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Published: Saturday, 02 November 2024 at 21:58 PM
By strapping tiny ‘backpacks’ on the backs of hummingbirds scientists hope to uncover the secrets of these marvellous mini flyers
Scientists have attached tiny ‘backpacks’ containing solar trackers to hummingbirds in the Andes to gain accurate data on birds foraging routines, movement patterns and seasonal behaviours.
As part of the University of Aberdeen study published in Ecology and Evolution, hummingbirds and other small animals in the Chingaza National Park in Colombia have been fitted with tiny ‘backpacks’ containing minuscule solar trackers weighing just 0.35g, that can be tracked using radio telemetry to collect live, continuous movement data throughout the bird’s lifetime.
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According to researchers, the new system has generated millions of data points, providing insights into species’ habitat needs and behaviours. The results will be used to inform how the park land is used and determine conservation efforts to save vulnerable species from local extinction.
The study findings show that prior to using the ‘backpacker’ trackers it was impossible for movement data to be accurately obtained at high-altitude.
“Our system is the first to use automated radio signals to track movement in high mountain ecosystems of the Andes, and it is one of only a few that has been attempted in wild landscapes where terrain and vegetation are challenging,” study lead author Cristina Rueda Uribe, a PhD candidate from the University of Aberdeen Biological Sciences, said in a statement.
She added: “We have been able to obtain information on foraging routines, home ranges and seasonality. This information increases our understanding about biodiversity in tropical mountains and is also useful to protect these species, as well as their key ecosystem roles as pollinators, in the face of ongoing climate and land use change.”