First condor from Argentine sends data... at last!

Hard to decide whether it's a positive or negative story.For us definitely interesting: in 2016 we started cooperation with argentinian ornithologists. The aim for us was to test our devices on the South American continent. First attempts turned unsuccessful, mainly due to unclear and somehow misleading contracts between gsm providers. After a series of failures we managed to obtain first test data from the New (for us) World. The next step seemed obvious and in November a juvenile Andean Condor Vultur gryphus was fitted with our datalogger. It is a real flying giant and one of the biggest birds of the planet, with up to 320 cm of wingspan and 15 kg of weight. Our joy however did not last long as shortly after releasing the bird left the gsm coverage area. No data were transmitted and the bird seemed lost forever. Until yesterday, when the first data finally arrived after almost a year of silence, pleasing both us (the logger is working!) and our argentinian  colleagues (the bird is alive!). The South America is conquered! Or maybe just a small piece of it.

Vlad's 3rd year of transmission

Good news from Darwin Nature Reserve in Russia - yesterday fitted with our datalogger White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla started its third year of data transmission.

Born in 2015 male White-Tailed Eagle was ringed in the nest on 28^th of June the same year. He was also equipped with our datalogger and named Vlad. Since that time the logger has been delivering localization data, yesterday starting its third year of activity.

We wish Vlad a long and successfull life!

Common Buzzard sets records

During the migration period many birds cover huge, and for some species even incredible, distances. In this respect the Common Buzzard Buteo buteo cannot be regarded as long distance migrant. Although no thorough research has been conducted, it is known to spend the winter relatively close to its breeding grounds. Therefore this year's spring migration of the bird fitted with our datalogger can be regarded as at least extraordinary. The buzzard decided to make its presence clearly visible in the scientific books, setting records for the covered distance. At the moment, since March 1^st, the number reads 9044 km. This averages over 88 km per day and 2261 km per month. Of course the data is only "straight line" calculation and does not include manouvers like for example circling.

The above mentioned data were calculated by means of statistical tools available on our portal free of charge after the purchase of our loggers.

This year Kordian (that is the name the bird was given) has visited 7 countries. Not an impressive number, but worth mentioning in this part of the world.

Kordian's migration can be followed on the page of the Estonian project since September 2015.

Awaiting the spring

The winter continues. Most of the birds fitted with our devices spend it in far and wormer countries. For us it is time for intensive preparations towards the upcoming breeding season. Improvements of our loggers are being tested as the so far implemented solutions prove quite successful in the field. The loggers register data within the configured routine and the only obstacle observed seems to be the lack of gsm coverage in some areas, for which there is little we can do.

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