Sat Navs More Than Just for Humans

Sat nav systems applied by scientists to track bird migration

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Welsh sea birds are now being tracked by sat nav style tags. In a bid to shed light on how the birds behave, researchers will use sat navs tags to track them every two minutes, as part of an extensive GPS-tagging project by RSPB Cymru, WalesOnline.co.uk reported. The study wants to find out why Wales has maintained an internationally-significant population of kittiwakes and razorbills, while numbers elsewhere in the UK have collapsed.

Thus far, the project has suggested that the Welsh sea birds may save energy better than other populations by coasting along on strong currents. RSPB Cymru’s marine policy officer John Clark told WalesOnline.co.uk: "This study gives us additional evidence into patterns in how seabirds forage. [Sat nav technology] has been very helpful in mapping the feeding areas of these populations so that any developments ... do not impact on these key areas."

Scientists have increasingly been utilising sat nav and GPS technology to explain and monitor animal behaviour, specifically in the case of endangered species, such as polar bears. There are a number of different ways in which GPS can be attached to the animals, depending on their size, habitat and behaviour.

 

The collar attachment, around the neck or ankle, is most suited to larger mammals, such as primates, wild cats and bears. For some animals where the neck diameter exceeds that of the head (such as a pig), a harness attachment may be more suitable. This is also the case with long necked birds such as the goose, so that the tracking device will not be removed.

 

The final way of attaching the tracking device is the ‘direct’ method- one used for the Welsh sea birds by RSPB Cymru. The GPS units need to be lightweight and durable, and sat navs tend to be taped or glued to wings. The direct method comes in handy for marine mammals and most birds. However, there is a new method of GPS tracking begin developed too- for giant, heavy animals, such as the Rhinoceros. The device can be ‘implanted’ into the animal, for example by drilling a small hole through the horn. Like the other methods, it is painless for the animal and causes minimum disruption to their daily activity.

 

So GPS systems are not just useful for humans. Whilst a cheap sat nav can get us from A to B smoothly, the technology behind it is used for all sorts of purposes- but perhaps more importantly allowing us to learn more and more about the environment we live in and protecting it in the future.

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