Code and data supporting "Satellite telemetry reveals complex mixed movement strategies in ibis and spoonbills of Australia: implications for water and wetland management"" in Movement Ecology (2024) 12:74.

The data and files in these directories underpin analyses of telemetry data for Australia waterbird species. The goal is to understand the complex mixed movement strategies of these species across their life cycles in order to assist effective management. Many waterbirds are highly mobile at a range of spatial and temporal scales, which makes monitoring challenging when using traditional methods such as on-ground surveys or leg-banding.

In this analysis, we used a 7-year GPS satellite telemetry dataset of 122 individuals to investigate movement distances, residency periods and areas, and foraging‐site fidelity for straw-necked ibis (SNI), Australian white ibis (AWI), and royal spoonbill (RSB). Analyses include detailed summaries of the telemetry data and extensive home range analysis using auto-correlated kernel density estimation.

This research is led by CSIRO as part of the CEWH Monitoring, Evaluation and Research Program (Flow- MER). It builds on and incorporates satellite tracking of straw-necked ibis, Australian white ibis and royal spoonbills conducted by CSIRO between 2016–19 as part of the Environmental Water Knowledge and Research (EWKR) Waterbird Theme. The EWKR research identified a need for additional satellite tracking of species dependent on water to feed (such as spoonbills and egrets), not just to breed (such as ibis), and for tracking of the movements of birds from additional important sites across the Basin.