Tiny Trackers Are Revealing the Secret Lives of Birds
The Motus Wildlife Tracking System has deployed nearly 50,000 lightweight transmitters to track avian migration, utilizing over 2,000 receiver stations globally, contributing to over 200 studies on migration patterns and conservation.
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the Motus Wildlife Tracking System? The Motus Wildlife Tracking System has significantly advanced the study of avian migration by deploying nearly 50,000 lightweight radio transmitters on birds, bats, and insects. This international network, managed by Birds Canada, utilizes automated radio telemetry to track the movements of these small animals. Each transmitter, weighing as little as 1/200th of an ounce, is designed to be non-intrusive, ensuring it does not exceed 3% of the animal's body weight. The system comprises over 2,000 receiver stations across 34 countries, which can detect tagged animals up to nine miles away. Researchers can access data on individual animal movements, contributing to over 200 studies that have revealed critical insights into migration patterns and survival rates. For instance, studies have shown that fledgling barn swallows have a low survival rate during migration, and some Kirtland’s warblers undertake previously unknown long-distance flights. The Motus system is crucial for understanding the challenges faced by migratory species, especially in light of climate change and habitat loss. It aims to identify critical migratory routes and stopover sites, which are essential for conservation efforts. The program's future goals include expanding the network and enhancing its capabilities to provide real-time data for conservation decisions.
- The Motus system has tagged nearly 50,000 animals, enhancing understanding of migration.
- It uses lightweight transmitters that do not harm the animals.
- Over 2,000 receiver stations in 34 countries collect data on animal movements.
- The system has contributed to over 200 studies on migration and survival rates.
- Future goals include expanding the network and improving conservation efforts.
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8 commentsWith a clock, pressure sensor, light sensor, a low power radio you can, and a bit of compute you can:
* Use sunrise/sunset to get an idea of your longitude
* Use the length of the day get an idea of your latitude
* Then use the above and some orbital calculations to find a 1-2 minute window when the sat will be visible.
* Use the sat communications to upload a few 100 bytes and update your local clock, and get a better idea of your longitude.
That is actually pretty surprising to me. The weirdest insight from animal trackers I’d previously heard was kind of similar—that wolves regularly travel a lot further than scientists would have expected—but trading off roosts is a whole different level.
Edit: I see.. they are using RasPis. But it looks like a super complex setup.
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