I am looking to track within breeding season movements of a 25 g bird. The species is not philopatric, so trackers that require recapture are not an option. Trackers must be under 0.75 g per USGS regulations. I'm thinking I am going to be limited to radio transmitters but if you know of other options, I would be very interested. Do you have a favorite radio transmitter brand? Cost is a major consideration. Thank you!
First of all you have to ask some questions. How far do the birds range in the time you want to track them? How many do you want to track at once? Will you be flying or monitoring from a car/truck? If you have funding for air, this is the best if the birds are either migrating or moving around with no roost to return to. I tracked migrating western sandpipers (about 25g) using Lotek transmitters and receiver and the radios weighed less than 0.8g and that was 4 yrs ago so radios are probably smaller now.. These are coded radios so that you only have one frequency, saving you time circling around and around to make sure that your receiver has cycled through all of the frequencies. Saves time if you want to follow birds in migration. Also the FAA is clamping down on giving out multiple frequencies to people, so this coded radio seems to be the best if that is an issue.
However, I had problems with detection of the devices at first, but I believed that Lotek is straightening that out. Included in their pricey package is unlimited troubleshooting with the radios (very necessary to straighten out some kinks). The receiver records the entire time so if you are distracted by something and forget to write down one of the codes that you hear, it's all there for you in the receiver. Lotek is in Newmarket Ontario Canada. One upside is that the battery lasts for up to 3 months because you set its programming for when to come on and when to go off. You only turn it on when you need them and you do this by -fixed by programming (easy).
One more question: where will you be monitoring? If it is on the east coast of Canada or the US, or the US midwest or Gulf of Mexico, you have a recording system in place for you: The Motus System developed by, Phil Taylor at Acadia University in Nova Scotia and now run by Birds Canada. They have plastered the east and midwest (not prairies Canada though) with receivers that gather data. They act like transponders in reverse. The microtransmitters are placed on the birds and they ping along over listening receivers in the eastern US & Canada, US midwest, and gulf of Mexico.The bird's unit pings the dormant Motus which then perks up as the bird with microtransmitter flies over. Worthwhile checking that out.
Peter Marra at The Smithsonian just used micro GPS tags on small passerines, but I do believe he had to retrieve them to access the data. Tags /radios/GPS units are getting smaller and less expensive now, although that is relative. In a few years you will be able to have smaller GPS-Satellite nits on the birds.
https://motus.org/data/receiversMap?lang=en
http://birdscanada.org/research/motus/
It's really challenging. I have used radio transmitters from Holohil System Ltd, Canada and Wildlife Materials, Inc., USA. There are a series of light radio transmitters that meet your need, but they usually can only last less than 20 days. The lightest PTT of model BD-2 from Holohil can last longer, which may be the best choice. Is color marking (ringing or feather dyeing) a possible choice? I'm also looking forward to other suggestions.
Hi Claire,
I think you are going to be restricted to radiotelemetry. There is an archival 1-g GPS receiver now available (http://www.lotek.com/pinpoint-gps.htm); however, it's a shade too heavy for you, and anyway you would need to recapture the animals to retrieve the data, which you said was not an option. I know of no smaller GPS or PTT devices.
Personally, I've always had good luck with Holohil Tx units - the company is trustworthy (at least in my experience), their prices are competitive and they have good customer service as well.
Good luck with your study!
I've had good experiences with both Holohil and Wildlife Materials for reptile transmitters in that size range. I think Holohil is slightly better quality, and worth the price difference if you can afford it. If not, Wildlife Materials is also a good option.
First of all you have to ask some questions. How far do the birds range in the time you want to track them? How many do you want to track at once? Will you be flying or monitoring from a car/truck? If you have funding for air, this is the best if the birds are either migrating or moving around with no roost to return to. I tracked migrating western sandpipers (about 25g) using Lotek transmitters and receiver and the radios weighed less than 0.8g and that was 4 yrs ago so radios are probably smaller now.. These are coded radios so that you only have one frequency, saving you time circling around and around to make sure that your receiver has cycled through all of the frequencies. Saves time if you want to follow birds in migration. Also the FAA is clamping down on giving out multiple frequencies to people, so this coded radio seems to be the best if that is an issue.
However, I had problems with detection of the devices at first, but I believed that Lotek is straightening that out. Included in their pricey package is unlimited troubleshooting with the radios (very necessary to straighten out some kinks). The receiver records the entire time so if you are distracted by something and forget to write down one of the codes that you hear, it's all there for you in the receiver. Lotek is in Newmarket Ontario Canada. One upside is that the battery lasts for up to 3 months because you set its programming for when to come on and when to go off. You only turn it on when you need them and you do this by -fixed by programming (easy).
One more question: where will you be monitoring? If it is on the east coast of Canada or the US, or the US midwest or Gulf of Mexico, you have a recording system in place for you: The Motus System developed by, Phil Taylor at Acadia University in Nova Scotia and now run by Birds Canada. They have plastered the east and midwest (not prairies Canada though) with receivers that gather data. They act like transponders in reverse. The microtransmitters are placed on the birds and they ping along over listening receivers in the eastern US & Canada, US midwest, and gulf of Mexico.The bird's unit pings the dormant Motus which then perks up as the bird with microtransmitter flies over. Worthwhile checking that out.
Peter Marra at The Smithsonian just used micro GPS tags on small passerines, but I do believe he had to retrieve them to access the data. Tags /radios/GPS units are getting smaller and less expensive now, although that is relative. In a few years you will be able to have smaller GPS-Satellite nits on the birds.
https://motus.org/data/receiversMap?lang=en
http://birdscanada.org/research/motus/
For harnessing, I would suggest that you use some 40 lb test (or heavier) Spectra braided fishing line. This ties well, and accepts cyanocrynate glue very well. I've used it on Flammulated Owls and Scops Owls (100 lb test) with perfect results.
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Biological Science
- Zoology
- Ornithology