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A GPS-based system for recording the flight paths of birds

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Abstract

 The GPS recorder consists of a GPS receiver board, a logging facility, an antenna, a power supply, a DC-DC converter and a casing. Currently, it has a weight of 33 g. The recorder works reliably with a sampling rate of 1/s and with an operation time of about 3 h, providing time-indexed data on geographic positions and ground speed. The data are downloaded when the animal is recaptured. Prototypes were tested on homing pigeons. The records of complete flight paths with surprising details illustrate the potential of this new method that can be used on a variety of medium-sized and large vertebrates.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fachbereich Biologie, Zoologie, J.W.-Goethe Universität Frankfurt, Siesmayerstrasse 70, 60323 Frankfurt am Main, Germany e-mail: huenerbein@zoology.uni-frankfurt.de Tel.: +49-69-79824719 Fax: +49-69-79824820, , , , , , DE

    K. von Hünerbein, H.-J. Hamann & W. Wiltschko

  2. Rüter EPV-Systeme GmbH, Sandtrift 87, 32425 Minden, Germany, , , , , , DE

    E. Rüter

Authors
  1. K. von Hünerbein
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  2. H.-J. Hamann
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  3. E. Rüter
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  4. W. Wiltschko
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Received: 2 February 2000 / Accepted in revised form: 17 April 2000

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von Hünerbein, K., Hamann, HJ., Rüter, E. et al. A GPS-based system for recording the flight paths of birds. Naturwissenschaften 87, 278–279 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/s001140050721

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s001140050721

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