Consequences of antenna design in telemetry studies of small passerines

Author:

Dougill, Steve J., Johnson, Luanne, Banko, Paul C., Goltz, Dan M., Wiley, Michael R., Semones, John D.

Title:

Consequences of antenna design in telemetry studies of small passerines

Periodical:

Journal of Field Ornithology

Year:

2000

Volume:

71

Pages:

385-388

Subject:

Palila Loxioides bailleui Birds monitoring palila Birds radio tracking Endangered species birds

Summary:

One of the consequences of antenna design in telemetry studies of small passerines is the entanglement and mortality of the Palila, (Loxioides bailleui), an endangered Hawaiian honeycreeper. This occurred in birds who were equipped with radio-tagged transmitters that contained a long, limp, solder-tipped antenna who were found suspended in trees by their transmitter antenna on eight occasions. Even though these birds eventually freed themselves or were freed by those who were involved in the study of small passerines, at least one bird died following an entanglement. As a result, it is recommended that transmitters that are equipped with an antenna that is limp, shiny, bulbous at the tip, and is more than 16 cm in length, not be used in radio telemetry studies of small bird species.

Label:

Birds - General

Date:

July 2000

Collection:

Periodicals