Scolopax Rusticola Without Frontiers, SRWF (2013)

Almost at the end of the 2013 and after ten years of working in this wonderful project, here some ideas to be rethought.

1. The beginning[1]

The history began in 2003. At that time there were no available PTTs for the Eurasian woodcock.

In 2004 most of the information that was available in internet was analyzed. At the end of 2004 we knew that MTI was preparing new solar PTTs of 12 grams.

For traditional radio-telemetry tracking, we did know that some woodcocks were equipped with transmitters of 12 grams

So, at the beginning of January 2005, we contacted MTI.

Here what we said about our woodcocks[2]:

In order to track its migration (from September-October until the middle of November) we should have to take in consideration some problems:

a) It is time for its hunting, so lot of problems to survive.

b) The bird uses brushy forest to protect itself.

This is why we would prefer to follow it in its counter migration, from the Spanish state to its breeding areas (maybe up to the Ural Mountains). 

The counter migration has some advantages:

1) The bird goes right away to its breeding areas.

2) It does not use as much the brushy forest as it uses in its migration.

3) There is no hunting.

The counter migration period is a short one: the bird leaves the Spanish state around the middle of March and in a couple of weeks all, or at least most of the birds are gone.

All the above makes our project easier in the counter migration than in the migration period.

On March 1st, 2005, we sent MTI an email with the following decision:

(a)    We are planning to follow the counter migration of the Scolopax rusticola, starting next March 2006

(b)    So, we will need (some) PTT-100 12 gram Solar PTTs to be in our hands by next January, 2006

2. The project goes on…

After A First![3] in 2006, we had very interesting experiences.

 

Here some key points:

(i) We were aware of the problem of the interferences in Europe[4]. 

(ii) The Charge  charge of the PTTs is the key point, not only against interferences but also to give better emissions. So, in new projects the PTTs would have to charge more. The problem of the interferences is really serious, hard and deep[5].  

(iii) The woodcock's weight is around 300/350 grams. There is no possibility, up to now, to track them with Argos/GPS PTTs[6].

(iv) The problem of the interferences has been overcome with high charge, as we proposed in our previous experiments[7].

(v) Last words: Is it possible to gather even more data? To gather even more accurate data? We will keep working, researching, trying to know more about the migration of the Scolopax rusticola and to gather data with more frequency and better accuracy, always following the advices of MTI[8].

(vi)  Solar Argos/GPS PTTs: Up to now, 2011, there is no possibility to track woodcocks with Argos/GPS PTTs, since the smallest solar Argos/GPS PTT weights 22 grams. In any case, at the prototype level, MTI has produced one of 15 grams. It is very possible the next one to be one of 11/12 grams[9].

(vii)  Last words: Is it possible to gather even more data? To gather even more accurate data, maybe with the help of a new Argos/GPS PTT, small enough to be carried by woodcocks?[10]

 

L

3. The 2012 Avian & Marine Tracking Conference

Inside the Conference Hall there is a big mural where the following can be read:

GPS: THE FUTURE IS HERE

At the end of my talk[11], I said:

“We need a PTT with GPS, to be inside that future.”

4. 2013: email to MTI

In 2013 we have had two main events related to the project SRWF. 

One is related to the woodcock Ortegal.

Ortegal was hunted on 14.11.2013. The hunters gave us the PTT. 

The PTT was without emitting since 26.10.2013, so we checked that PTT to know if it worked or not.

After that checking, I wrote an email to MTI (23/11/2013):

“In spite of the weather the data are pretty good…

So, in my opinion, and as hypothesis, the poor data given by the different woodcocks in their coming back towards their release points is due to the behavior of these birds, hiding in the forest to protect themselves and with no very good opportunities for the PTT to charge well.

No problem with the PTTs and/or with the Satellites (Argos).

We need a new technology: a kind of Argos/GPS PTT of 10/12 g.”

---

[1]  See http://scolopaxrusticolawithoutfrontiers.blogspot.com.es/2010/01/scolopax-rusticola-without-frontiers.html. Also, see Scolopax rusticola without frontiers: http://www.euskonews.com/0522zbk/gaia52202en.html.  

[2] See Scolopax rusticola without frontiers: http://www.euskonews.com/0522zbk/gaia52202en.html.

[3]  See http://scolopaxrusticolawithoutfrontiers.blogspot.com.es/2010/01/first.html.

[4]  See https://www.microwavetelemetry.com/uploads/NewsletterPDFs/MTINewsletter_2005_Winter_page8.pdf

[5]  See http://scolopaxrusticolawithoutfrontiers.blogspot.com.es/2010/01/astur-and-navarre.html.

[6]  See http://scolopaxrusticolawithoutfrontiers.blogspot.com.es/2010/01/location-accuracy.html.

[7]  See Scolopax rusticola without frontiers: http://www.euskonews.com/0522zbk/gaia52202en.html.

[8]  See Scolopax rusticola without frontiers: http://www.euskonews.com/0522zbk/gaia52202en.html.

[9]  See http://scolopaxrusticolawithoutfrontiers.blogspot.com.es/2011/11/tracking-of-scolopax-rusticola-with_19.html.

[10]  See http://scolopaxrusticolawithoutfrontiers.blogspot.com.es/2013/07/2012-mti-avian-and-marine-tracking.html.  Also, see http://scolopaxrusticolawithoutfrontiers.blogspot.com.es/2012/04/srwf-ural-mountains-and-beyond.html   ---> go to http://es.scribd.com/doc/78155908/Scolopax-rusticola-without-frontiers-the-Ural-Mountains-and-beyond.

[11]  See https://www.microwavetelemetry.com/2012_conference.

2012 MTI Avian and Marine Tracking Conference

At the 2012 Conference. 

Paper presented:

Scolopax rusticola without Frontiers: the Ural Mountains and Beyond

Joseba Felix Tobar-Arbulu

 

https://www.microwavetelemetry.com/uploads/MTI_2012_Conference_Abstract_Book.pdf., go to page 30.

SRWF: the Ural Mountains and beyond

Abstract: Go to https://www.microwavetelemetry.com/uploads/MTI_2012_Conference_Abstract_Book.pdf and then go to page 30 

Original paper: Go to http://es.scribd.com/doc/78155908/scolopax-rusticola-without-frontiers-the-Ural-Mountains-and-beyond

Comments on 'The tracking...'

MTI:

Thanks Joseba!

Best wishes,

Cathy
Microwave Telemetry, Inc.

ARGOS:

Dear Joseba,

Thank you so much for your article and you continuous support of the Argos system. We’re really glad that you’re learning more and more about these astonishing birds, thanks to the technology developments, and that you’ll keep learning in the future.

Best regards,

Anne Marie Bréonce
CLS - Science Department

The tracking of the Scolopax rusticola with radio-telemetry via satellite: methodology

Satellites (through Argos-CLS ) and Platform Transmitter Terminals, PTTs (through Microwave Telemetry Inc ) are the main tools we have dealt with in our different experiments to track the Eurasian woodcock.

Both leading organizations in the World have changed and improved their technology and methodology since we started our research in 2003. Argos has put more satellites in orbit and developed better techniques for the accuracy of the locations. MTI has produced new PTTs with much less weight and much better technology for their charge.

MTI:

In 2003, there were no available PTTs for the tracking of Eurasian woodcocks. The smallest PTT was a PTT-100 18 gram Solar PTT. (Nowadays the smallest is a 5 gram solar PTT.)

In 2004 most of the information that was available in internet was analyzed. At the end of 2004 we knew that MTI was preparing new solar PTTs of 12 grams. So, our first experiment in 2006 was with three PTTs of 12 grams and duty cycles of 48/10 for one PTT and 72/10 for the other two. We had strong problems with interferences in Europe, something that MTI and Argos did know.

Our next experiment, in 2007, was with PTTs of 9.5 grams, duty cycles 48/10 and TIs (transmission interval) of 45 and 60 seconds. This was our main finding at that time: the charge of the PTTs is the key point, not only against interferences but also to give better and more emissions.

The next experiment was in 2008, with two prototypes, equipped with special solar cells, given as a present by MTI. The PTTs have a special duty cycle of 55/8. One of the main aims of this project was to see the performance of the new PTTs against the European interferences.

Clear consequences of the use of this new technology during 2008: (a) the charge was greater than in our previous experiments; (b) the emissions’ data were much better in quality and quantity; (c) the frequency of the emissions was more regular than before.

The final result was net: the European interferences were overcome with both PTTs, during all the time the tracking lasted and in all the different atmospheric circumstances.

From 2008 on, in all our experiments we have used 9.5 gram solar PTTs, duty cycle 48/10, TI of 60 seconds, with MG (mortality ground ), and with the new technology developed by MTI in 2008.

Solar Argos/GPS PTTs:

Up to now, 2011, there is no possibility to track woodcocks with Argos/GPS PTTs, since the smallest solar Argos/GPS PTT weights 22 grams . In any case, at the prototype level, MTI has produced one of 15 grams . It is very possible the next one to be one of 11/12 grams .

Recovery of PTTs:

Here a very useful technique for the recovery of PTTs we used in Karelia: Finding a lost PTT-Part 2, explained by Paul Howey .

ARGOS:

Location classes:

In Argos’ manual one can see, among some other issues, the different satellites launched and the date of their launching (2.3), also the location classes (3.4) .

In 2011, CLS introduced a location processing algorithm that takes into account platform dynamics and the use of a bank of Kalman filters to calculate positions . In Anne-Marie Bréonce’s words (of Argos), “… with the new Argos location algorithm we hope you could get more and accurate data .”

On the other hand, with ‘flat’ ellipses, the estimated error is more accurate . Even more, for the accuracy of class A and B locations, apart from the direction of the ellipse , one should take also into account the GDOP . (In fact, about the Class B locations with Kalman filtering, the ‘Semi-major axis’ is a good index to judge the quality of a Class B one-message location.)

More information:

Here more information available about optimizing Argos system performance, Kalman filtering, location accuracy and the ‘flat’ ellipse error .

Multi-pass location:

When there is not enough data per satellite pass to produce any location, by using multi-satellite processing, we could have an idea of the approximate location .

Addenda:

WXtrack - Satellite tracking:

This program is designed to predict the tracks of satellites both as paths above the earth, and as images produced by these satellites when scanning the ground .

Accuracy of A and B class locations:

According to Argos , “Class A & B location may be accurate. (…) Some users have experimentally tried to answer this question and provided interesting hints. We are confident that approaches of this type will help provide interesting guidelines to enhance practical use of this type of locations.”

Some time ago, some of us developed a method to know the accuracy of A and B class locations in special circumstances .

More here: http://es.scribd.com/doc/73037491/The-tracking-of-the-Scolopax-rusticola-with-radio-telemetry-via-satellite-methodology

joseba felix tobar-arbulu (PhD in Engineering)