>Hi <folks>, > The Falcon Research Group (FRG) is sponsoring a new project that >involves satellite tracking of North American tundra falcons on their >"wintering grounds" in Chile. > Members of our FRG team have just returned from a successful 3 week >expedition to the southern Atacama Desert region where we tagged seven >peregrines. You can now monitor these birds daily on our new website at >www.frg.org. > We are using the new GPS solar-powered transmitters (made by Microwave >Telemetry) and the results so far have been spectacular. These units >contain a small global positioning chip that is accurate to +or- 18 meters. >We have never had this kind of accuracy before and it is opening up a whole >new world of understanding. > Our web guys, Mark Prostor, Don McCall and Pat Little have linked the >GPS coordinates to Google Earth and as a result, it is possible to zoom all >the way down to the individual trees and buildings where the birds perch in >Chile. This is the first time GPS satellite transmitters have been used on >peregrines in South America and they are providing brand new information of >the unknown habits and distribution of tundra falcons in Chile. > At present, these falcons are still on their austral ranges but they >will soon be migrating north to the Arctic to breed. If all goes well, you >will be able to follow their movements every day (3 signals per day) as >they return 6-8,000 miles north to their breeding grounds. We expect them >to leave in April and early May, so stay tuned. > To check out these birds, go to www.frg.org and click on "Field >Research". Next click on "Southern Cross Peregrine Project". A list of the >seven falcons will pop up. Each bird has its own page so click on one of >the names, e.g. "Arena" (highlighted in blue). >When its page comes up, scroll down to the map. You can zoom in by clicking >the + on the sidebar to the left. This will allow you to move all the way >down to see individual buildings and groves of trees. You have to see it to >believe it. > If you left click on the orange symbol, you can see the time and date >of the signal. You can also click on the blue dates on the right to see >where a particular bird was on that day. > For those of you that have a Google Earth capability (you can download >it for free), click on the Google Earth map icon and you can explore the >Chilean ranges in much greater detail. > I have been working with falcons for over 40 years and I have to say >that this is one of the most spectacular things that I have ever seen. The >marriage of satellite transmitters and Google Earth is nothing short of >amazing. > Thanks to Mike McGrady and Keith Bildstein of the Hawk Mountain >Sanctuary in PA for donating the two male PTT transmitters. > And I'd especially like to thank all 204 FRG members that contributed >to make this project happen. Enjoy the results everyone. And pass this >message along to your friends. > Stay tuned... > >Bud Anderson >Falcon Research Group >Box 248 >Bow, WA 98232 >(360) 757-1911 >[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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