The Motus Wildlife Tracking System is a worldwide network of automated VHF telemetry receivers that enables the movements of small animals — such as bats, songbirds and even insects — to be monitored. The system is specifically designed to use miniature transmitters on animals that emit unique radio pulses when they fly within range of a Motus receiver. The extensive network gives scientists insight into migration patterns and behaviour over long distances.
Motus antenna for tracking birds and bats
How detection works
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An animal with a transmitter flies within range of a station.
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The station registers the unique pulses from the transmitter.
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Detections are uploaded to the central Motus database.
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Researchers analyse spatio-temporal patterns using maps and track analyses.
Measurement locations
At present, Rijkswaterstaat is rolling out Motus antennas on offshore platforms, buoys in the North Sea, and onshore locations along the Dutch coast.