19 / 05 / 2014
Within the framework of the Flemish contributions to the LifeWatch infrastructure, a high-tech sensor network was installed in June 2013 to better monitor the habitat use and migration patterns of large birds, such as the European herring gull (Larus argentatus), the lesser black-backed gull (Larus fuscus) and the western marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus).
The birds were equipped with lightweight, solar powered GPS tags: 22 lesser black-backed gulls were tagged in the harbour of Zeebrugge, 5 European herring gulls in the harbour of Oostende, and 3 western marsh harriers in a marsh area in the province of East-Flanders (Krekengebied).
Since the establishment of the sensor network, the GPS tags generated a lot of data. Half of the birds returned from their winter migration areas to their favorite 'home' spots (where they brooded last year, were tagged and released). The data logged by the sensors could in the meantime be captured, processed and visualised.
All data of individual birds have been made available and visualised in four animated maps:
• The breeding season of 2013
• The autumn migration of 2013
• The winter season of 2013-2014
• The spring migration of 2014
By default, each map displays the GPS data for this period for a specific bird, but other birds can be selected in the map legend.
The GPS data also revealed some peculiar behavior of individual birds:
• Some of the tagged birds forage at sea while others forage on the beach.
• Some of the tagged birds make long trips to find their daily portion (like e.g. to eat potato crisps near a producing plant far inland).
• Some of the tagged birds have their favorite cities to rest during their migration.
More individual bird stories can be read on the link below:
The birds were equipped with lightweight, solar powered GPS tags: 22 lesser black-backed gulls were tagged in the harbour of Zeebrugge, 5 European herring gulls in the harbour of Oostende, and 3 western marsh harriers in a marsh area in the province of East-Flanders (Krekengebied).
Since the establishment of the sensor network, the GPS tags generated a lot of data. Half of the birds returned from their winter migration areas to their favorite 'home' spots (where they brooded last year, were tagged and released). The data logged by the sensors could in the meantime be captured, processed and visualised.
All data of individual birds have been made available and visualised in four animated maps:
• The breeding season of 2013
• The autumn migration of 2013
• The winter season of 2013-2014
• The spring migration of 2014
By default, each map displays the GPS data for this period for a specific bird, but other birds can be selected in the map legend.
The GPS data also revealed some peculiar behavior of individual birds:
• Some of the tagged birds forage at sea while others forage on the beach.
• Some of the tagged birds make long trips to find their daily portion (like e.g. to eat potato crisps near a producing plant far inland).
• Some of the tagged birds have their favorite cities to rest during their migration.
More individual bird stories can be read on the link below: