BAS Research - Launching a weather balloon
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Photo MK14 datalogger - A size comparison of the MK14 datalogger
Our light level geolocator is an instrument used to record the flight paths of migrating animals; particularly birds. British Antarctic Survey (BAS) engineers originally developed the instrument for recording the behaviour of the Wandering Albatross. The device records the change in light levels at different latitudes and longitudes, enabling scientists to determine where the bird has been. Animal recapture is necessary to retrieve the device as it is an archival logger. Information is recovered by downloading the data from the logger for analysis. Using low power technology and data compression the device is able to record data for many years.
The packaging methods, also developed by BAS engineers, encapsulate the device and protect it from the harsh environment where it must function. Thousands of these instruments have been used by the British Antarctic Survey and our collaborators on a number of species.
Bird Loggers in the Field Cooke's Petrel with a Mk9 - ©Matt Rayner A Lesser Kestrel with a Mk14S - ©Juan Negro An Albatross with a Mk4 Scaly-sided Merganser with a Mk9 - ©Diana Solovyova Grey-headed Albatross track < 1 2 3 4 5 >
They have mainly been used for bird migration tracking but other long distance movement can be tracked in a similar manner. Because they minimise the number of sensors used (e.g. no depth sensor) and they do not use satellite or radio technology, our loggers can be very small and low-weight. These loggers are the smallest longest lasting recording geolocators available.Please contact the Antarctic Marine & Engineering section for further information.
© NERC-BAS 2007
