The Philadelphia Eagles have partnered with the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation on Birds Supporting Birds, funding NOAA’s Stellwagen Bank Shearwater Tagging Project to attach lightweight, solar-powered satellite transmitters to great shearwaters. The tags will let researchers track the birds' transatlantic migrations in near real time while providing insight into marine ecosystem health. Great shearwaters depend on forage fish like sand lance, which are affected by warming and unstable conditions in the Gulf of Maine. Interactive maps will allow the public to follow four tagged birds named Phil, Franklin, Hoagie, and Liberty.
‘Birds Supporting Birds’: Philadelphia Eagles Fund Satellite Tagging of Migratory Shearwaters
Great shearwaters rely on a small fish called the sea lance to fuel their migrations.
The Philadelphia Eagles are taking their rallying cry beyond the stadium this season by partnering with the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation on Birds Supporting Birds, a conservation initiative that supports seabird research off the coast of Massachusetts.
The team is funding NOAA’s Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary Shearwater Tagging Project, an ongoing study of the great shearwater (Ardenna gravis). These large white-and-grey seabirds undertake epic transatlantic migrations, traveling thousands of miles each year from South Atlantic breeding grounds to productive North Atlantic waters during the nonbreeding season. The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation estimates their annual journeys cover the equivalent of more than 200,000 football fields across the Atlantic.
Stellwagen Bank, an 842-square-mile marine sanctuary east of Boston, will be the focus this fall as researchers attach lightweight, solar-powered satellite transmitters to great shearwaters to track their movements in near real time. The tags are secured with degradable thread and include small solar panels so tracking can continue over extended periods without harming the birds.
"The Eagles are directly funding researchers to attach lightweight, solar-powered satellite transmitters to great shearwaters," says Joel R. Johnson, President and CEO of the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. "These tags track the birds' migration patterns around the Eastern Seaboard and down to the Southern Atlantic Ocean in real time."
Researchers have already tagged four birds with Philadelphia-inspired names — Phil, Franklin, Hoagie, and Liberty — and members of the public will soon be able to follow their journeys on interactive maps hosted by the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation.
Great shearwaters can help scientists understand an ecosystem's health.Image:National Marine Sanctuary Foundation.
Why This Matters
Great shearwaters are important indicators of ocean ecosystem health because they feed on small forage fish such as sand lance (family Ammodytidae). Those same forage fish are vital to a range of species including whales, dolphins, and commercially valuable fish like Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus). Tracking shearwaters helps scientists detect shifts in prey availability and broader changes in the marine environment.
Long-term regional changes are already apparent: a major 2015 study found the Gulf of Maine was warming faster than 99% of the global ocean. Although waters have cooled slightly since 2021, a NOAA report published in July warned that the Gulf of Maine’s environment remains unstable. Shifts in temperature, currents, and prey distribution can ripple through the food web and affect seabird health and survival.
Public Engagement and Conservation
By leveraging the Eagles' platform and fanbase, Birds Supporting Birds aims to raise awareness about ocean conservation and the impacts of climate-driven changes on marine life. The project combines cutting-edge science with public outreach: interactive maps and social updates will invite fans and the broader public to follow the tagged shearwaters' migrations while also learning about the ecosystems they rely on.
Live tracking is expected to debut on the sanctuary and foundation websites soon, giving nature lovers and sports fans alike a chance to follow Phil, Franklin, Hoagie, and Liberty as they cross the Atlantic.
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