Tracking global songbird migration from space

The Global Enigma

• Billions of songbirds migrate twice every year between continents
• Songbirds have enormous economic and ecological importance
• Songbirds disappear during migration for unknown causes; many species show negative populations trends
• Detailed migration routes are unknown
• Conventional tracking methods are insufficient

The Solution: radio-tracking songbirds from space

• Songbirds will cary long-lasting radio-transmitters on their backs (1-3 grams)
• A radio receiver in lower orbit, for example, on the International Space Station (ISS) will detect the birds' radio signals
• The ISS criss-crosses the globe and covers continental North America 7 times per day for ~ 8 minutes each
• Signals can be located within a ~120 kilometer circle: this is sufficient for intercontinental migration
• Scientists across the world will be able to follow bird (small animal) migration
• This project will solve a riddle as old as humankind: where do our birds go?

The Significance

• Conservation: establishment of stop-over reserves and migration corridors
• Basic Science: solving orientation capacities of birds in the wild; potential to study dispersal of birds: "Where do the kids settle next year?"
• Education: students and citizens will follow songbird migration on the www
• Understanding Among Nations: songbirds as ambassadors for peace