Our 2 Bar-tailed Godwits are continuing on their amazing journeys. E5, who left Alaska on September 21, was approaching the Fiji Islands as of Thursday morning at 7:22 a.m (Alaska time). Total distance traveled to that point was approximately 8,500 km (5,300 mi), leaving some 3,000 km to go to reach New Zealand. Z0 left Alaska a couple of days later and as of September 28 was just north of the southern end of the Marshall Islands. This bird has covered some 7,000 km (4,350 mi) in 5 days and should make New Zealand sometime on or about October 2. The two transmitter equipped Bar-taileds that remain in Alaska (E8 and Z4) ought to be leaving soon, I would think.

And also a tip of the hat to John at A D.C. Birding Blog for locating another USGS website that is tracking the migration of Alaskan Black Oystercatchers. While their travels do not rival the epic journeys of the Bar-tailed Godwits or Bristle-thighed Curlews, knowledge of wintering locations will help in protecting this "species of conservation concern."