In recent years WWT has used new technology to research bird movements using lightweight "backpack" satellite transmitters.
This has enabled researchers to study the migration routes and movements of a number of species including Bewick’s and Whooper Swans, Lesser Flamingos, Light-bellied Brent Geese and Barnacle Geese.
How it works
The transmitters are attached to each bird using a small harness which is designed to fall off once the study is complete.
Each transmitter collects positional information which can be of GPS quality, uploading this to a satellite which sends it back down to a Ground Station from where the information can then be accessed on the internet. The transmitters can now be powered by miniature solar panels which provide sufficient energy to operate the units for several years.
2006/07 Svalbard Barnacle Goose satellite tracking
In April 2006 four Barnacle Geese were fitted with transmitters at WWT Caerlaverock and tracked during their spring migration in May, on their breeding grounds in summer, and then again on return to the Solway in autumn through a complete migratory cycle. Another nine Barnacle geese will be fitted with transmitters before March 2007 and will be tracked until they return next winter. More...
Lesser Flamingo satellite tracking
In 2002/2003 seven Lesser Flamingos were fitted with transmitters in order to reveal the sites that they use within East Africa and to find out if they have 'home lakes' to which they return often and on which they spend a majority of their time. Imara died in Jan 07 after travelling 19750 km. More...
Light-bellied Brent Goose satellite tracking
WWT has been satellite tracking Brent Geese since 2003 and in 2006 was successful in tracking two Brent Geese through an entire migratory cycle in collaboration with BBC Autumnwatch. This has been essential in revealing which stop off areas the geese have used along the way and has highlighted the problem of illegal hunting of this species in Greenland. More...