Photo of a USGS scientist holding a hen mallard equipped with a GPS transmitter.
Images
![Photo of a hen mallard with a GPS transmitter.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/hen%20mallard%20with%20transmitter_USGS.jpg?itok=mVZDaA2M)
Photo of a USGS scientist holding a hen mallard equipped with a GPS transmitter.
A pink-footed shearwater in flight.
A pink-footed shearwater in flight.
USGS biological science technician Andrew Greenawalt holding a duckling with a lightweight radio transmitter. The USGS Western Ecological Research Center is monitoring waterfowl populations throughout Suisun Marsh, CA, and the greater Pacific Flyway. Radio transmitters fall off within several weeks and are recovered by scientists for data collection.
USGS biological science technician Andrew Greenawalt holding a duckling with a lightweight radio transmitter. The USGS Western Ecological Research Center is monitoring waterfowl populations throughout Suisun Marsh, CA, and the greater Pacific Flyway. Radio transmitters fall off within several weeks and are recovered by scientists for data collection.
Laysan albatross with chick on Kauai, 2016.
Laysan albatross with chick on Kauai, 2016.
Every year, the health of each of the thousands of trees in established research plots is checked, and if a tree has died, the cause of death is determined.
Every year, the health of each of the thousands of trees in established research plots is checked, and if a tree has died, the cause of death is determined.
A copper-striped blue-tailed skink (Emoia impar) photographed in Samoa during a USGS field survey.
A copper-striped blue-tailed skink (Emoia impar) photographed in Samoa during a USGS field survey.
A copper-striped blue-tailed skink (Emoia impar) photographed in Samoa during a USGS field survey.
A copper-striped blue-tailed skink (Emoia impar) photographed in Samoa during a USGS field survey.
The Agassiz's desert tortoise, a native of the Mojave Desert.
The Agassiz's desert tortoise, a native of the Mojave Desert.
A photo of USGS biological science technician Desmond Mackell holding a male mallard. USGS scientists based out of Dixon, CA are banding and marking mallards and other waterfowl with GPS transmitters as part of an ongoing study in the Suisun Marsh.
A photo of USGS biological science technician Desmond Mackell holding a male mallard. USGS scientists based out of Dixon, CA are banding and marking mallards and other waterfowl with GPS transmitters as part of an ongoing study in the Suisun Marsh.
A photo of USGS biological science technician releasing a male pintail in Suisun Marsh, CA. USGS Western Ecological Research Center scientists based out of Dixon, CA are marking and tagging waterfowl with GPS transmitters as part of an ongoing study.
A photo of USGS biological science technician releasing a male pintail in Suisun Marsh, CA. USGS Western Ecological Research Center scientists based out of Dixon, CA are marking and tagging waterfowl with GPS transmitters as part of an ongoing study.
Sunrise over Haleakalā Crater.
Sunrise over Haleakalā Crater.
![Panorama rocky volcanic landscape on a sunny day](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/Hale_rim_EKelsey.jpg?itok=Z_4BErLf)
The crater of Haleakalā volcano in Haleakala National Park, Maui Hawai’i.
The crater of Haleakalā volcano in Haleakala National Park, Maui Hawai’i.
![Two geese with white faces stand in a grassy area](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/GWFG_amott.jpg?itok=AgTI8iC5)
Pair of Greater White-fronted Geese at Colusa National Wildlife Refuge.
Pair of Greater White-fronted Geese at Colusa National Wildlife Refuge.
![White goose swimming on water](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/SNGO_amott.jpg?itok=mlGjFLmg)
Lesser Snow Goose at Colusa National Wildlife Refuge.
Lesser Snow Goose at Colusa National Wildlife Refuge.
![Flock of white geese on water](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/ROGO_amott.jpg?itok=m9oV4QrE)
Flock of Ross’s Geese at Colusa National Wildlife Refuge.
Flock of Ross’s Geese at Colusa National Wildlife Refuge.
![Scientist collecting contents of invertebrate trap in Nisqually River Delta](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/Fallout%20Trap%20Collection%20at%20Animal%20Slough_Credit_SierraBlakely.jpg?itok=raRAh2tV)
Lennah Shakeri, a USGS biological science technician, collects the contents of an invertebrate fallout trap at the Nisqually River Delta, WA.
Lennah Shakeri, a USGS biological science technician, collects the contents of an invertebrate fallout trap at the Nisqually River Delta, WA.
Red-Tailed tropicbird (Phaethon rubricauda) chick.
Red-Tailed tropicbird (Phaethon rubricauda) chick.
Dead trees viewed from the Colony Mill Trail in Sequoia National Park, photographed in 2015 during severe drought in California.
Dead trees viewed from the Colony Mill Trail in Sequoia National Park, photographed in 2015 during severe drought in California.
During the fall bats can be seen emerging from under the causeway at Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area near Sacramento, CA. Photo by Erika Sanchez-Chopitea, Western Geographic Science Center, USGS.
During the fall bats can be seen emerging from under the causeway at Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area near Sacramento, CA. Photo by Erika Sanchez-Chopitea, Western Geographic Science Center, USGS.
![Photo depicting drought-related tree mortality in Sequoia National Park](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/P1030834%20-%20Nate%20Stephenson%20USGS.jpg?itok=SIKaFNQ_)
Drought-related tree mortality at a low elevation forest in Sequoia National Park.
Drought-related tree mortality at a low elevation forest in Sequoia National Park.
Photo of a hen pintail equipped with a camouflage GPS transmitter. USGS Western Ecological Research Center scientists based out of Dixon, CA are marking and tagging waterfowl in Suisun Marsh with GPS transmitters as part of an ongoing study.
Photo of a hen pintail equipped with a camouflage GPS transmitter. USGS Western Ecological Research Center scientists based out of Dixon, CA are marking and tagging waterfowl in Suisun Marsh with GPS transmitters as part of an ongoing study.