The Motus UK Project was a collaboration between Hull University, the Bird Observatories Council, several Bird Observatories in the UK and on the Continent, and the Dutch Bat Project operating out of Warningham University. Our involvement started in 2014 when we were introduced at the International Bird Observatory Conference 2014 to the Motus network operating in North America. As the network had been deployed into Europe by 2017, we began to explore the possibilities of funding an aerial at the Observatory. In February 2019 we joined the project, headed by Hull University and Spurn Bird Observatory, to look at reverse migration, especially of Yellow-browed Warblers. We are also linked to a dutch project that is tagging Nathusius's bats. The system works by detecting radio transmissions, attached to the back of bats, birds or other animals as they pass within a few kilometers of the antennae. At the moment we are just a listening post and we are hoping to detect both birds and bats that may pass.
On Tuesday, October 8th we began installing the antennae on the chimney of the Observatory. A cherry picker enabled the drilling and fitting of the pole and attaching the antennae and cables which were pinned to the wall and linked into the control box on the wall. The final stage on Wednesday was to configure the operating software, tidy up the cabling and train us to download the files to be analysed and published on the Motus website.
On Tuesday, October 8th we began installing the antennae on the chimney of the Observatory. A cherry picker enabled the drilling and fitting of the pole and attaching the antennae and cables which were pinned to the wall and linked into the control box on the wall. The final stage on Wednesday was to configure the operating software, tidy up the cabling and train us to download the files to be analysed and published on the Motus website.
On Thursday morning,10th October the station went live.
More details on the Motus system can be found on their website:
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We had the help of lots of people. Intial checks were carried out by Robert Beck to check suitability of signal strength and interference levels. Chris Pilpot and Graham Newing sourced the pole and the electric point and EDF and Freedom provided the cherry picker and Darren to wield the drill and help install the aerial. However, none of this would have been possible without the considerable input of time and expertise by Ewan and Sue Parsons (Norwich Bat Group) who sourced and built the aerials and control box and spent two days on installing, setting up and training us.
 Dungeness Observatory Station on Motus |
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