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Tracking Migratory Birds with a Satellite
Harrisburg, Pa., April 6, In order to learn more about tundra swans, the Pennsylvania Game Commission recently began using satellite technology to track the migratory birds, which winter in southeastern Pennsylvania and further south. The two-year research project is intended to shed light on their annual migrations, movements and important stopover locations in the remote areas of Canada and the United States.
"Tundra swans undergo one of the longest migrations known for waterfowl, traveling from nesting grounds in the arctic slope of Alaska and northern Canada to their winter grounds on the Atlantic coast," said John Dunn, Game Commission waterfowl biologist. "That makes it difficult to identify important breeding, wintering and staging habitats used by these somewhat mysterious birds."
The objectives of this research are to: determine the breeding range and migration stopover locations of swans wintering in Pennsylvania; estimate annual survival rates of swans in Pennsylvania and other Atlantic Flyway states; determine fidelity and population affiliation of Pennsylvania swans; and determine extent and timing of swan movements on Pennsylvania wintering grounds and relate these movements to habitat use and disturbances.
The five swans fitted with satellite transmitter collars in Pennsylvania were captured at the Game Commission's Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area, on the Lebanon/Lancaster county line. The birds have already started their transcontinental trek to nesting areas. Their trail can be traced by visiting the Game Commission's website (http://www.pgc.state.pa.us) by clicking on the "What's New" section. Another link to the swan site is under the "Wildlife" section.
The satellite transmitters attached to swans captured and released in Pennsylvania weigh 30 grams and are attached to plastic collars that are fitted around the bird's elongated neck. The collar doesn't interfere with the swan's flight or behavior.
Three ARGOS satellites orbiting the Earth will periodically detect the locations of the transmitter swans and relay the signal to a data-processing center in France. The signals are then converted into location data of latitude and longitude and relayed to researchers in the United States via the
Internet. This amazing technology allows researchers to check on the swans anywhere in North America without leaving the office.
The transmitters are programmed to provide daily locations during migration. To save battery life, the frequency of transmissions is programmed to be reduced once birds are on their breeding and wintering areas. The expected transmitter battery life is about 18 months. That should permit tracking of swans during three migration periods: Spring 2001, Fall 2001 and
Spring 2002.
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