler radar imaging USGS Metadata Identifier USGS:63c9466bd34e06fef14f38a4 None Gulf of Mexico None. None. Users are advised to read the dataset's metadata thoroughly to understand appropriate use and data limitations. Theodore (TJ) Zenzal U.S. Geological Survey, SOUTHEAST REGION Research Ecologist mailing address

700 Cajundome Blvd

Lafayette LA 70506 US 337-266-8645 tzenzal@usgs.gov James D. McLaren Jeffrey J. Buler Tim Schreckengost Jaclyn A. Smolinsky Matthew Boone E. Emiel van Loon Deanna K. Dawson Eric L. Walters 20180109 publication Ecology Letters vol. 21, issue 3 n/a Wiley ppg. 356-364 https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.12902 Jeffrey J. Buler Deanna K. Dawson 201408 publication The Condor vol. 116, issue 3 n/a Oxford University Press (OUP) ppg. 357-370 https://doi.org/10.1650/CONDOR-13-162.1 N/A N/A N/A Over two-thirds of the migratory landbirds breeding in eastern North America move through the habitats of the Gulf of Mexico region as they migrate between breeding and wintering sites in spring and autumn. Migration is energetically taxing, and many landbirds stop at sites along the way to rest and replenish energy reserves. Much of the migratory period is spent at these stopover sites where migrants are foraging in unfamiliar surroundings while competing for limited food resources, avoiding predation, and possibly encountering inclement weather. Their ability to resolve these challenges determines the success of migration and ultimately their survival and reproductive success. Additionally, stopover habitats in the Gulf of Mexico region are being lost or degraded due to development, agriculture, livestock grazing, timber industry activities, and the spread of exotic species. The continued loss or degradation of stopover habitat poses a risk to migrating birds, thus knowing where birds consistently stop to rest and forage and how bird stopover densities change across years are critical for conservation planning. The nationwide network of weather radars (i.e., NEXRAD) routinely detects synchronized bird movements throughout the United States. Weather radars collect and archive data every 5 – 10 minutes 24 hours per day providing a 25-year+ dataset that can be used to map the spatial distribution of birds during migratory stopover. See individual metadata documentation within "Stopover_maps.zip" and "Trends_maps.zip" for specific information related to bird stopover density maps for the Gulf of Mexico region during spring and autumn migrations 2018-2020 and trends in bird stopover density over the same time period. 20220915 Universal Transverse Mercator 14 0.9996 -99.0 0.0 500000.0 0.0 coordinate pair 0.6096 0.6096 meters North_American_Datum_1983 GRS_1980 6378137.0 298.257222101 See individual metadata documentation within "Stopover_maps.zip" and "Trends_maps.zip" for specific information related to each dataset. These zip files also contain PDF representations of the respective spatial datasets. None U.S. Geological Survey - ScienceBase mailing and physical

Denver Federal Center, Building 810, Mail Stop 302

Denver CO 80225 USA 1-888-275-8747 sciencebase@usgs.gov Unless otherwise stated, all data, metadata and related materials are considered to satisfy the quality standards relative to the purpose for which the data were collected. Although these data and associated metadata have been reviewed for accuracy and completeness and approved for release by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the display or utility of the data on any other system or for general or scientific purposes, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. Digital Data https://doi.org/10.5066/P9P6AA16 None 20230412 Lori Randall U.S. Geological Survey mailing and physical

700 Cajundome Blvd.

Lafayette LA 70506 337-266-8665 randalll@usgs.gov FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata FGDC-STD-001-1998