AviTac Motus program for wildlife tracking
TThe Motus Wildlife Tracking System (Motus) is an international collaborative research network that uses coordinated automated radio telemetry to facilitate research and education on the ecology and conservation of migratory animals. AviTac's Motus systems comply with DoD hardware and network restrictions, making our systems the perfect Motus installations on DoD and other federal, state, and local government properties. Click here to learn about the Motus program. Click below to download our white paper.
AviTac's Motus Stations
A Motus station includes four systems-- (1) the receiver system, (2) power system, (3) tower system, and (4) antenna system. Each system works together to collect signals received from tagged migrating birds or other wildlife to transmit to the Motus collaborative hosted by the Birds Canada National Data Center.
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Receiver system. The receiver system includes a microcomputer board connected to up to four different antenna connections,. When a tagged animal travels through the antenna's receiving field, the receiver logs the location, time, and tag information into a standardized database.
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Power system. The power systems are either off-grid or connected to a reliable standard 120V outlet (for installations close to buildings). Off-grid power systems use solar panels, batteries, charge controllers, and Power over Ethernet (POE) connections to the receiver system.
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Tower system. The tower system is typically at least 25' high and can be guyed or free standing. Tower configurations vary greatly depending on the installation and site restrictions, and we can help find the best tower for the specific location.
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Antenna system. A variety of antenna options exist for VHF telemetry. To date, users have used 3, 5, 6, and 9-element Yagi directional antennas, and single-pole omnidirectional antennas. The 9-element Yagis have a long, narrow detection range, whereas 3, 5, or 6-element Yagis have gradually shorter and wider detection ranges. Omni-directional antennas are best suited for determining species presence-absence patterns (e.g. seabirds at a colony), or for detecting birds in close proximity to stations (within a few hundred meters), but not for providing directional information (e.g. departure directions of songbirds from a stopover site).
Off-grid System
Off-grid systems are for remote installations and require a power system comprising of a 360Watt solar panel, 200Ah 24V battery bank, 15 amp-rated charge controller, and a 24VDC injector that provides up to 19W to power the receiver system all enclosed in a NEMA 3 R milled aluminum secured box. Towers options include Rohn towers (requiring concrete base) or guyed tripod towers (to limit ground disturbance). Three antennas are standard, but an additional antenna is an option. Click here for pricing guide.
Connected System
A simpler installation because the receiver system is powered through an available power source. These installations would typically have towers mounted on a roof or secured to the side of a building. Battery backup options are also available.