Tiny Tags, Big Journeys. Our New Motus Station

Huzzah! The Motus Wildlife Tracking Station is up!

SEVAS and the Marine Discovery Center are now officially part of the Motus research community—a global network using tiny radio tags to track birds, bats, and insects in real time. Our new station joins several dozen across Florida, helping reveal migration patterns and guide conservation worldwide. Click here for an on-the-scene play by play interview with MDC’s Lisa Mickey.

Shout out to the American Bird Conservancy staff Garrett Rhyne, Southeast Motus Station Coordinator, and Adam Smith, Motus US Director, for braving the heat and handling the actual installation on the MDC campus! Soon our tower will be recording data as part of a continental effort with local partners and dedicated volunteers.

In short, when a tagged volant animal passes within about 8 miles, the station records its signal to a central database—data that anyone can explore on the Motus portal. A great citizen-science opportunity.

Now…when will we detect our first tagged birds? Shall we have a pool? Stay tuned—updates coming soon!

Stay tuned for more updates, and click the tower above to link to the Motus website for more info about the global project.