Data from: A bridge between oceans: Overland migration of marine birds in a wind energy corridor

Located at the shortest overland route between the Gulf of Mexico and the
Pacific Ocean, Mexico's Tehuantepec Isthmus is a globally important
migratory corridor for many terrestrial bird species. The Pacific coast of
the Isthmus also contains a significant wetland complex that supports
large multi-species aggregations of non-breeding waterbirds during the
boreal winter. In recent years, extensive wind energy development has
occurred in the plains bordering these wetlands, directly along the
migratory flyway. Using recent studies of movement patterns of three
marine-associated bird species—reddish egrets (Egretta rufescens), brown
pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis), and red knots (Calidris canutus)—from
the northern Gulf of Mexico, we assess the use of the isthmus as a
migratory corridor. Our data provide evidence that marine birds from the
Gulf region regularly overwinter along the Pacific coast of Mexico and use
the isthmus as a migratory corridor, creating the potential for
interaction with terrestrial wind farms during non-breeding. This study is
the first to describe migration by marine-associated bird species between
the Gulf of Mexico and Pacific coast. These data contribute new
information toward ongoing efforts to understand the complex migration
patterns of mobile marine species, with the goal of informing integrated
conservation efforts for species whose year-round habitat needs cross
ecoregional and geopolitical boundaries.